FN Media Group Presents Microsmallcap.com News Commentary

 

New York NY – December 4, 2018 – Amid the race to capture the lead with new developments in  EV’s, lithium-ion batteries, and energy storage technologies, the pressure is mounting on global energy metals developers and existing producers to keep up with secure qualified supply to this growing demand from nations and global corporations for raw materials. Several developers and  producers of energy metals (lithium, cobalt and vanadium) are ramping up operations, including Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF), Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE: SQM), Nemaska Lithium (TSX: NMX) (OTC: NMKEF), and Largo Resources (TSX: LGO) (OTC: LGORF).

 

Innovators like Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) are providing the sector with potential new domestic US supply for the near future. With plans to install a demonstration rapid lithium extraction pilot plant at its flagship project in south Arkansas, the company presents an alternative to the longer-term development of conventional lithium mines and production facilities.

 

The Demands Put Upon the Producers Continue to Ramp Up

 

In the battle to capture the lion’s share of the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery industry, analysts point to China investing billions of dollars every year to develop a supply chain for battery-grade materials. Asian developers are also building more facilities to process raw materials required to and for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries.

 

Domestically, the US Advanced Battery Consortium just awarded US$1.8 million to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the advancement of research regarding lithium-ion batteries. Meanwhile, discussions are mounting for the next phases of batteries that will not only incorporate lithium but graphene too. Danish researchers are even looking towards lithium batteries saving the planet from climate change impacts through powering supercomputing, which given the proper catalyst could spike demand from lithium buyers even more so.

 

Beyond the conventional methods of extraction being utilized, whether it’s hard rock lithium mining or brine evaporation, the producers are going to need to cover a lot more demand in years to come. One way is developing, from Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) with its flagship 180,000 acres Lithium Brine Project in south Arkansas.

 

Feeding the project will be brine produced as a byproduct of existing bromine production facilities in the southern state. On November 14th, an NI 43-101 maiden resource report was announced for the 150,000 acres south central Arkansas project with Standard Lithium (TSX.V: SLL) (OTC: STLHF) and global specialty chemical company LANXESS Corporation.  The report includes 3,086,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at the Inferred Resource category. Standard Lithium is also pursuing the resource development of 30,000 acres of separate brine leases located in southwest Arkansas.

 

 

Standard Lithium’s planned joint venture with global specialty chemical company LANXESS Corporation, if proven successful, could be a lithium game changer to bridge the inevitable supply gap on the horizon. The two hope to commercially produce, market and sell battery-grade products extracted from the ample brines with a so-far untapped lithium potential.

 

Lithium Supply’s Warning Signs

 

Thanks to growing demand from production of EVs by US manufacturers such as Tesla Motors, the lithium market is expected to struggle to meet demand through 2025. Tesla is facing major competition over lithium supplies from foreign lithium buyers, mostly coming from Asia. Even the European Union is sounding the alarm for its need to develop lithium mining and refining capacity.

 

Through a proprietary process that uses a solid ceramic adsorbent material with a crystal lattice Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) has developed technology capable of selectively pulling Li + ions from the “tail brine” or waste brine after it has gone through the bromine-extraction step.

 

Innovative domestic lithium production, such as projects like Standard Lithium’s (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) South Arkansas project could become more and more critical as time goes on.

 

Meanwhile, the majors are spending billions to shore up their own production capacities. Albemarle recently boosted its lithium supply through a $1.2 billion deal for a 50% share in an Australian mine. Chinese firm Tianqi is looking to spend over $4 billion to buy a near-quarter stake in Chilean lithium miner, SQM.

 

The need to secure new lithium is quite apparent.

 

Brine Extraction To The Rescue?

 

Located in Eldorado, Arkansas, Standard Lithium’s (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) demonstration extraction plant is being utilized to process brine from existing large-scale commercial brine assets. Reducing and or eliminating the exploration, resource development and permitting stage the most of its peers face   The project sits upon the Smackover Formation, which is one of the world’s largest brine deposits.

 

The company recently announced a  planned joint venture with partners, German chemical giant, LANXESS Corporation to pursue the commercial development and sale of battery grade lithium products extracted from Smackover brines in south Arkansas. Standard Lithium’s (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) proprietary technology is key to the project’s success, while its partner provides the crucial brine supply.

