Unbeatable location
The Quillagua Este Project is located in northern Chile, in the Tarapacá Region, within the Salar de Llamara salt flat, at an altitude of approximately 850 metres above sea level, which provides optimal operating conditions and accessibility throughout the year. Its location is strategically privileged, less than 2 kilometres from Route 5 North, the country’s main logistics corridor, allowing direct and efficient connections to ports, industrial centres and key cities in the far north.
Geology
Geologically, the Salar de Llamara forms part of the fault-bounded provinces of the Andes, with significant aquifers beneath the Central Depression. The area includes tertiary fluvial fans that feed these aquifers and is marked by numerous salt flats, including the Salar de Llamara. The aquifer within the Salar de Llamara is partially closed, with a longitudinal axis of approximately 60 km and a current submerged basin covering approximately 1,300 km².
The sedimentary history of the area includes significant deposits of non-marine evaporite minerals, such as halite, salts, iodine, nitrate, sodium sulphate and hectorite, originating from the hyper-arid climate and volcanic tuff from Andean eruptions.
Technical Report
The Quillagua Este Project aims to evaluate the geological potential of lithium in clays and brines within the Quillagua Este Polygon, an area of 40,975 hectares located in the Antofagasta Region, 30 km east of the town of Quillagua.
The project has technical support under NI 43-101 standards, developed by Aspromin, which identifies the presence of the Quillagua White Stratum (EBQ), an evaporitic unit composed of clays enriched with lithium, gypsum and salts. Historical drilling and sampling have recorded lithium concentrations between 27 and 3,560 ppm, with average magnesium contents of 6.8%. Recent geophysical studies have detected low resistivity anomalies associated with a paleo-salt lake, suggesting the possible presence of lithium-bearing brines.
Prioritised Polygon
We hold exploration licences in the area prioritised by the Chilean Ministry under the National Lithium Strategy in the Quillagua Este sector of Chile.
The Quillagua Este Project is one of the largest lithium projects within the areas prioritised by the Chilean government under the National Lithium Strategy, covering an area of approximately 40,975 hectares. The companies associated with the project, Alto Exploradora SpA and Inversiones Valeska Minerals SpA, hold a total of 145 mining exploration concessions with preferential rights, located within the Quillagua Este polygon.
In terms of territorial coverage with respect to the polygon delimited by the Chilean government, Alto Exploradora SpA’s concessions represent 52.8%, while those of Inversiones Valeska Minerals SpA account for 32%, consolidating a majority and strategic position in the area of interest.
Spectral Map Clays
The study of lithium-enriched clays in the Quillagua Este polygon was carried out using remote sensing techniques with SWIR images from the ASTER sensor, aimed at identifying and mapping secondary minerals. Through spectral unmixing and SAM (Spectral Angle Mapper) analysis, using the USGS spectral library, it was possible to discriminate the spectral signature corresponding to hectorite (lithium clay), showing a high correlation with the previously determined clay index. The results show an extensive area located mainly in the southern sector of the polygon, with an approximate surface area of 100 km² with a spectral response compatible with significant concentrations of hectorite, which reinforces the prospective potential of the area for lithium mineralisation in clays.
Geophysical Evidence
Previous geophysical studies in the Pampa del Tamarugal, the Salar de Llamara and its surroundings, including magnetometry, seismic and TEM (Transient Electromagnetic Method), identified a low resistivity level at depths of 60-100 metres, suggesting the presence of hypersaline brine potentially rich in elements of interest, such as lithium and other minerals.
Geological, geochemical, geophysical and drilling studies carried out in the Salar de Llamara have made it possible to delimit the Estrato Blanco de Quillagua (EBQ) and define its composition and exploratory potential. The identification of low resistivity values, associated with the possible presence of lithium-rich hypersaline brines, supports the need for more advanced studies, such as deep drilling and detailed hydrogeological analyses, in order to evaluate the resource potential in the Quillagua East area.