Which are the 15 most attractive salt flats for Lithium mining in Chile?
24-Jul-2012 La Segunda – News
From the 52 points where Lithium could be economically mineable in Chile the Atacama Salt Flat – operated by SQM and Rockwood Litio – gathers best conditions
The bid process for the Lithium Special Operation Contract (CEOL for its acronym in Spanish) that will allow companies to have access to exploration and exploitation of Lithium in the country has brought into discussion the potential of Chile as Lithium producer. Currently work sites for this mineral resource extraction are located at Atacama Salt Flat, however that is only one of the 15 mining areas with highest potential and attractive for investors, as reported by a survey carried out by Mining Ministry.
In fact, from the 52 points where Lithium could be economically mineable in Chile the Atacama Salt Flat – operated by SQM and Rockwood Litio (former Chilean Lithium Society) – gathers best conditions. It is located at Antofagasta Region in a 3,000 square meter area and at 2,300 m.a.s.l. it offers a 1,500 mg/l lithium content and potential resources reaching 6.3 million tons of lithium.
In accordance with Pablo Wagner, Mining Subsecretary, Atacama “is probably one of best places in the world for these operations. The mineral content, irradiation level, and logistics, amongst other factors, are hardly found in other regions”.
However, this salt flat will not be within the scope of possibilities for CEOL bidders neither will Pedernales. Pedernales, located at Atacama Region and currently operated by Codelco with a lithium content of 400 mg/l and potential resources reaching 1.4 billion tons of lithium, and Atacama salt flats are currently granted in concession to Codelco.
Notwithstanding and despite of holding these mining concessions, the state-owned company purchased bid basis in order to study the possibility to be part of the business.
More potential in Antofagasta and Atacama
However, Atacama and Pedernales salt flats are not the only viable sites for lithium mining that are catching the interest of potential new investors.
In accordance with Wagner’ s opinion the available data indicates there are 13 sites with auspicious conditions – 9 in Antofagasta and 4 in Atacama – although, he said, the company who is awarded with the CEOL contract will have the possibility to explore and make surveys on any salt flat throughout the country.
One of these salt flats is La Isla, located in Atacama Region with a 152 km2 extension at 3,950 m.a.s.l. with lithium content of 800 mg/l and resources for 948 thousand tons of lithium.
Another flat offering an attractive mineral content is Maricunga, also located in Atacama Region, it has a 800 mg/l lithium content and 905 thousand tons of mineral. Punta Negra at Antofagasta Region is the largest one with 250 km2 extension, 350 mg/l content and resources reaching 735 thousand tons of lithium.
The rest of the list of salt flats with highest potential is completed by Aguas Calientes 2, Paonales, Quisquiro, Aguilar, Tara, Las Parinas, Pujsa, Aguas Calientes 1, Capur, and Aguas Calientes 4.
Environmental impact of new work sites
As regards to environmental impact these new operations would have on salt flats, Subsecretary recalled that CEOL contracts grant the right to explore and mine lithium “but each project must comply with the same permits as any other work site”.
However, he indicated “if we compare against metallic mining, and notwithstanding lithium extraction also uses water, we have not observed higher impact than any other mining activity, and in general, impact is even lower”.
