NOA Drills Thickest High-Grade Intercept To Date At Rio Grande And Intercepts Average 526 Mg/L Lithium Over 508.5 Meters
NOA Drills Thickest High-Grade Intercept To Date At Rio Grande And
Intercepts Average 526 Mg/L Lithium Over 508.5 Meters
October 16, 2023, Buenos Aires, Argentina – NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSX-V: NOAL, FSE:
N7N) (“NOA” or the “Company”) is pleased to report positive lithium results from brine samples from
RG23-003, the third hole of the Phase 1 diamond drill program at its Rio Grande project (“Rio
Grande” or the “Project”). The hole was drilled within the salar , approximately 6 kilometers (“km”)
northwest of hole RG23-002, at the Cristina claim on the surface salar on the Project, and intersected
a high-grade lithium (“Li”) brine aquifer of significant thickness starting from a down -hole depth of
only 15 meters (“m”). Highlights include:
• 508.5 m (15 m – 659 m) grading 526 milligrams per litre (“mg/l”) Li.
• Brine aquifer beginning at a shallow depth of only 15 m below surface, and encountered
the thickest, high-grade intercept to date at Rio Grande.
• Encountered highest-grade Li concentration of 785 mg/l at 250 m.
• Hole drilled to a depth of 676 m, resulting in the deepest reported occurrence of
permeable brines at Rio Grande.
NOA’s Chief Executive Officer Gabriel Rubacha states: “Our third exploration hole delivers our best
drill results to date, confirming the potential of the Rio Grande Project. The excellent results from this
hole, combined with the high-grade intercepts from our two previous holes, deliver a consistent high
lithium concentration brine that expected to contribute to a material resource, that confirm ing a
project of significant magnitude can be developed in our Rio Grande’s properties . Our fourth hole
has already been started in the El Camino property, in the northeast area of Rio Grande. With two
rigs mobilized at site, we remain on schedule to develop a maiden resource estimate on the project
in the first half of 2024.”
Hole R G23-003 was executed with diamond drilling (HQ -size), permitting the extraction of core
samples of the salar basin formations and collection of brine samples where possible. Drilling was
carried out by Salta-based Hidrotec S.A., under the supervision of NOA’s geologists.
The lithological profile of the third hole is in-line with other drillholes at the Project. Almost the entire
depth of the +600 m hole returned brine-saturated units based on packer testing, with the exception
of select horizons with a few meters in thickness. In general, halite and interstitial sands were the
dominant lithologies, with amounts of each varying along the depth.
NEWS RELEASE
The Phase 1 drill program is planned for six holes and is designed to deliver a maiden mineral
resource estimate for the Rio Grande project in early 2024. The location of RG23-003 is shown in
Figure 1.
Results for Hole RG23-003
The results of the brine analyses and the respective intervals are shown in Table 1 below and drill
collar information is presented in Table 2 below. Hole RG23-003, drilled at the Cristina claim (shown
in Figure 1 below) reached a depth of 676 m, which the Company understands to be the deepest
hole ever publicly reported on the Rio Grande salar.
Table 1: Interval data & Li assays (double packer sampling) for drillhole DDH-RG23-003
Hole id From To Li ( mg/l ) Intervals
DDH-RG23-003 15 16.5 409
DDH-RG23-003 27 28.5 428
DDH-RG23-003 39 40.5 414
DDH-RG23-003 51 52.5 415
DDH-RG23-003 63 64.5 412
DDH-RG23-003 75 76.5 510
DDH-RG23-003 87 88.5 500
DDH-RG23-003 99 100.5 516
DDH-RG23-003 111 112.5 437
DDH-RG23-003 129 130.5 471
DDH-RG23-003 141 142.5 485
DDH-RG23-003 165 166.5 464
DDH-RG23-003 177 178.5 439
DDH-RG23-003 189 190.5 401
DDH-RG23-003 201 202.5 392
DDH-RG23-003 213 218 595
DDH-RG23-003 225 226.5 580
DDH-RG23-003 237 238.5 552
DDH-RG23-003 249 250.5 785
DDH-RG23-003 261 262.5 675
DDH-RG23-003 273 274.5 720
DDH-RG23-003 285 286.5 667
DDH-RG23-003 333 334.5 632
DDH-RG23-003 345 346.5 549
DDH-RG23-003 366 367.5 547
DDH-RG23-003 378 379.5 547
DDH-RG23-003 414 415.5 527 1.5 m
DDH-RG23-003 450 451.5 523 1.5 m
DDH-RG23-003 471 472.5 544
DDH-RG23-003 483 484.5 582
DDH-RG23-003 495 496.5 562
DDH-RG23-003 507 508.5 538
DDH-RG23-003 519 520.5 518
DDH-RG23-003 531 532.5 555
DDH-RG23-003 543 544.5 550
DDH-RG23-003 555 556.5 523
DDH-RG23-003 567 568.5 519
DDH-RG23-003 579 580.5 534
DDH-RG23-003 591 596 532
DDH-RG23-003 606 607.5 554
DDH-RG23-003 618 619.5 535
DDH-RG23-003 630 631.5 513
DDH-RG23-003 642 643.5 496
DDH-RG23-003 654 659 489
Average: 526 508.5 m
271 m
46.5 m
188 m
Figure 1: Plan Map Showing Well RG23-003 And Previous Completed Wells
Table 2: RG23-003 - Drill Collar Information
Hole #: RG23-003 Azimuth: 0 deg.
Claim name: Cristina Inclination: -90 deg.
Coordinates (UTM
19J South):
E: 582435 m
N: 7227303 m
Z: 3702 m
Contractor: Hidrotec S.A.
Machine type: HT07 LF-90
Drill type: Diamond
Hole diameter: HQ
About NOA Lithium Brines Inc.
NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire and develop assets with
significant resource potential. All NOA’s projects are in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in
the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned
by industry leaders. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in
this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars
(Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes) and a total portfolio of approximately 100,000 hectares.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Gabriel Rubacha
Chief Executive Officer and Director
For Further Information On The Company
Website: www.noalithium.com
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +54-9-11-5060-4709
Alternative Telephone: +1-403-571-8013
Sample Analysis & QA/QC Program
The Company has a robust QA/QC and sample management program. Brine samples were collected
by a single / double packer system (in-hole inflatable) to isolate specific intervals down the drillhole.
The packer sampling method allows the collection of brine samples at specific depths while sealing
the hole at the top and bottom of the interval. The packer system was run several times to flush the
hole after drilling to clear / clean the hole prior to sampling and four samples for each interval were
collected (main sample, duplicate sample, check sample, reserve sample). The drillhole of the
current release was inclined vertically (90 degrees) and the salar strata are believed to be flat-lying
resulting in reported intervals approximating true thickness.
Samples of brine were submitted by courier for analysis to SGS Argentina S.A., the local subsidiary
of SGS International, an accredited laboratory for the analysis of lithium and other elements. SGS
employed Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry as the analytical technique
for the primary constituents of interest, including: boron, calcium, potassium, lithium, and
magnesium. Measurements in the field included pH, conductivity, temperature and den sity. The
quality of sample analytical results was controlled and assessed with a protocol of blank, duplicate
and standard samples included within the sample sequence. Differences between original and
duplicate samples and results for standards and blanks are considered within the acceptable range
for lithium.
Qualified Person
David O’Connor P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical
information in this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may include forward -looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All
statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking
statements. Forward -looking statements including, but not limited to NOA’s future plans and objectives regarding its
projects, which constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although NOA believes
the expectations expressed in such forwar d-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements
are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward -
looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and
financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can b e no assurances that such statements will
prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. NOA does not
assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.