Alset Recovers 27,300mg/L Potassium and 40,000mg/L Sulphate (SO4) IN Brine - Plus 1,860ppm Lithium and 6.5% Potassium IN Soil - at LA Salada Salar, Zacatecas, Mexico
ALSET RECOVERS 27,300mg/L POTASSIUM AND 40,000mg/L SULPHATE (SO4) IN BRINE - PLUS
1,860ppm LITHIUM AND 6.5% POTASSIUM IN SOIL - AT LA SALADA SALAR, ZACATECAS, MEXICO
August 9, 2017
Vancouver, British Columbia: Alset Minerals Corp. (TSXV: ION) (“Alset” or “the Company”) is pleased to
report that the phase one drilling program at La Salada salar in Zacatecas, Mexico has been completed.
This is the first of 13 salars that will be tested. Alset has a 100% interest in 13 salars covering an area of
approximately 4,500 hectares, all within 100 kilometres of the city of Zacatecas.
Highlights of Drilling
• Grid completed over La Salada salar with 1 deep hole (see Company news release dated 15 May
2017) and 40 auger holes over the majority of known surface salar extent;
• 38 brine and 428 soil samples recovered;
• High of 27,300 mg/L potassium (K) in near surface brine with an average of 12,718 mg/L;
• High of 40,000 mg/L sulphate (SO4) in near surface brine with an average of 16,594 mg/L;
• High of 1,860 ppm lithium (Li) in soil with an average of 724 ppm;
• High of 6.45% of potassium (K) in soil with an average of 3.73%;
• Low exploration costs due to infrastructure (roads and power) around the La Salada salar.
Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO of Alset said: “This program at La Salada was the first chance
for Alset to carry out a significant drill program to get a better understanding of the chemical
compositions in the near surface brines as well as soils down to an average of 14 metres. An important
attribute of our salars that became very clear was the cost of exploration compared to similar work in
remote locations. We are experiencing the benefits of good roads and power that will continue to
enhance the project as we move forward to do more testing to better understand the potential of La
Salada and our other salars. In the event of a mine being built the infrastructure will continue to
enhance the economic potential.
Based on these results, we are now ready to move forward with metallurgical work to understand the
leaching characteristics of the soils and to further explore for brine and aquifer potential at depth. In
addition to the work completed at La Salada, we completed a first pass auger sampling program over
Santa Clara, Saldivar, Caliguey, Colorada, Chapalla salars and some of our recently acquired salars.
Those samples results are currently pending; we hope to report them in the next few weeks.
The brine results showing high potassium, high sulphate, low calcium and low magnesium su ggest the
possibility of producing potassium salts at La Salada using solar evaporation. We have an outstanding
ALSET MINERALS CORP.
Suite 1400 – 1040 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4H8
Tel: 604-505-4753
www.alsetenergy.ca
salar at La Salada that is showing a lot of potential for significant resources of lithium, potassium and
other minerals needed for farming.”
Tables showing the soil and brine results mentioned in this news release are given below. The complete
data set for this work and our past lab work can be found on Alset’s corporate website in the lab results
section.