 

Upon proof of concept, LANXESS is also prepared to fund the joint venture to commercially develop the future project.

 

These arrangements save Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) significant time and capital which would have been quite challenging to secure independently. So far, they’ve already drawn and sampled multiple tanker trucks’ worth of brine, and the team has put in significant geophysics work, and additional drilling.

 

Historical data on the area shows 150 – 500 mg/L lithium in brines. The state of Arkansas currently produces the equivalent of 42.6 million m³ of brine per year—roughly 9.4 billion gallons, or over 35.5 billion litres.

 

Through additional agreements with independent oil and gas producers Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) has access to open, unused Smackover wells in and immediately adjacent to the project from which to gather new, high-quality lithium brine samples from the key brine production zones in the Smackover Formation. A sampling program conducted in Q3 2018 yielded lithium grades ranging from 347- 461 mg/L.

 

Now that the Southern Arkansas project has an announced inferred resource of 3,086,000 tonnes LCE attached to it, the push to demonstrate the company’s technology works is going to be a key milestone for its shareholders. With access to extensive infrastructure, low-cost chemical reagents, and a highly skilled workforce, Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) is an example of how one innovative developer plans to fast-track production of a new domestic supply of lithium.

 

Further Developments in Energy Metals

 

Located adjacent to the Standard/LANXESS site in Arkansas is Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB). However, the lithium giant’s operations in Arkansas are currently for the manufacturing of bromine and bromine chemicals. In 2011 Albemarle announced it had successfully produced lithium from brine at the pilot plant level in Arkansas, and have identified their Arkansas project as a world-class asset. This asset may be receiving more attention from the company as Albemarle’s South American lithium operations are dealing with a distraction as Chile has rejected the company’s expansion plans for environmental reasons and is also taking the company to court over lithium prices.

 

Another ongoing shakeup in Chile is happening with Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE: SQM), which is seeing a 23.77% stake in the company (currently owned by Nutrien) going up for auction. The Chilean stock exchange has put the auction in as the final step toward completing the sale of a coveted stake in the world’s No. 2 lithium producer to China’s Tianqi. The minimum bid would be set at $65 per share, for a total package price of $4.066 billion.

 

The hunt for a stable North American lithium supply continues, as Nemaska Lithium (TSX: NMX) (OTCQX: NMKEF) is moving forward with construction on its Whabouchi mine and electrochemical plant in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. With winter having arrived, Nemaska management is confident that they’ve properly taken weather impacts on construction and operations into account. Construction so far is moving ahead inside the concentrator building, and the company will be able to begin the installation of equipment as it arrives on site.

 

Beyond lithium, there have been further developments in other energy metals, including vanadium. In Brazil, Largo Resources (TSX: LGO) (OTCQX: LGORF) is set to expand its Maracás Menchen vanadium mine. Brazil’s Institute of Environment and Water Resources (IBAMA) has issued an environmental license for the mine’s expansion project. With the approved expansion, Largo wants to grow output by 25% by increasing the production capacity of the milling, fusion, leaching and filtering areas.

 

For a FREE research report on Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF), visit Microsmallcap.com

 

Disclaimer:  Microsmallcap.com (MSC) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with MSC or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by MSC are solely those of MSC and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable MSC and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. MSC and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

 

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author (MSC), and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author (MSC) has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, MSC, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment. FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release but was compensated forty four hundred dollars by MSC, a non-affiliated third party to distribute this release on behalf of Standard Lithium.

 

FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

 

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and MSC and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.

 

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FN Media Group Presents Microsmallcap.com Market Commentary

 

 

New York, NY – November 20, 2018 – Stress is mounting in the lithium sector, as producers are struggling to keep up with booming demand. Production increases are going to need to come not only from established sources, but also from expansions and innovations, from companies such as Standard Lithium (TSX-V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF), Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), Livent Corporation (NYSE: LTHM), Nemaska Lithium Inc. (TSX:NMX) (OTC:NMKEF), and Critical Elements Corporation (TSX-V:CRE) (OTC: CRECF).

 

According to industry leaders, the struggle for producers to match the unstoppable rise in demand for the rechargeable-battery ingredient is “problematic.” The boom will further tighten the market.

