After the arrival of the drill rig and finalization of all preparatory site works, Lithium Power International Ltd. said Sept. 29 that it will start drilling at the Maricunga lithium-brine project in Chile.

The program will comprise 18 diamond holes, with 11 holes to be drilled to a 150-meter depth and six shallow holes averaging about 40 meters in depth targeting the newly acquired tenements outside the existing resource area.

Additionally, a single deep hole to 400 meters will be drilled close to the existing resource area to test lithium concentrations at depth.

Each drill hole is anticipated to take about a week to complete, with first assays expected in October, the company noted.

The drill program aims to expand the existing resource and provide additional evidence to support the planned feasibility study and ongoing project development, including the installation of monitoring wells to support environmental permitting for the project.

Lithium Power also intends to complete two additional pumping test wells at Maricunga to further evaluate the flow rates within the salar.