Ameriwest Lithium Receives Positive Geophysics Report

Ameriwest Lithium Inc., a North American lithium exploration and development company, is pleased to announce it has received a geophysics report offering highly positive conclusions regarding the prospect for lithium brine concentrations at its Deer Musk East property in Nevada’s well-known Clayton Valley.

The report, titled “Geophysical Exploration for Deer Musk East Claim Area” was prepared by Advanced Geoscience Inc. The report concludes that the results from the geophysics program “…demonstrate a strong likelihood for the occurrence of lithium brine deposits beneath the claim area.” The report recommends additional geophysics studies to further improve the definition of the brine targets. It also recommends drilling to assess the lithium content of the brine targets with the goal of ultimately generating mineral resources.

David Watkinson, President and CEO of Ameriwest, stated, “The results of the report are exciting, as they are proving up the exploration model outlined by the Company’s geological team for DME. It is clear the next phase of work including drilling, is warranted, to better define and test the geophysical targets identified in this report.”  

The Deer Musk East Property (DME or the Property) is located on the southeast margin of Clayton Valley between the paleo-lacustrine playa and Clayton Ridge, the first set of uplifted Tertiary sediments on the east side of Clayton Valley. DME is adjacent to and south of Noram Lithium Corporation’s Zeus Project and Cypress Development Corporations Clayton Valley lithium properties. Those company’s exploration activities have successfully discovered lithium claystone deposits with NI 43-101 Technical Reports defining lithium mineral resources.

Note that the location of DME adjacent to or nearby properties does not guarantee exploration success at DME or that mineral resources or reserves with be defined on the Property. However, the exploration models and activities conducted by those companies provide a useful guide for exploration work being completed by Ameriwest at DME.

The geophysics program at DME consisted of a three-tiered geophysical program that included 30,200-feet (9.05 km) of seismic surveys in four lines that contained 2,210 stations, a detailed gravity survey with 85 station readings, and a selective seven-station transient electromagnetic resistivity survey. The work was initiated to identify the subsurface sedimentary composition, locate, and identify possible tectonic structures, to ascertain the potential depth to groundwater, and to determine if the groundwater is brine rich. Brine rich groundwater has potential to host concentrated lithium.

The data clearly showed the “seismic stratigraphy” as a complex fault zone that both lifts up as well as down drops vast sections of the Property (horst and graben fault blocks) which have created potentially favourable traps for lithium-rich brines and brings potentially lithium-rich sediments to the near-surface. 

A central core uplift area in the middle of the claim block was clearly apparent from both the seismic and gravity surveys. There is a substantial gravity low on the east-central part of the claim block indicating a large down-dropped section. This suggests potential for a massive fault-blocked groundwater pool is evident. The geophysicist identified three distinct fault zones, although other faults are likely present.

The 2D Subsurface TEM Resistivity Profile produced by the geophysicist revealed a strong near-surface, low conductivity groundwater horizon (the current recharge aquifer) that overlies a very conductive saline-rich aquifer. It, in turn, overlies another low conductivity aquifer. If these groundwater horizons are lithium-rich brines, they would be between 300 – 800 feet below the surface. Drilling is required to test for the presence of lithium in the various groundwater aquifers. Groundwater, across the width of the claim block, appears to host saline-rich brines that have potential to also contain lithium.

Source and photo: Ameriwest