 

“It’s almost impossible for me to see a meaningful decrease [in lithium prices]”, said Paul Graves, CEO for Livent Corp, after his company presented quarterly earnings. “Whenever you have less supply than expected, it will create more tightness.”

 

It doesn’t help when governments in lithium-producing countries put up roadblocks towards companies looking to boost output. In Chile, leading lithium producer Albemarle Corp. was blocked by regulators from expanding output from the Salar de Atacama salt flat.

 

Beyond the three major producer countries (Australia, Argentina, and Chile), new projects involving new technology and untapped resources are starting to gain some momentum. Within the USA, Standard Lithium (TSX.V: SLL) (OTC: STLHF) has begun development on its innovative flagship 180,000-acre “Smackover Project” in Arkansas.

 

Feeding the project will be brine produced as a byproduct of existing bromine production facilities in the southern state.  On November 14th, an NI 43-101 maiden resource report was announced for the 150,000 acres south central Arkansas project with Standard Lithium (TSX.V: SLL) (OTC: STLHF) and global specialty chemical company LANXESS Corporation.  The report includes 3,086,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at the Inferred Resource category. Standard Lithium is also pursuing the resource development of 30,000 acres of separate brine leases located in southwest Arkansas.

 

Efforts like Standard Lithium’s present a potentially commercially-viable solution to help ease the lithium production gap. The company is making an example of innovation in lithium production, marketing and the sale of battery-grade lithium products extracted from brine produced within Arkansas’ Smackover Formation.

 

New Lithium Must Come from New Sources

 

Demand for lithium continues to rise, thanks to increased sales in electronics, as well as electric vehicles (EVs). However, the lithium market’s struggle to keep up has become alarming, as producers struggle to meet demand through 2025.

 

US manufacturers such as Tesla Motors continue to put the pedal to the metal on marketing sales for new vehicles. Demand for lithium is growing globally, making domestic supplies inside North America that much more important— such as innovative domestic lithium production, such as projects like Standard Lithium’s (TSX.V: SLL) (OTC:STLHF) Smackover Project in Arkansas.

 

Through a proprietary rapid lithium extraction process developed by Standard Lithium (TSX.V: SLL) (OTC: STLHF), lithium is extracted by a method that uses a solid ceramic adsorbent material. The process selectively pulls Li + ions from the “tail brine” or waste brine through a crystal lattice after it has gone through the bromine-extraction step.

 

Waves of Lithium Brines Untapped

 

To effectively and rapidly build out the south Arkansas project, Standard Lithium (TSX.V: SLL) (OTC:STLHF) has strategically positioned itself to piggyback off the region’s significant existing brine production infrastructure, and well established permitting guidelines.

 

Most recently the company announced a planned joint venture with partners LANXESS Corporation in South Arkansas at the 150,000-acre project. Brine production at the project is ongoing, and based on publicly available data for the period January 2013 to December 2017, an average volume of approximately 126 million barrels of brine per year (20 million m³ per year) was pumped, processed for bromine and reinjected across the property.  This corresponds to an average amalgamated flow rate of approximately 636 litres/second, or 10,076 gallons per minute.  To put these figures into context, the total brine resource beneath the Property is calculated to be 3.52 cubic kilometres, whereas the average annual pumping rate is approximately 0.02 cubic kilometres, meaning that only 0.57% (approx.) on average of the resource is processed (for bromine) per annum.

 

The state of Arkansas currently produces the equivalent of 42.6 million m³ of brine per year—roughly 9,380,000 gallons, or over 35.5 million litres. Historical data on the area shows 370-424 mg/L lithium in brines.

 

From these sources, Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) has already drawn and sampled multiple tanker trucks worth of brine for process testing and development, and completed additional drilling and sampling combined with significant geophysics work. More recently, high-quality lithium brine samples taken from the program conducted in Q3 2018 yielded lithium grades ranging from 347- 461 mg/L.

 

Now with a planned joint venture deal with LANXESS announced, the project continues to move forward rapidly.  Under the proposed terms of the joint venture, LANXESS will contribute lithium extraction rights and grant access to its existing infrastructure to the joint venture. Standard Lithium, under the proposed terms, will contribute existing rights and leases held in the Smackover Formation and the pilot plant being developed on the project, as well as its proprietary extraction processes including all relevant intellectual property rights. Upon proof of concept, and subject to proof of concept and a feasibility study, LANXESS is prepared to provide funding to the joint venture to allow for the commercial development of the future commercial project.

