VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --International Lithium Corp. ("ILC" or the "Company") (ILC: TSX-V) is pleased to provide an update of the Company's operational activities in 2012, and plans for 2013.
Key Highlights
- Received increased financial support from Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. ("Ganfeng Lithium")
- Plans to drill and bulk sample at Mariana, Argentina which hosts Lithium-Boron and some of the highest Potash Grades in an Argentine salar
- Successful year-end drill program at Mavis Lake Ont.
- Drill Program planned for Blackstairs, Ireland - funded by partner Ganfeng Lithium
- Strengthened Management and Expertise
In the last fiscal period ILC continued to increase their strategic relationship and corporate objectives with Ganfeng Lithium, a strategic partner from China, via a $2,000,000 investment in the Company. The financial commitment reflects continued support of ILC's management, philosophy and technical programs moving into 2013.
Mariana Project, Salta, Argentina
A combination of sediment and brine sampling drilling is planned to occur early in 2013 on the Company's wholly owned lithium-potassium brine project in Argentina (news release dated 6 December 2012). The drilling will provide a better understanding of the resource potential of the entire salar. GEOS Mining, an Australian geological consultancy with experience in brine resource estimation, has been retained to assist in planning the project and carry out the necessary studies to support a resource estimation if warranted at this stage.
The Company will also collect bulk samples of the brine to be used for more advanced process and recovery testing by Ganfeng Lithium. The implementation of a program to install test evaporation ponds and a pilot plant is also being considered in addition to hydrogeological, climatic and geophysical studies.
The Mariana project consists of several contiguous mining claims that cover an expansive 160 square kilometres over the entire Salar de Llullaillaco in Salta, Argentina. The Company, and strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium, have 100% control over the development of the mineral rich brines at Mariana. The current planned program is intended to gain a broad working knowledge of the mineral recoveries, process metallurgy and final mineral products that can be produced from the Mariana brine, which in conjunction with a resource estimation will enable the Company to make business decisions to advance the project.
Mavis Lake Project, Ontario
ILC is completing a drill program on the Lithium and Rare Metals project at Mavis Lake near Dryden, Ontario. Naicatchewenin Development Corporation, a 100% aboriginal owned corporation, was contracted to provide diamond drilling services for a minimum 2,000 metre program.
Two drills were used on the project during the year-end campaign. Drilling focused on extending significant pegmatite bodies discovered in the 2011 drilling campaign which returned 1.86% Li2O over 26.25m and 1.22% Li2O over 28.45m (drill hole MF11-12, news release dated 12 January 2012). These two intersections appear to indicate a previously unknown pegmatite body that is wider than previously drilled pegmatites and may be oriented in a different direction. In addition, drilling continued to extend and infill between previously drilled pegmatites and to test historical lithogeochemical anomalies.
Results of the drilling program will be released as soon as the data are compiled and assay results become available.
Blackstairs Project, Ireland
The Company's 100% owned Blackstairs project in Ireland was optioned to Ganfeng Lithium late in 2012. Ganfeng has the option to fund up to ten million dollars worth of exploration on the project over the next ten years to earn an approximate 75% interest in the project (news release dated 2 October 2012). Ganfeng has a second option on the property whereby, following an initial due diligence period with expenditures on the order of $350,000, Ganfeng can elect to purchase a 100% interest in the project for two million dollars.
The Company, in conjunction with Ganfeng Lithium, has initiated the first phase of the due diligence reconnaissance which is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter 2013 (see news release 4 December 2012).
Management
The Company further expanded their management team by naming Mr. Anthony Kovacs as Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Kovacs has over 18 years international experience in mineral exploration and development. Before joining International Lithium Corp. he worked in senior leadership roles with Pacific North West Capital Corp. and Adriana Resources Inc. Mr. Kovacs' experience working with industrial minerals, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and precious metals throughout Canada, Europe, Mexico and Africa, will be a welcome addition to the core management team at ILC.
Outlook for 2013
"I am very optimistic about the year ahead. ILC is at the forefront of the clean energy vanguard, with Lithium continuing to be a key element of the energy storage solutions being developed to meet growing global demand. Recent high-profile mergers and acquisitions related to lithium resource companies confirms the growing demand for this commodity; thus creating an opportune moment for ILC to showcase its assets and capitalize on increased investor interest. We have a well-established management team, solid portfolio of lithium and potash assets, and access to capital to develop them. One factor that differentiates ILC among the junior explorers and developers is our strong strategic partner, Ganfeng Lithium. Ganfeng backs ILC financially and gives us access to their latest technologies and methodologies to extract and process our lithium resources. I hope that you find our latest developments encouraging. On behalf of our team I wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year," Kirill Klip, President of International Lithium.
In other news the Company has granted 3,075,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The options are exercisable at $0.10 per share for a period of five years, subject to regulatory approval. The options are subject to a four-month hold period.
About Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd.
Ganfeng Lithium, based in Xinyu, Jiangxi Province, China, is a professional producer of lithium products which has developed a comprehensive product chain, including lithium metal and alloys, inorganic and organic lithium chemicals, supplies a wide range of lithium products for primary and secondary lithium battery market, pharmaceutical and new material industries. Ganfeng Lithium's principal market is in China with international exports to Europe, Japan, the USA and India. Ganfeng Lithium was founded in 2000 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in August 2010, notably as the first publicly listed lithium company in China and has experienced rapid continuous growth over the last 11 years.
Ganfeng Lithium is a major shareholder and strategic partner to International Lithium Corp., currently holding approximately 17.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of ILC.
About International Lithium Corp.
International Lithium Corp. is an exploration company with an outstanding portfolio of projects, strong management ownership, robust financial support and a strategic partner and keystone investor Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., a leading China based lithium product manufacturer.
The Company's primary focus is the Mariana lithium-potash brine project in Argentina within the renowned South American 'Lithium Belt' that is host to the vast majority of global lithium resources, reserves and production. The 160 square kilometre Mariana project strategically encompasses an entire mineral rich evaporite basin that ranks as one of the more prospective salars, or 'salt lakes' in the region.
Complementing the Company's lithium brine projects are rare metals pegmatite properties in Canada and Ireland that have revealed through recent highly positive results a clear potential that the Company will advance with the support of its strategic partner, Ganfeng Lithium. These projects can add distinct value as the Company strives to source rare metals to help meet the increasing demand through the growth in global technologies that utilize the rare metals suite of elements.
With the increasing demand of high tech applications in battery and vehicle propulsion technologies, lithium and other rare metals are no doubt the metals of tomorrow's green tech economy. By positioning itself with solid development partners and projects with significant resource potential, ILC aims to be the green tech resource developer of choice for investors and build value for its shareholders.
International Lithium Corp.'s mission is to find, explore and develop projects that have the potential to become world-class lithium, potash and rare metal deposits.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Kirill Klip
President, International Lithium Corp.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
*Original release date was January 8th, 2013.
620 - 650 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 4N9, Canada
Voice: (604) 687-7551
Fax: (604) 687-4670
1-800-667-4470
E-mail: info@internationallithium.com
Website: http://www.internationallithium.com
SOURCE International Lithium Corp.
