Pure Energy Minerals Completes Fourth Successful Lithium Brine Pumping Test at Clayton Valley South Project, Nevada
Pure Energy Minerals Completes Fourth Successful Lithium
Brine Pumping Test at Clayton Valley South Project, Nevada
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pure Energy Minerals Limited
(TSX VENTURE:PE) (FRANKFURT:A111EG) (OTCQB:PEMIF) (the “Company” or “Pure Energy”) is pleased
to announce that it has completed a constant -rate pumping test at its newest exploration well, CV-8, at the
Clayton Valley South Project (the “CVS Project”). The test ran continuously for three days and included a
collection of brine samples along with extensive hydrogeological data on the brine aquifer system. CV -8 is
believed to be the deepest well drilled in Clayton Valley, having reached a total depth of 3,194 ft (974 m)
below ground level. The drillers completed the well with casing and filter pack to a depth of 2,874 ft (876
m), installing perforated casing and seals around two separate intervals. This type of well construction
allows for isolation and separate testing of shallow and deeper zones of the aquifer system.
The well encountered numerous aquifers, including the interlayered volcanic ash and silt that are typical of
Clayton Valley lithium production. At greater depths, the well passed through travertine (hot springs
deposits) and conglomerate (gravel) that had not previously been described on the CVS Project, thus
offering the potential for new brine hosting aquifers. Down hole fluid logging revealed elevated electrical
conductivity to the bottom of the well, suggesting the presence of brine at greater depths than any previous
sampling on the project.
The pumping test was configured using an electric submersible pump and monitoring apparatus in CV -8.
The test ran at a constant pumping rate of approximately 2.0 litres per second (30 gallons per minute) for
its duration. The hydrogeologists collected approximately 48 separate brine samples (including QA/QC
samples) for lithium analysis over the 72 -hour pumping period.
Monitoring during the test revealed that the extracted brine from CV -8 reached near steady -state elevated
fluid conductivity and fluid density, comparable to other brine wells on the CVS Project. Based on
previously observed correlations between conductivity and lithium content, this suggests the production of
consistent lithium-bearing brine during the entire pumping test. Data collected during the pumping test will
be used to enhance understanding of the hydrogeology of the CVS Project. The team also collected depth -
specific brine samples for chemical analysis. These results are expected in April. The upcoming Preliminary
Economic Assessment (PEA) will include a full discussion and interpretation of the data from CV -8.
Patrick Highsmith, Pure Energy Minerals CEO commented, “CV-8 probed greater depths and encountered
new aquifers not yet seen on the CVS Project. It is significant that CV -8 more than doubled the thickness of
known brine-saturated sediments in our resource when compared with the drilling in the maiden resource.
This pumping test is an important milestone as it adds considerably to our knowledge for the resource
model and the preliminary design of a production well field. We look forward to working through the data
as we update the mineral resource and deliver the first PEA at the CVS Project.”
This pumping test was designed and supervised by Pure Energy ’s hydrogeological consulting specialists,
Montgomery & Associates (“Montgomery”). The test was performed in accordance with State of Nevada
waivers and permits issued to Pure Energy by the Nevada Division of Water Resources and the Division of
Environmental Protection, which allowed for the extraction of brine from the well for the extended duration
of this test and subsequent discharge to surface.
Quality Assurance
Patrick Highsmith, Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG CPG # 11702), is a qualified person as defined by
NI 43-101, and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the
basis for this news release. Mr. Highsmith is not independent of the Company as he is an officer and
director.
About Pure Energy Minerals Ltd.
Pure Energy is a lithium resource developer that is driven to become a low -cost supplier for the burgeoning
lithium battery industry. The Company is currently focused on the development of the CVS Lithium Brine
Project and the adjoining Glory Lithium Clay Project in Clayton Valley, Nevada. Pure Energy also recently
announced the acquisition of a purchase option on a major new lithium brine project in the Lithium Triangle
of South America, the Terra Cotta Project (TCP). The TCP is located on Pocitos Salar in Salta, Argentina,
where it enjoys some of the best infrastructure and access of any lithium brine exploration project in the
country. Execution of the definitive agreement concerning the Terra Cotta purchase option is expected
during Q1 of 2017.
Pure Energy has developed core strengths in innovative development and processing technologies for
lithium brines and lithium mineral deposits. The Company’s key attributes and activities include:
Generating positive results on a large land position with excellent infrastructure in a first-
class mining jurisdiction: approx. 11,000 acres in four main claim groups in Clayton Valley,
Esmeralda County, Nevada;
The only lithium brine resource in North America except for its neighbor, which is the only
producing lithium operation in the United States (Albemarle’s Silver Peak lithium brine
mine);
An inferred mineral resource containing approximately 816,000 metric tonnes of Lithium
Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) at an average grade of approximately 102 mg/L lithium,
reported in accordance with NI 43-101 (see July 2015 Inferred Resource Report);
An advanced program of testing the efficacy and economics of modern environmentally-
responsible processing technologies to convert the CVS brines into high purity lithium
products for new energy storage uses;
A new early stage exploration program on the 13,000 hectare Terra Cotta Project (TCP),
located on Pocitos Salar in Salta Province; and
An active business development program, applying its expertise to the evaluation of new
lithium targets around the world.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
“Patrick Highsmith”
Chief Executive Officer
Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that
are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward looking statements. Factors that could
cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of
materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the
mining industry. Forward-looking statements in this release may include statements regarding mineral
processing, adaptation of test work to larger scale and/or future operational scales, estimates of reduced
future capital and operating expenses, delivery of a preliminary economic assessment, future exploration
programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, and mineral tenure issues. Although we believe the
expectations reflected in our forward looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot
guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies
of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
CONTACT:
Pure Energy Minerals Limited (www.pureenergyminerals.com)
Email: [email protected]
Telephone – 604 608 6611, ext 5