 

As the lithium industry struggles to come up with new sources of the metal to meet rising demand for items such as EVs and other batteries, projects like the Smackover provide a refreshing potential solution.  Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) has found a shortcut to potentially produce significant amounts of lithium domestically, and efficiently.

 

By securing access to existing, commercial brine production and the associated infrastructure, access to cheap chemical reagents,power, water and a skilled workforce, Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) is making a play to provide stable lithium supplies from within the USA—potentially reducing the reliance on production from Australia, Argentina, and Chile.

 

Further Lithium Production Developments

 

The world’s largest lithium producer, Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), is in the process of planning an expansion of production in Australia. The shift comes from recent news that the company will halt plans to expand its lithium carbonate production in Chile. The Chilean halt comes in the aftermath of a move by Chilean environmental regulators rejecting Albemarle’s proposal to expand output from the Salar de Atacama salt flat. Moving forward, it appears the company will plow funding into a Western Australia project that produces lithium hydroxide—a rarer form of the metal that’s growing in use and fetches higher prices than lithium carbonate.

 

Across the border from Chile in Argentina, recent FMC Corp. spinoff company Livent Corporation (NYSE: LTHM) is planning to expand operations at the Hombre Muerto salt flat. CEO Paul Grave has stated that the company has all the approvals it needs to start construction there, which will ramp up its first 9,500-ton-per-year expansion in the second half of 2020, and will work toward three more expansions of similar size through 2024. However, Graves has also expressed grave concerns that the lithium industry won’t be able to meet rising demands in the coming years, despite production increases.

 

Much like Standard Lithium, Nemaska Lithium Inc. (TSX:NMX) (OTC PINK:NMKEF) has chosen to focus its production from North America. However, unlike Standard, Nemaska is based in Canada’s and is moving forward on a hard rock spodumene mining operation in the mining-friendly province of Quebec. The company is making construction progress on its Whabouchi lithium mine and Shawinigan electrochemical plant. Whabouchi is located upon one of the richest lithium spodumene deposits in the world in both volume and grade.

 

Also operating in Quebec is Critical Elements Corporation (TSX.V:CRE) (OTC: CRECF), which is developing its flagship project, the Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project in the Northern Quebec region of James Bay. The 100%-owned lithium spodumene project is planned to be a conventional truck and shovel open pit operation with a conventional mill operation. Based on a September 2017 feasibility study, the advanced-stage project comes with an estimated CapEx of $341.2 million price tag attached.

 

 

For a FREE research report on Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF), visit Microsmallcap.com.

 

 

Microsmallcap.com (MSC) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with MSC or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by MSC are solely those of MSC and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable MSC and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. MSC and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

 

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author (MSC), and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author (MSC) has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, MSC, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment. FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release but was compensated forty four hundred dollars by MSC, a non-affiliated third party to distribute this release on behalf of Standard Lithium.

 

FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

 

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and MSC and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.

 

Media Contact:

FN Media Group, LLC

info@financialnewsmedia.com

+1(561)325-8757

 

FN Media Group Presents Microsmallcap.com Market Commentary

 

New York, NY – November 15, 2018 – The US will be demanding more from its miners in the wake of the newly signed U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). Increased demand from the US alone for critical metals could likely attract more attention towards miners of new energy metals such as Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF), Prophecy Development Corp. (TSX:PCY) (OTC:PRPCF), United Battery Metals (OTC:UBMCF)(CSE:UBM), European Electric Metals Inc. (TSXV:EVX)(OTC:EVXXF), and International Battery Metals Ltd. (CSE:IBAT) (OTC: RHNNF).

 

Strategists are already planning the next extensions to the trade deal, including the need to sign USMCA Critical Mineral Defense Supply Chain Agreements. Earlier in the summer the US Department of Commerce’s list of minerals considered to be “critical” reached 35, stressing a dire need to target a boost in domestic supplies.

 

The 35-metal list was an increase from the previous 2017 USGS report listing 23 metals and minerals deemed critical to the economy and security of the United States. That report came almost immediately before US President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order designed to ensure secure and reliable supplies of critical minerals.