Table 1: Summary of Soils Data by Drill Hole
Max Weighted Averages
Depth K Li B K Li B
Hole ID Location (m) (%) (ppm) (ppm) (%) (ppm) (ppm)
LS17-AG005 south 15.6 3.76 1,840 790 3.01 1,633 630
LS17-AG013 south 21.0 6.32 1,860 638 3.75 895 428
LS17-AG019 centre 24.0 5.68 1,530 849 3.42 932 568
LS17-AG028 north 11.5 5.21 1,270 823 3.87 629 440
LS17-AG034 north 8.0 6.11 1,020 984 4.29 528 666
ALL AUGER HOLES 14.4 (avg) 3.58 975 535
LS17-TT01 north 51.4 6.45 790 574 4.05 196 249
ALL SAMPLES 6.45 1,860 984 3.73 724 443
Table 2: Summary of Brine Results
Hole ID Sample
ID
Potassium
(mg/L)
Sulphate
(mg/L)
Boron
(mg/L)
Lithium
(mg/L)
Calcium
(mg/L)
Magnesium
(mg/L)
LS17-AG002 547 3,540 2,800 46.5 3 65.7 62.9
LS17-AG003 544 575 1,300 23.2 2 49.4 45.9
LS17-AG004 549 7,000 10,000 134 4 15.6 12.6
LS17-AG005 504 7,750 9,200 156 4 21.7 22.1
LS17-AG006 505 3,970 4,600 83.0 2 19.8 19.4
LS17-AG008 543 683 490 19.4 7 395.0 266.0
LS17-AG009 523 2,940 3,100 55.7 2 16.8 8.2
LS17-AG010 517 3,530 3,200 61.5 3 79.0 18.2
LS17-AG011 516 4,970 3,000 64.4 3 3.9 3.6
LS17-AG012 508 4,900 3,800 82.3 3 3.6 4.2
LS17-AG014 522 12,500 18,000 249 4 3.1 2.0
LS17-AG016 518 17,800 18,000 284 8 7.6 10.0
LS17-AG017 519 22,000 23,000 377 11 12.8 10.0
LS17-AG018 521 23,800 31,000 465 13 68.7 97.0
LS17-AG020 520 18,700 16,000 285 12 60.1 89.2
LS17-AG021 542 2,080 3,800 78.3 < 1 39.2 42.8
LS17-AG022 525 8,830 8,100 135 6 4.4 1.6
LS17-AG024 541 711 610 12.2 1 20.9 30.9
LS17-AG025 550 16,900 30,000 431 14 441.0 213.0
LS17-AG026 528 23,100 36,000 497 13 7.7 3.6
LS17-AG027 527 14,200 17,000 296 11 9.7 2.2
LS17-AG028 513 8,860 9,800 145 6 22.3 9.8
LS17-AG029 530 22,500 36,000 544 16 4.7 5.2
LS17-AG030 531 24,000 31,000 431 13 20.9 16.0
LS17-AG031 532 22,800 34,000 515 20 30.8 17.6
LS17-AG032 540 4,820 4,300 28.9 2 10.4 5.3
LS17-AG034 511 27,300 40,000 677 22 3.4 1.1
LS17-AG035 534 21,500 27,000 410 15 18.8 9.3
LS17-AG036 539 7,010 7,900 96.8 3 49.6 21.6
LS17-AG037 535 21,700 34,000 524 16 217.0 44.2
LS17-AG038 537 22,800 33,000 565 21 19.7 8.0
LS17-AG039 536 23,200 31,000 481 16 85.8 52.2
Max 27,300 40,000 677 22 441.0 266.0
Average 12,718 16,594 258 9 57.2 36.1
Discussion of Drill Program
At La Salada 1 deep hole (51.35 m) and 40 auger holes were completed, both near surface brine samples
and extensive soil samples were recovered. Auger holes ranged from 4.5 to 26 .0 metres and averaged
14.4 metres in depth, they were completed on a 150-200 metre grid covering the entire salar for a total
area of some 1,800 metres by 900 metres.
Composite soil samples were taken along 1.0 to 3.0m intervals in the deep hole, and along 1.5 metre
intervals in the auger holes. To date assays for samples from 5 of these auger holes and the deep hole,
74 samples in total, have been completed with 33 holes pending. Assays returned significant lithium and
potassium values. Lithium results ranged from 79 to 1,860 ppm, with a weighted average of 724 ppm,
potassium ranged from 1.52% to 6.45% with a weighted average of 3.73% (Table 1).
Near surface brine samples were collected from 38 of the auger holes. These results returned high
potassium and high sulphate values. For the brine samples, potassium peaked at 27,300 mg/L with an
average of 12,718 mg/L, sulphate peaked at 40,000 mg/L with an average of 16,594 mg/L. These results
are shown in Table 2. These results indicate that further work, to identify potential brines and aquifers
at depth, depth to bedrock, brine volumes and recharge rates, is warranted.
