en.Wedoany.com Reported - Patagonia Lithium (ASX:PL3) has successfully reached a depth of 200 meters at the Cilon 8 well during drilling operations at the Formentera/Cilon lithium project in Jujuy Province, Argentina. As drilling progresses toward the planned final depth of 600 meters, the company has completed six in-situ packer tests.
Test data shows specific gravity readings increased from 1.04 in the shallowest test to 1.06 in the deepest interval (186–200 meters). Total dissolved solids values from the six tests also rose from 37.61 parts per thousand to 53.76 parts per thousand. Flow rates recorded in the company's packer test table ranged from 285.7 to 705.9 liters per hour.
Executive Chairman Phillip Thomas stated that the pumping rates reflect the strength of the aquifer. He noted that the company's primary area of interest lies between 250 and 400 meters and above, which may be the zone where the aquifer is enriched with lithium. However, this assessment has yet to be confirmed by laboratory analysis, with results expected within three to four weeks after sample submission.
The core from the 189 to 200 meter interval consists mainly of unconsolidated fine brown sand, with some sections showing semi-consolidated and strongly consolidated states. Visual estimates suggest quartz accounts for approximately 86% to 88% of this interval, with halite crystals comprising 2% to 3%. The company cautions that visual mineral estimates cannot replace laboratory analysis. The next round of packer testing is planned at a depth of 210 meters.
Upon completion of drilling, the company plans to conduct a 72-hour pumping test, along with borehole magnetic resonance and gamma testing, before updating the project's mineral resource estimate. The Formentera/Cilon project is located in Salar de Jama, covering approximately 19,500 hectares. The current mineral resource estimate includes 551,400 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, with an average lithium grade of 294 mg/L. This includes 14,800 tonnes in the indicated category at 393 mg/L lithium, and 536,600 tonnes in the inferred category at 292 mg/L lithium.