 

Among the metals most focused on, are those tied to the rapidly growing rechargeable battery and electric vehicles (EVs) markets, including lithium, cobalt, and vanadium. Miners working on projects in the US as Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) with its flagship 180,000 acre South Arkansas Lithium Brine Project stand to benefit from this increase in domestic focus.

 

Standard Lithium’s domestic efforts include developing a joint venture with global specialty chemical company LANXESS Corporation to commercially develop opportunities for lithium production, marketing and the sale of battery-grade lithium products extracted from brine that is a byproduct of existing bromine production facilities run by LANXESS in South Arkansas.

 

 

Uniting on a Critical Metals Common Front

 

As a group, North America will now look to form a common front on critical mineral production and advanced materials processing. While Canada is already a strong resource producer, Mexico is also a leading provider to the US of four minerals and metals on the US Critical Minerals List, for which the US is between 75-100% import dependent.

 

With the USMCA, in order for automakers to qualify for zero tariffs, 75% of auto components must be manufactured within the trade bloc (up from NAFTA’s previous 62.5% mark). The result may be a need to import or produce even more critical metals such as lithium to meet these new requirements.

 

Alarmingly, the lithium market as a whole is expected to struggle to meet demand through 2025, thanks to growing production EVs from US manufacturers such as Tesla Motors. Innovative domestic lithium production, such as projects like Standard Lithium’s (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF)  South Arkansas Lithium Brine Project could become ever more valued to the USMCA partnership.

 

The Trump administration has already indicated it wants to help however it can to identify new domestic sources of critical minerals. The government plans to help increase domestic exploration, mining and recycling by giving miners and producers electronic access to better mapping and geological data, and streamlining leasing and permitting for new mines.

 

But in the case of Standard Lithium’s  South Arkansas Lithium Brine Project might be just the type of innovation that the US and its partners need. The project utilizes a novel approach to unlocking ample supplies of lithium from brine already being produced and processed in commercial volumes for the recovery of other minerals primarily bromine.

 

Standard Lithium  has developed a proprietary process that uses a solid ceramic adsorbent material with a crystal lattice that is capable of selectively pulling Li + ions from the “tail brine” or waste brine after it has gone through the bromine-extraction step at LANXESS three operating facilities in South Arkansas.

 

Bringing Out the Value of Brine

 

Standard Lithium is steadily building  out a proposed lithium extraction pilot plant to be located in Eldorado, Arkansas, designed to process brine from various brine streams. Among those streams is one of the world’s largest brine deposits, the Smackover Limestone Formation, of which the project is strategically located within.

 

The company recently announced a joint venture with partners LANXESS Corporation, a global specialty chemical company, in South Arkansas to develop commercial opportunities related to the production, marketing and sale of battery grade lithium products extracted from brine produced from the Smackover Limestone Formation. Upon proof of concept, Standard Lithium will provide existing rights and leases held in the Smackover Limestone Formation, and the pilot plant being developed on the property—in addition to its proprietary extraction processes including all relevant intellectual property rights.

 

Upon proof of concept, LANXESS is prepared to provide funding to the joint venture to allow for commercial development of the future commercial project, and it is anticipated that the joint venture will include options for Standard Lithium to participate in project funding on similar terms.

 

By partnering with a global specialty chemical company like LANXESS which operates three (3) brine processing facilities in south Arkansas, Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) brings a level of expertise that significantly raises the probability for  successful commercial production. The partners provide access to large volumes of  brine, extensive  infrastructure, and an skilled workforce—saving Standard significant time and capital to it would’ve taken to secure independently.

 

Standard Lithium has already drawn and sampled multiple tanker trucks’ worth of brine for extraction process work, and the team has put in significant geophysics work, and resource modelling.

 

Through additional agreements with independent oil and gas producers Standard Lithium has access to previously drilled wells in and immediately adjacent to the project from which to gather new, high quality lithium brine samples from the key brine production zones in the Smackover Limestone Formation. A sampling program conducted in Q3 2018 yielded lithium grades ranging from 347- 461 mg/L

 

South Arkansas is North America’s most prolific brine producing and processing region and has successfully been producing bromine and related compounds  for more than five decades. The unique brine formation in South Arkansas is the second largest brine reserve in the world. Historical data on the project area shows 50-424 mg/L lithium in brines. The state of Arkansas currently produces the equivalent of 42.6 million m³ of brine per year—roughly 9,380,000,000 gallons, or over 35.5 billion litres.