From this drilling program, it is becoming clear the La Salada salar is emerging as a unique project with
relatively high values of lithium and potassium in the soils and high values of potassium and sulphate in
the near surface brines. Soil sampling of the southern portion of La Salada returned the highest lithium
values. The northern portion of the salar contained the highest concentration of potassium in both the
soils and brines as well as sulphate in the brines. Brine sampling at the very norther n edge of the salar
returned some of the highest potassium, sulphate and boron results, suggesting that the salar and
subsurface brines may continue to the north beyond the scope of the recent drill program.
Analytical Work
The drilling program and associated analytical work was designed to better understand the
geochemistry and deportment of lithium and other minerals in subsurface soils and brines in the La
Salada salar. However, it must be stated that to date the primary focus of our drilling has been to assess
the near surface infill soil layer, approximately 15 metres, including the near surface brines in that layer.
The mineralization potential beyond the near surface material is still open.
Based on these results, it is clear Alset’s La Salada salar has significant soil and near surface brine
potential. Alset will continue to investigate the lithium and potassium potential of the soils, and the
potential for potassium and sulphate in the near surface brines as well as brines at depth.
Moving forward, staged leach testing using hot water and single acid leaches will be conducted on
composite samples generated from the 74 samples reported. Following leach testing, mineralogy and
grain size distribution of these soils will be evaluated and further metallurgical testing will be conducted
on the remaining soil samples collected during the auger program.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Samples were submitted to SGS Durango for processing and then shipped to SGS Lakefield for analysis.
Soils were analyzed for geochemistry using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
(ICP-OES) procedure with a four-acid digestion. Brines were analyzed for geochemistry using an ICP-OES
procedure, water soluble Cl and SO4 were analyzed by ion chromatography.
Soil samples were submitted to SGS with 1 duplicate set, the laboratory used its own quality control and
quality assurance protocols for sample analysis. For additional QA/QC purposes, duplicate samples from
1 auger hole (14 samples) were submitted to ALS Zacatecas and ALS North Vancouver along with 1
duplicate sample, 1 blank and 2 standards with different lithium ranges (796ppm and 1 ,712ppm). The
blanks and standards were obtained from MEG Inc, Nevada. Duplicate, blank and standard results using
4-acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were
within acceptable ranges and returned similar values to the samples analyzed at SGS Lakefield.
Brine samples were submitted to SGS with 3 sample blanks and 3 sample duplicates and the laboratory
used its own quality control and quality assurance protocols for sample analysis. Six samples, including 1
duplicate set, returned values outside of acceptable ranges. The results of these samples are not
reported here and these samples are currently being re-evaluated by SGS Lakefield. The results of the
blanks and other duplicate samples were within acceptable ranges. Five repeat brine samples were
collected 1 month after the completion of drilling and submitted to ALS North Vancouver and Burnaby
along with 1 duplicate sample, 1 blank and 2 standards. The standards were manufactured at Inorganic
Ventures, Virginia and include one low salinity standard with 60 mg/L Li; and one medium salinity
standard with 190 mg/L Li. Again, all duplicate, blank and standard results were within acceptable
ranges.
Emily Hanson, PGeo, Vice-President of exploration for Alset Minerals, is the qualified person responsible
for this release and has prepared, supervised and approved the preparation of the scientific and
technical disclosure contained within the release.
About Alset Minerals (ION.V)
Alset Minerals Corp. is a TSX-V listed junior exploration company focused on exploring and development
of a group of high-grade lithium and potassium projects in the Central Mexican Plateau. The Company is
actively exploring in Mexico.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alset Minerals Corp.,
"Allan Barry Laboucan"
Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO
THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
The information contained herein contains "forward -looking statements" within the meaning of
applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on
assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet
determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections,
objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may
be "forward-looking statements."
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual
events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable
terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with
mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to
environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities
or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to
the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to
the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and
expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration,
development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to
gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the
Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company’s disclosure record.
Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward -looking statements.
Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward -looking statements. These
forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any
obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results
could differ materially from the Company’s expectations or projections
For further information contact Allan Barry Laboucan @:
Phone (604) 505-4753 www.alsetminerals.com