Wealth Receives Positive Geophysical Results for the Atacama Lithium Brine Project, northern Chile Plans Drill Testing in Q1 2018
Suite 2300 – 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 2K3
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NR17-22 December 14, 2017
Wealth Receives Positive Geophysical Results for the
Atacama Lithium Brine Project, northern Chile
Plans Drill Testing in Q1 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE....Vancouver, British Columbia: Wealth Mi nerals Ltd. (the
“Company” or “Wealth”) - (TSXV: WML; OTCQB: WMLLF; SSE: WMLCL; Frankfurt: EJZN),
reports that it has received pos itive results from geophysical surveys at the Atacama project
(“Atacama” or the “Atacama Project”).
Magneto-Telluric (“MT”) and coin cident loop Transient Electroma gnetic (“TEM”) surveys
identified very highly conductive zones, which are interpreted to represent porous media with
high-salinity fluids (potentially lithium-bearing brines) at de pth (Figure 1). The results provide
the Company with both near-surface and deeper drill targets, an d initial drill testing of shallow
targets is planned for Q1 2018.
Figure 1: Atacama Project Magneto-Telluric Survey – 1D inversion model elevation slices with 1 m contour for
reference. Reds and purples represent high conductivity and potential lithium-bearing brine.
Shallow drill targets are located in the southwest while deeper drill targets are located in the southeast.
The Atacama property outline is shown in blue.
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“Completion of this extensive geophysical survey is a major mil estone for the Company and the
positive result has provided us with drill targets for testing early next year.” stated Henk van
Alphen, Wealth Minerals CEO, “Geophysical results point to shal low drill targets, less than 100
meters from surface, like operations located to the south. In addition, the geophysics defines
deeper drill targets which extend over an area of 10km by 15km. These targets are interpreted to
represent high salinity, lithium-bearing brines.”
Geophysical Survey Results
The survey was completed by Southernrock Geophysics and consist ed of a total of 141 MT and
coincident loop TEM sites located along 13 lines. Survey lines were carefully planned along
historical seismic survey lines to minimize the environmental i mpact of the work. Data was
processed according to standard methodologies with TEM data providing static corrections for the
MT data. 1D inversion modelling results were used to generate plan maps (Figure 1) and 3D
visualizations (Figure 2). The inversion model resistivity data may be used to interpret the general
character of the geoelectrical structure to depths of over 2,000m below surface.
The geophysical data identified very high conductivity (very lo w resistivity) zones, which are
interpreted to represent porous media with high-salinity fluids (potentially lithium-bearing brines)
at depth (Figures 1 and 2).
1D inversion model data is presented as depth slices in Figure 1, with inverted data shown at
approximately 100m and 900m below surface. The most conductive domain is focused toward
the southeast and extends northwest in a broad, approximately 1 0km-wide corridor, although the
north-easterly extent of this feature is poorly constrained by the present survey coverage.
Figure 2: 1D inversion model sections draped on satellite image for 3D view of the Project.
The <1Ωm contour is shown on Figure 1 for reference. Sub-surfa ce resistivity in the Atacama
Project area is very low with approximately 90% of modelled res ponses below 15Ωm and sub
2Ωm material accounting for around 50% of the surveyed subsurface. Extensive highly conductive
Wealth Minerals Ltd. - 3 - December 14, 2017
NR17-22 – Continued
(<1 Ωm) zones are predominantly o bserved in the east and southe ast of the survey area greater
than 500m from surface, which is interpreted to represent a potential increase in salinity.
Planned Drilling
Geophysical results have defined shallow drill targets in the s outhwest at approximately 100m to
150m below surface. Deeper drill targets are located in the so utheast at approximately 500m to
900m below surface in an area measuring approximately 10km wide by 15km long. Zones of high
conductivity are interpreted to represent high salinity, potentially lithium-bearing brines.
A drill program will now be planned for Q1 2018 to drill test the conductive anomalies, beginning
with the shallow anomalies in the southwest.
Qualified Person
Mr. Keith Henderson, PGeo, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr.
Henderson and has reviewed the scientific and technical informa tion that forms the basis of this
news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Hende rson is not independent of the
Company.
About Wealth Minerals Ltd.
Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile. The
Company’s main focus is the acquisition of lithium projects in Chile. To date, the Company has
acquired interests at the Trinity project, Laguna Verde, the Fi ve Salars project, and the Seven
Salars project, as well as the prolific Atacama, where the Comp any has acquired land alongside
existing lithium producers.
About 35% of global lithium production is sourced from the Atacama. Atacama’s brines contain
high grade lithium (1,840 mg/l) and potassium (22,630 mg/l). P roduction in the salar is from
property held by CORFO (the Chilean Economic Development Agency ) which it leases to both
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and Albermarle's Rockwood Lithium Corporation. Together
these two companies have combined production of over 62,000 ton nes of Lithium Carbonate
Equivalent (LCE) annually making up 100% of Chile's current lithium output.
Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural
issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wea lth is positioning itself to be a
major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. The Company also maintains
and continues to evaluate a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration-stage projects.
For further details on the Compa ny readers are referred to the Company’s website
(www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Wealth Minerals Ltd. - 4 - December 14, 2017
NR17-22 – Continued
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
“Hendrik van Alphen”
Hendrik van Alphen
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact: Marla Ritchie
Phone: 604-331-0096 Ext. 3886 or 604-638-3886
E-mail: [email protected]
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forwa rd-looking statements and forwa rd-looking information (collectively, “forward-
looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 . All statements, other than statements of historical fact,
included herein including, without limitation, statements regar ding the exercise of the Company’s option to acquire
the Project, the anticipated cont ent, commencement, timing and costs of the recommended exploration program on
the Project and exploration program results from same, the Comp any’s expectation that it will be able to enter into
agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral propertie s, the discovery and delineation of mineral
deposits/resources/reserves on t he Project, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the
Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can
give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified
by words such as: “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “postulate” and similar expressions, or are
those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Comp any cautions investors that any forward-looking
statements by the Company are no t guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical
difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities,
the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral r esources, the timing and amount of estimated future
production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits,
requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the
financial markets and in the demand and market price for commod ities, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of
the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals , permits or financing or in the completion of
development or construction activities, changes in laws, regula tions and policies affecting mining operations, title
disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations,
including acceptance by the TSX-V, as applicable, the timing an d possible outcome of any pending litigation,
environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to join t venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties
disclosed in the Company’s latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities
commissions in Canada. All of the Company’s Canadian public dis closure filings may be accessed
viawww.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect
to the Company’s mineral properties.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-lo oking statements. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in t his news release or incorporated by reference herein,
except as otherwise required by law.
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