 

Standard Lithium has put together a  significant domestic lithium brine opportunity. Through its novel approach to production, the company has a vision of how to lop off all types of types of delays and technical issues, by how it and where it chooses to produce—Just what the United States and the rest of the USMCA needs right now.

 

Standard Lithium’s (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF) strategy to leverage existing brine production and piggyback on infrastructure as a shortcut in the development time to produce commercial amounts of battery quality lithium materials that could help North American manufacturers secure supply of a critical mineral. With access to extensive operations, amble power, water, low cost chemical reagents, and a trained workforce, Standard Lithium is an example of one developers novel approach to how critical mineral needs can be better met domestically.

 

Along with lithium, domestic manufacturers will need cobalt, vanadium and other critical metal supplies to be secured. Those supplies may come from within, or from technological advancements of North American companies abroad.

 

Additional Energy Metals Developments

 

For vanadium, a leading contender for North America’s next source could come from Prophecy Development Corp. (TSX:PCY) (OTC:PRPCF). Located in Nevada, Prophecy’s Gibellini Project is the only large-scale, open-pit, heap-leach vanadium project of its kind in North America. The Gibellini project has the largest NI 43-101 compliant measured and indicated primary vanadium resource known in the USA. The company recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Bureau of Land Management to expedite Gibellini permitting efforts.

 

United Battery Metals (OTC:UBMCF)(CSE:UBM) recently named former Senior Geologist for GoldCorp, Michael A. Dehn as President and CEO. UBM continues to develop its Wray Mesa Project in Montrose County, Colorado which based on historical records appears to have a very-good to excellent potential to host in excess of 500,000 pounds of uranium-vanadium resources— with 1,620,000 pounds (0.95% avg. grade) and 1,014,000 pounds (0.88% avg. grade) historical indicated and inferred resources, respectively.

 

On its underground work program at the Skroska Nickel-Cobalt Mine in Albania, European Electric Metals Inc. (TSXV:EVX) (OTCPK:EVXXF) updated the market by laying out its upcoming underground work program. Geologists are onsite, and have commenced an underground sampling program, with approximately 200 channel samples expected. The project has a remaining

 

International Battery Metals Ltd. (CSE:IBAT) (OTC: RHNNF) recently announced a licensing agreement with Ensorica Metals Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sorcia Minerals LLC whereby IBAT will license its novel lithium extraction technology to Sorcia for use in extracting Lithium Carbonate from lithium bearing brine sources in Chile. The technology is designed to extract lithium without the use of traditional evaporation ponds.

 

For a FREE research report on Standard Lithium (TSX.V:SLL) (OTC:STLHF), visit microsmallcap.com for a free research report

 

 

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 14, 2018 — Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLL) (OTCQX: STLHF) (FRA: S5L), is pleased to report a maiden lithium resource statement for its 150,000 acre Project in the south-central region of Arkansas, USA (the “Property”; see Company news release 9th May 2018). The maiden resource report, detailed in Table 1 below, includes 3,086,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at the Inferred Resource category (see notes [4] and [5] below).

 

Table 1 – South Arkansas Lithium Brine Project Inferred Resource Statement

Parameter	South Unit	Central Unit	West Unit	Total
Aquifer Volume (km3)	5.83	8.29	16.31	30.43
Brine Volume (km3)	0.689	0.995	1.84	3.52
Average Li concentration Milligrams per litre (mg/L)	165 mg/L
Average Porosity	11.8%	12.0%	11.2%	11.6%
Total Li resource (as metal) metric tonnes (see notes [4] & [5] below)	114,000	164,000	303,000	580,000
Total LCE resource (metric tonnes) (see notes [4] & [5] below)	605,000	873,000	1,610,000	3,086,000

 

Notes:
[1]  Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into a mineral reserve.
[2]  Numbers may not add up due to rounding.
[3]  The resource estimate was completed and reported using a cut-off of 50 mg/L lithium.
[4]  The resource estimate was developed and classified in accordance with guidelines established by the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The associated Technical Report was completed in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administration’s National Instrument 43-101 and all associated documents and amendments. As per these guidelines, the resource was estimated in terms of metallic (or elemental) lithium.
[5]  In order to describe the resource in terms of ‘industry standard’ lithium carbonate equivalent, a conversion factor of 5.323 was used to convert elemental lithium to LCE.

