JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Several development activities are under way at TSX-listed Lithium X’s Sal de los Angeles lithium brine project, in Argentina’s Salta province, following the appointment of Eduardo Morales as COO and Andres Barrientos as project GM.

The lithium development company has initiated several pump tests, including two airlift pump tests and one long-term multiday pump test on existing wells in the northern portion of the project, where previous drilling intersected higher-grade lithium brine in predominantly sand and gravel aquifers.

The long-term pump test is being conducted at a prototype production well drilled near the expected well field. The pump tests are being conducted by SRK Consulting (Denver), which has been retained to update the resource estimate.

The company advised on Wednesday that the results of these pump tests, which are being conducted by SRK Consulting’s Denver-based office, will be incorporated into the upcoming resource estimate, which is due to be released before August 30.

Meanwhile, Lithium X has also submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to Salta's Ministry of Mines detailing the pilot ponding facility, which will be constructed as part of the Salta Exploraciones SA (SESA) joint venture (JV).

The company noted that the permitting process would typically take up to 60 days and that, subject to approval of the EIA, construction was scheduled to commence on the pilot ponding facility. In anticipation of the final receipt of these construction permits, the SESA JV is negotiating the purchase of longer lead items and working on advanced engineering details, factoring in the experience and recommendations of Morales and Barrientos.

"I am pleased to now be fully integrated with the Lithium X team and up to speed on the ground with the Sal de los Angeles project, where I have now assumed operational responsibilities," commented Morales, adding that the project had the potential to become a world-class lithium asset and that Lithium X had the right team in place to effectively move forward.

“An updated resource estimate and the necessary approvals to build the pilot ponding facility are important steps in that direction,” he concluded.