Old geothermal wells guide Lithium exploration in Nevada
Lithium Operation in Clayton Valley, Nevada (source: flickr/ docsearls, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
10 Apr 2021
Previous geothermal exploration helps Canadian-listed mining company in exploration efforts for Lithium in the state of Nevada, U.S.
The intertwined story of Lithium and geothermal energy continues in the State of Nevada, where Canadian-listed Nickel Rock Resources reports on the conclusion of initial exploration drilling tests for its Clayton Valley Project in Esmeralda County, Nevada.
While the company does not state any plans of potentially utilising geothermal energy as part of its activities, the interesting part of the statement is that previous geothermal exploration on the site has guided the company in setting drilling targets. Geothermal developer Western Geothermal Partners drilled an exploration well, which now provided data for exploration. It points to the possibilities of sharing data that can both create opportunities for things beyond geothermal, or as a geothermal opportunities. Examples are the potential of repurposing oil wells utilising hot water found as part of the production, or co-producing hot water for energy generation. But of course utilising minerals in geothermal brines, such as Lithium, are a great element as well. So while Nickel Rock Resources does currently not point to a brine-based resource, it still shows that there are opportunities across the different sub-surface sectors.
The program consisted of three reverse circulation holes totaling 356 meters (1,155 feet). The holes were intended to test the presence of lithium bearing clay members of the lakebed sediments.
In January of 2006, Western Geothermal partners drilled hole WGP#2 to a depth of 405 feet (123m) in the Goat Island graben. According to their reports, this hole cut interbedded zones of gravel, silt, and hot spring apron material. More importantly, “from 280ft (85.3m) to 305 ft (93m) fine grained green sand and silt logged as volcanic ash was encountered. This unit may be correlative to the Main Ash Aquifer, which is a marker bed in other areas of the Clayton Valley Basin.”
Mr. Robert Setter, Company President and CEO comments “Lithium clay exploration is booming again in Clayton Valley. The recently completed reverse circulation drilling program allowed our geological team to identify various clay and ash in each drill hole completed. Now that the current exploration program is done, groundwork for a more significant exploration program will soon get under way. We are excited about this opportunity in Nevada, the reverse circulation drilling program has been helpful in identifying important geological information on the sedimentary layers which will be used assist the geos in planning future exploration on our strategically located project located next to Albemarle Inc. and near Cypress Minerals in Clayton Valley.”
Mr. Alan Morris, Geological Consultant and Project QP, further comments “The clay layers encountered in the 1994 geothermal well are beneath gravel and alluvial cover and do not form obvious outcrops. This current drilling program has helped to define the clay layers, as well as, the determination of concealed faults which the Company believes to be important in the formation of lithium-bearing clays.”
Learn more about the Clayton Valley Lithium Project, here.
Source: Company release via PR Newswire
