Portofino and Lithium Chile Partner ON Winning Bid FOR 8,445 Hectare Arizaro Lithium Project IN Salta, Argentina
Suite 520 – 470 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC, CANADA V6C 1V5
Telephone: 604-683-1991
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www.portofinoresources.com
PORTOFINO
RESOURCES INC.
NEWS RELEASE
PORTOFINO AND LITHIUM CHILE PARTNER ON WINNING BID FOR 8,445
HECTARE ARIZARO LITHIUM PROJECT IN SALTA, ARGENTINA
Vancouver, B.C., January 08, 2024. PORTOFINO RESOURCES INC. (TSX -V: POR) (OTCQB: PFFOF) (FSE:
POTA) (“Portofino” or the “Company”) and LITHIUM CHILE INC. (TSXV: LITH) (OTCQB: LTMCF) ("Lithium
Chile") (where Portofino and Lithium Chile are jointly referred to as the “Companies” hereinafter) are pleased
to announce a 50:50 net equity Partnership Agreement following a successful tender for an 8,445 hectare
concession within the lithium-bearing Arizaro Salar in Argentina (“Arizaro Area IV”).
The Companies had previously submitted separate offers in a public tender for five concession areas (Figure 1)
in the province of Salta with Arizaro IV being the largest of the five concession areas.
Figure 1: Arizaro Area IV
Mr. David Tafel, President & CEO of Portofino, commented: “The exploration knowledge gained through
Portofino’s initial concession identification and foresight combined with geological due diligence
completed by our expert -led geological team, has provided insight into what appears to be a very deep
aquifer. Combined with Lithium Chile’s exploration success and infrastructure located immediately south,
the partnership can move forward quickly. This is a win -win for both Companies, a partnership strongly
supported by the Argentina authorities, and we are excited to advance to drilling as soon as possible.”
Steve Cochrane, President & CEO of Lithium Chile, additionally stated: “Being awarded Arizaro Area IV is
a wonderful achievement for us! It has the potential to significantly increase our lithium resource without
much added expense as we have the equipment, capable team, and infrastructure already in place, which
positions us to swiftly advance the project.”
Prior Exploration
In conjunction with REMSa, the Salta government-owned provincial mining company, Portofino previously
carried out extensive geological due diligence on Arizaro Area IV. Significant surface exploration work on
this 8,445-hectare block has revealed a thick overburden (crust), however, samples at surface still assayed
as high as 100 milligrams per litre (“mg/l”) lithium, which is consistent with surface results of other groups
exploring this mature salar. Portofino’s exploration activities included:
1. 40 +surface brine samples collected and analysed;
2. 35 trenches reaching shallow water tables using excavation equipment;
3. 69,000 metres (“m”) of geophysical surveying utilizing Vertical Electric Soundings (“VES”)
technology revealing aquifers down to depths of 1,000m; and
4. Low resistivity horizons being identified and interpreted as targets potentially containing large
lithium-bearing aquifers (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Arizaro Project Distribution of resistive sections
The VES results with the largest thickness in the low resistivity layer are anticipated to be the highest
prospective areas of interest and are located to the east and south. The explored area shares geological
characteristics with other areas in the same salt flat where brines with high lithium content have been
detected at depth. Adjacent properties within the Arizaro salar, have been drilled to depths of more than
500 m, yielding prospective levels of 300 m to 400 m with >500 mg/L lithium.
Proposed Exploration
The Companies intend to file the necessary environmental and drilling applications to enable
commencement of the recommended 4-hole 2,000 m drill program as quickly as possible.
Figure 3: Arizaro IV Proposed Exploration Program
Project Location
The Arizaro IV property is located in the North of Salar de Arizaro (see Figure 4), approximately 25 km
west of the town of Tolar Grande and 360 km from the capital city of Salta. Access from the capital by
road is along National Road No. 51, passing through the town of Pocitos, and then south by Provincial
Road No. 27 to the town of Tolar Grande and from there by a gravel road. The Taca Taca railway station
is 10 km east of the property, along the General Belgrano line connect ing the city of Salta with the port
city of Antofagasta (Chile), having strategically important export capacity.
Figure 4: Access roads, infrastructure and energy resources in the area
Arizaro IV is strategically located north of Lithium Chile’s 20,800-hectare project in the Arizaro basin. More
specifically, Arizaro IV is situated approximately 18 kilometers north of the ARDDH -02 well that Lithium
Chile has already drilled (see Figure 5). Additionally, Lithium Chile’s established infrastructure near Arizaro
IV allows for optimized resource utilization and seamless integration of exploration activities. This
proximity-driven approach underscores the Companies’ combined commitment to maximizing efficiency
and expediting the project timeline.
Figure 5: Arizaro Salar: Arizaro IV and proximity to current Lithium Chile Properties
Acquisition Terms
A definitive joint venture agreement to be completed includes a bid proposal of US$16.7 million, whereby
the initial payment of US$5,739,915 has been completed by Lithium Chile (the “Initial Payment”) with the
balance due within 12 months . Portofino is committed to a 50% reimbursement upon completion of a
near-term financing. Portofino has received strong expressions of interest in a financing from several
Canadian institutions and details will follow as soon as finalized.
The Partnership Agreement includes a 50:50 allocation of net equity (following an equity allocation to
REMSa) to each of Portofino and Lithium Chile , including pro rata responsibility for the acquisition cost
and future exploration expenditures. The Agreement will include a credit for Portofino regarding certain
incurred due diligence exploration expenditures.
Finalization will be subject to execution of definitive agreements, completion of Portofino’s financing and
any required regulatory approvals.
Qualified Person
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo.,
who is a Qualified Person (“QP”) as defined by National Instrument 43 -101, Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects. The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the
properties in Argentina and neighbouring companies.
About Portofino Resources Inc.
Portofino is a Vancouver-based Canadian company focused on exploring and developing mineral resource
projects in the Americas. In addition to the Arizaro project, Portofino holds 100% of the (2,932 hectare)
Yergo Lithium property in Catamarca. The properties are situated in the heart of the world -renowned
Argentine Lithium Triangle and in close proximity to multiple world-class lithium projects.
The Company also has the right to earn 100% interest in three Canadian lithium (hard rock) projects and
five gold projects located within northwestern Ontario.
About Lithium Chile Inc.
Lithium Chile is an exploration and lithium resource company with a property portfolio consisting of
111,978 hectares in Chile and 29,245 hectares in Argentina. The Company has filed its NI 43 -101 Report
and Preliminary Economic Assessment, which can be viewed on the Company’s profile at SedarPlus.ca
Lithium Chile also owns 4 properties, totaling 21,329 hectares, that are prospective for gold, silver , and
copper. Exploration efforts are continuing on Lithium Chile’s Carmona gold/silver/copper property which
lies in the heart of the Chilean mega porphyry gold/ silver/copper belt.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“David G. Tafel”
Chief Executive Officer
For Further Information Contact:
David Tafel CEO,
Director 604-683-1991
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