 

The lithium brine Inferred Resource, as reported, is contained within the Reynolds Member of the Smackover Formation, a Late Jurassic oolitic limestone aquifer that underlies the entire Property. This brine resource is in current commercial production for the purpose of recovering bromine from the brine. The bulk of the numerical data used to model the resource were gathered from a network of existing production and disposal wells distributed across the Property. Abundant data demonstrate that the Reynolds Member is present across the entirety of the Property, and that it is not affected by faulting.

 

The resource is defined across a total footprint of approximately 150,000 acres, or 775 km2, which is comprised of over 10,000 separate brine leases. The total lease area is separated into three specific areas, or ‘Units’, that each function as standalone brine production, processing and reinjection operations. The commercial extraction of bromine from brines sourced from the Reynolds Member aquifer commenced in the late 1950’s and is currently ongoing. The depth, shape, thickness and lateral extent of the Reynolds Member was mapped out using data from 699 wells that penetrated the top of the aquifer; 198 wells that penetrated the base of the aquifer; and 620 km of proprietary 2D seismic data. Thirty-one of the wells had full downhole geophysical logs, including detailed density and/or porosity data throughout the Reynolds Member. Detailed porosity and permeability data were gathered from core-plug samples taken from 17 active brine supply and reinjection wells distributed across the Property. In total, data from 2,329 core plugs, as well as 14,314 measurements from downhole geophysical logs were used to define the effective porosity distribution throughout the Reynolds Member aquifer.

 

Current representative in-situ brine geochemistry was assessed by taking samples, on two separate occasions, from 24 (of the 26 total) brine production wells across the Property. Lithium concentrations in brine at the wellheads ranged from 53 mg/L to a maximum recorded concentration of 292 mg/L. Spatial variations in lithium concentration across the Property were observed, but a conservative average in-situ concentration of 165 mg/L was used for resource calculation. Brine at the wellheads typically had a density of approximately 1.17 g/cm3, and a temperature of 65 °C.

 

Samples were also taken at the three separate bromine extraction plants (one at each of the ‘Units’); at the point where the brine streams from the brine production wells are amalgamated prior to bromine extraction (“feed brine”), and at the point where the bromine-free brine is ready to be reinjected back into the Smackover Formation (“tailbrine”). These data show that, during the period of sampling, the highest ‘blended’ lithium concentration was found at the South Plant (which processes brine pumped from the South Unit), with a measured feed brine containing between 191-200 mg/L Li. The South Plant is the location chosen for Standard Lithium’s Pilot Plant (see previous news release dated 12th September 2018). Sample quality assurance and quality control was maintained throughout by use of blanks, duplicates, standard ‘spikes’, and by using an accredited laboratory, with a long history of analysing very high salinity lithium brines.

 

Brine production at the Property is ongoing, and based on publicly available data for the period January 2013 to December 2017, an average volume of approximately 126 million barrels of brine per year (20 million m3 per year), were pumped, processed for bromine and reinjected across the Property. This corresponds to an average amalgamated flow rate of approximately 636 litres/second, or 10,076 gallons per minute. To put these figures into context, the total brine resource beneath the Property is calculated to be 3.52 cubic kilometres, whereas the average annual pumping rate is approximately 0.02 cubic kilometres, meaning that only 0.57% (approx.) on average of the resource is processed (for bromine) per annum.

 

“Our development strategy has been data-driven from the outset; our disciplined approach has been validated by this robust mineral resource estimate that is fully in-line with the due diligence we conducted” said Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium.

