Origen Finds Lithium-Rich Clays at Los Sapitos
488 – 625 Howe St.
Vancouver, BC
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Origen Finds Lithium-Rich Clays at Los Sapitos
Vancouver, BC, July 24 , 2023. Origen Resources Inc. (the “Company” or “Origen”) (CSE:ORGN;
FSE:4VXA) is pleased to announce an update to its ongoing exploration on its 100% owned Los Sapitos
Property in the San Juan Province of Argentina.
Highlights:
• Sampling confirms lithium prospectivity
• District-sized land position covering entire salar and potential basin extensions
• Geophysics to begin shortly to identify drilling targets
Preliminary results from the ongoing sampling at Los Sapitos are encouraging. A series of silt s amples
collected from the Los Sapitos salar were treated with both an acid and a purified water wash. Th e
results show that significant lithium is found both in clays and in evaporite mineralization on the
eastern margin of the basin with results of up to 824 mg/L found in the most eastern samples collected
to date.
Map: the location of the samples collected during the most recent sampling program at the Los Sapitos
salar. Values shown represent lithium derived from an ‘Acid Leach’ completed on the silt samples.
These results are evidence that lithium extends over the entire basin fed from a single aquifer at depth.
The basin is elevated at this location and sampling teams were unable to get to the water table.
Brine samples collected from the western part of the basin returned the most anomalous results from
a small depression in the west of the salar. Close to those found during previous sampling programs .
The amount of lithium in the brine at this location may be a function of sampling teams being able to
tap deeper into the water table.
Basin morphology is now thought to be governed by a regional thrust faulting that runs through the
property forming a significant depression and catchment for lithium bearing fluids.
Schematic 1: How did the Lithium get to Los Sapitos? Brines in the northern part of the Lithium trend have obvious
visible surface expressions. Los Sapitos is a mostly-buried salar.
Sampling to the south west returned both clay and brines returned lithium, further evid ence that a
separate basin exists at lower elevations in the Los Sapitos area.
Methodology
Sampling was conducted by staff experienced in lithium salar exploration and followed industry
recognized best practices for early-stage exploration of this type of target. Samples were secured
onsite and transported to the lab by Origen personnel.
Analysis of brine samples was conducted by Alex Stewart International Argentina S.A. (Alex Stewart),
an internationally recognized laboratory with substantial experience in geochemical
analysis. Lithium analysis was conducted using a 32 element ICP – OES package (Alex Stewart lab
code LMMT01). Alex Stewart is independent of the Company.
Sediment samples were analysed by the Instituto de Investigaciones Mineras at the Universidad
Nacional de San Juan. Sediment samples were subjected to a weak extraction with hot water which
was then analysed by ICP-OES for Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg and B to determine the proportion of these
elements that was easily extractable. The residual sediment was then leached by strong acid and
analysed by ICP-OES for Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg and B to determine the proportion of these elements more
strongly bound to minerals or part of the crystal structure of the minerals.
Origen’s Lithium Experience
The Origen team has been exploring for Lithium since 2002, making major discoveries of both
spodumene, and lithium in brines. The recent market -driven phase of lithium discoveries have
represented those with the highest grades and most obvious surface expr essions. As the lithium
technology matures and the demand for lithium grows, exploration will be driven to those places
where lithium has not been historically seen. Origen has been applying the experience gained through
discovery to create advanced exploration models with the aim of making original green -fields
discoveries.
Origen began exploration for lithium brines in Argentina with the thesis that the lithium found in the
“Lithium Triangle” - an area located on borders of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia that is estimated to host
51% of the world’s total lithium - extends south -wards in Argentina along an emerging trend that
terminates in Argentina’s San Juan Province.
This approach has allowed for the discovery of Maricungas and Tres Quebradas far to the south of the
Lithium triangle. Tres Quebradas was sold in 2020 for $782 million CAD , and is about to enter
commercial production.
Map 1 showing the emerging trend of Lithium discoveries away from the Lithium Triangle, an area that hosts an
estimated 51% of world\d total lithium resources. Origen Resources has staked a commanding land along the
southern extent along this trend.
Map 2 showing the location of the 331 km2 Los Sapitos property located along the trend of Lithium discoveries.
Origen previously recognized that the geology of the mining-friendly northern San Juan Province was
similar to that of within the lithium belts in the north of the country. Guided by this exploration model
Origen was able to acquire a district-sized contiguous land package around a mostly -buried salar.
Preliminary exploration in 2021 was met with immediate success : surprisingly high grades of l ithium
in brines at surface in the main salar area of Los Sapitos , with one sample returning 391 mc/l . This
discovery was a vindication of the exploration model.
Origen believes that the style of mineralization transitions from the mature salars of the lithium
triangle with an obvious visible surface expression to a mostly-buried, sediment-rich aquifer similar to
those found in the Clayton Valley, Thacker Pass and elsewhere.
Origen has since expanded its land holdings with a total of 331 km 2 staked over several prospective
basins in northern San Juan Province.
About Origen
Origen is fully focused on its 100% interest in the Los Sapitos Lithium project in Argentina and its 100%
interest in the 33,000 ha Newfoundland Lithium projects, and also holds a property portfolio of four
100% owned precious and base metal projects in southern British Columbia, a 100% interest in the
26,771 ha LGM project and a 100% interest in the 3,971 ha Wishbone project, both in the mineral-rich
Golden Triangle of British Columbia,
331 km2
John Harrop, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as that term is defined in NI 43-101 has prepared, supervised
the preparation or approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.
On behalf of Origen,
Thomas Hawkins
Managing Director
For further information, please contact Gary Schellenberg, Chief Executive Officer, at 604-681-0221.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of
the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward- looking information." In
particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such
work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment
limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised
not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the
Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.