E3 Metals Discovers New Lithium Enriched Aquifer
E3 Metals Discovers New Lithium Enriched
Aquifer
CALGARY, AB
,
Sept. 15, 2020
/CNW/ - E3 METALS CORP. (TSXV: ETMC) (FSE: OU7A) (OTC:
EEMMF) (the "Company" or "E3 Metals"), an emerging lithium developer and leading lithium
extraction technology innovator, today announces the discovery of lithium enrichment in the Nisku
Aquifer (the "Nisku"), located within the Company's permit area in south-central
Alberta
, with
sampled lithium grades ranging up to 75.0 mg/L.
The
Nisku
is located above the Leduc Aquifer (the "Leduc"), in which E3 Metals holds 6.7 million
tonnes of LCE
1
inferred mineral resource (Figure 1). The
Nisku
stretches across E3 Metals' entire
permit area where the Company owns the metallic and industrial mineral rights, which include the
rights to the lithium within the
Nisku
. The
Nisku
has similar geological properties to the
Leduc
, and as
such, it has a comparable propensity for high brine flow rates that may support the production of
commercial quantities of lithium.
Figure 1: Cross section profile highlighting the Leduc and Nisku Aquifers in E3 Metals' Central
Clearwater Project. (CNW Group/E3 Metals Corp.)
The Company sampled
Nisku
brine as well as the
Leduc
brine from available oil and gas production
wells as part of E3 Metals' ongoing exploration and development. A total of 17 samples were
collected across the
Nisku
and all have demonstrated the presence of higher-grade dissolved lithium
within the formation brine. Lithium grades range between 37.4 mg/L and 75.0 mg/L. Using E3
Metals' proprietary direct lithium extraction (DLE) process,
Leduc
brines with grades on the top end
of
Nisku's
sampled range have demonstrated the ability to quickly and efficiently concentrate to over
5000 mg/L.
"The discovery of lithium in the
Nisku
expands the known lithium brine volumes and may offer
operational benefits," commented
Chris Doornbos
, President and Chief Executive Officer of E3
Metals. "The
Nisku
is laterally extensive across our permit area and has similar aquifer properties to
the
Leduc
, so it will produce brine in much the same way. Wells drilled to access the
Leduc
intersect
the
Nisku
first, which may allow us to produce lithium enriched brines from both aquifers from the
same well, potentially increasing operational efficiencies in the future."
E3 Metals will continue to sample the aquifer as part of its regular sampling program going forward,
with the intention of developing a resource from the Nisku Aquifer in the future.
Aquifer Definition
An aquifer is a rock formation that has the ability to hold fluids inside of void spaces, or pores, within
the rock. The interconnectivity of these pores (permeability) allow fluids to move through the rock.
The
Nisku
and Leduc Aquifers are classified as "confined aquifers", meaning they are not connected
to the surface or any shallow, fresh, groundwater sources. As well, the fluids in the aquifers are
contained under pressure which naturally assist with fluid production.
The
Leduc
and Nisku Aquifers in E3's project area occur about 2-3 km below the earth's surface.
They have very high porosity and permeability, which allows for high volumes of fluids to be pumped
from them. They are famous in
Alberta
as important producers of hydrocarbons. These
hydrocarbons accumulated over geologic time in the aquifer and sit buoyantly atop the lithium brine.
The hydrocarbons represent a very small fraction of the fluids contained in the aquifer and have
mostly been depleted in this area after 60 years of oil production. What remains in these aquifers is
lithium enriched brine.
About E3 Metals
E3 Metals is a lithium development company with 6.7 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent
(LCE) inferred mineral resources
1
in
Alberta
. E3 Metals is currently advancing its proprietary direct
lithium extraction (DLE) process in partnership with Livent Corporation (NYSE:LTHM), a global
leader in lithium production, under a joint development agreement. Through the successful scale up
its DLE process towards commercialization, E3 Metals plans to quickly move towards the production
of high purity, battery grade, lithium products. With a significant lithium resource and innovative
technology solutions, E3 Metals has the potential to deliver lithium to market from one of the best
jurisdictions in the world. E3 Metals also continues to work with partners at the
University of Alberta
and at GreenCentre Canada. For more information about E3 Metals, visit
www.e3metalscorp.com
.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Chris Doornbos
, President & CEO
E3 METALS CORP.
Chris Doornbos
(P.Geo), CEO and Director of E3 Metals Corp., is a Qualified Person as defined by
NI 43-101 and has read and approved the technical information contained in this announcement.
1. E3 Metals has released information on three 43-101 Technical Reports totaling a resource of 6.7
Mt LCE. The Central Clearwater Resource Area (CCRA) Technical Report, identifying 1.9Mt LCE
(inferred), is dated effective
October 27, 2017
, and the North Rocky Resource Area (NRRA)
Technical Report was dated effective
October 27, 2017
, identifies 0.9Mt LCE (inferred). A third
report for the Exshaw West Resource Area (EWRA), identifies 3.9Mt LCE (inferred) and was filed
on
June 15, 2018
, effective
June 4, 2018
. All reports are available on SEDAR (
www.sedar.com
)
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the potential of the
Company's projects and technology, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and
intentions. Forward looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will",
"plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and
results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of
management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging lithium
extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale or on the
Company's brine, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our
recent securities filings available at
www.sedar.com.
Actual events or results may differ materially
from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue
reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements
except as required by applicable law.
SOURCE
E3 Metals Corp.
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For further information:
Suite 2300, 150 9th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3H9, +1 (587) 324-2775,
[email protected], e3metalscorp.com
CO: E3 Metals Corp.
CNW 06:30e 15-SEP-20