 

Resource Estimation Methodology
The resource estimate was completed by Independent qualified person (QP) Mr. Roy Eccles M.Sc. P.Geol. of APEX Geoscience Ltd., assisted by other Independent QP’s; Mr. Warren Black M.Sc. P.Geo. of APEX Geoscience Ltd. (resource modelling), Mr. Kevin Hill B.Sc. P.Geo. Hill Geophysical Consulting (geology), Dr. Ron Molnar Ph.D. P.Eng. of METNETH2O Inc. (processing), and Mr. Kaush Rakhit M.Sc. P.Geol. of Canadian Discovery Ltd (hydrogeology). The resource estimate of the lithium brine at the Lanxess Property is classified as an “Inferred” Mineral Resource, and was developed and classified in accordance with guidelines established by the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The associated Technical Report was completed in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administration’s National Instrument 43-101 and all associated documents and amendments.

 

Owing to the abundance of data available to the QPs responsible for resource assessment, it was decided to use a more robust 3D block modelling approach using the MICROMINE v18.0 software to model the porosity distribution across the Property. The data available to the authors of the Inferred Resource report included:

 

• 3,412 wells that had been drilled in the general Property area, including 1,004 wells that were deep enough (>2,135 m deep) to intercept the Smackover Formation/Reynolds Member;
• 699 wells with electric logs within the Property that went into the top of the Smackover, and 198 wells that had electric logs that fully penetrated the base of the Reynolds Member of the Smackover Formation (the brine resource, as estimated for this Property is only considered for the geologically and hydrogeologically distinct Reynolds Member);
• 36 wells that had density and/or porosity logs for the Reynolds Member;
• 620 km of proprietary 2D seismic data;
• 62 current brine assays representative of in-situ brine composition;
• 1,935 historical Smackover Formation core samples that yielded an average effective porosity of 14.3%;
• Historical permeability data that varied from <0.01 to >5,000 millidarcies (mD) with an average of 338 mD;
• 2,329 proprietary core plug samples from supply and reinjection wells across the Property, which yielded an average permeability of 202 mD and effective porosity of 11.2%; and,
• 14,314 total porosity values from the Reynolds Member based on publicly available logs, with an average porosity of 11.3%.

 

The block model for the Reynolds Member across the 775 km2 extent of the Property was compiled using blocks measuring 183 m × 183 m across, and a thickness of 0.61 m. The model resulted in a total volume of Reynolds Member aquifer beneath the Property of 30.43 km3, with an average global block model porosity of 11.6%. Using average in-situ brine grade beneath the Property of 165 mg/L yielded a lithium resource of approximately 580,000 tonnes of lithium (reported as elemental lithium), or just over 3 million tonnes LCE, assuming that all effective porosity is filled with brine. This block model approach is felt by the primary author to be a rigorous and conservative approach, and produces a robust and defensible Inferred Resource estimate. A Technical Report describing this resource estimation, and prepared under the NI43-101 guidelines, will be filed on Standard Lithium’s SEDAR page with 45 days of this release.

 

“The release of this first resource report is a significant milestone for the Company and shows that the South Arkansas Project is one of the most interesting emerging lithium brine projects globally” commented Robert Mintak, Standard Lithium CEO. “The combination of robust data sampled from existing brine production wells, with a large land package of 150,000 acres and associated infrastructure, makes our South Arkansas Project a compelling opportunity. A second resource report on 30,000 acres of separate brine leases in Southwest Arkansas will follow this report before the end of the year.”

 

Quality Assurance
The resource evaluation report was completed by the Independent Qualified Persons as described above, with Roy Eccles P. Geol. as the lead author. Raymond Spanjers, Registered Professional Geologist (SME No. 3041730), is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Spanjers is not independent of the Company as he is an officer in his role as Vice President, Exploration and Development.

 

About Standard Lithium Ltd.
The Company’s flagship Project is located in southern Arkansas, where it is engaged in the testing and proving of the commercial viability of lithium extraction from over 150,000 acres of permitted brine operations utilising the Company’s proprietary selective extraction technology. The Company is also pursuing the resource development of over 30,000 acres of separate brine leases located in southwestern Arkansas and approximately 45,000 acres of mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

 

Standard Lithium is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “SLL”; quoted on the OTC – Nasdaq Intl Designation under the symbol “STLHF”; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “S5L”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

 

On behalf of the Board,

Standard Lithium Ltd.
Robert Mintak, CEO & Director

 

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

For further information, contact Anthony Alvaro at (604) 240 4793

 

Source: Standard Lithium Ltd.