Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/963504
12 www.resourceworld.com A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 8 lithium and 8% over 1,000 mg/L. FMC Corp. [FMC-NYSE] reported that its lithium segment earnings were US $44 million for Q4 2017, up 107% versus Q4 2016. The company produces lithium from the Salar de Hombre Muerto salt flat in northern Argentina. Galaxy Resources Ltd. [GALXF-OTC; GXY-ASX] is advancing the Sal de Vida (Salt of Life) deposit in northwest Argentina, one of the world's largest and highest qual- ity undeveloped lithium brine deposits with significant expansion potential. In April 2013, Galaxy released a Definitive Feasibility Study which supports a low cost, long life lithium and potash opera- tion. The study estimated a pre-tax Net Present Value of US $645 million (US $380 million post-tax) at 10% discount rate. Sal de Vida has the potential to generate total annual revenues in the region of US $215 million and operating cash flow before interest and tax of US $118 million per annum at full production rates. International Lithium Corp. [ILC-TSXV; ILHMF-OTC] and JV partner, Mariana Lithium Co. Ltd., a sub- sidiary of Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., announced a 2018 budget for con- tinued work at the Mariana lithium brine project in Salta, Argentina. Highlights of the US $17 million budget include contin- ued natural evaporation studies; membrane separation studies; aquifer characterization studies; Preliminary Economic Assessment; and Pre-Feasibility Studies. Lithium Chile Inc. [LITH-TSXV] has identified a 60+ km 2 lithium brine target area at its Helados Project in Chile. The open-ended, low resistivity zone was discovered by transient electromagnetic surveys within the northwest-trending axis of the Salar Tara-Laguna Helada basin. This area displays the same characteris- tics as the lithium-rich principal aquifers at Salar de Atacama, home to the world's largest and highest-grade lithium brine mine. The company is preparing for an ini- tial drill program. LiCo Energy Metals Inc. [LIC-TSXV; WCTXF-OTCQB] is earning a 60% interest in the 160-hectare Purickuta Project and is one of a few "exploitation concessions" granted within the Salar de Atacama, Chile. The property is contained within an existing exploitation concession owned by SQM, and is approximately 3 km north of the exploitation concession of CORFO (the Chilean Economic Development Agency). About 22 km southeast of Purickuta, both SQM and Albemarle have large-scale production facilities within the CORFO concession which collectively produce over 62,000 tonnes of lithium carbon- ate equivalent annually and accounts for 100% of Chile's current lithium output. Lithium Americas Corp. [LAC-TSX, NYSE; LACDF-OTCQX] has a 50/50 JV (Minera Exar) with SQM to develop the Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project in Jujuy, Argentina. The Cauchari-Olaroz pond lay- out and design have been completed with the pond contractor mobilized at site and production pond construction scheduled to start shortly. Minera Exar has reviewed the development schedule for Cauchari- Olaroz and expects first production to begin in 2020. Lithium Energi Exploration Inc. [LEXI-TSXV; LXENF-OTC] recently acquired three Argentine corporations, LITHIUM Dr. Catherine Hickson, P.Geo, COO of Dajin Resources Corp., inspecting a weir box during an active flow test of a well at LSC Lithium's Pozuelos Project in the Puna region, Salta province, northwest Argentina, where LSC has a NI 43-101 compliant resource of 1.3 million tonnes measured and indicated LCE (Li2CO3) plus an additional 0.5 million tonnes inferred LCE. Photo courtesy Dajin Resources Corp.