From geothermal prospect to lithium opportunity – a story from Nevada
Clayton Valley, Nevada (source: flickr/ Doc Searls, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
17 May 2016
An old geothermal project has become a lithium development opportunity following a new joint venture agreement on a project site in Clayton Valley, Nevada.
With electric cars and the need for batteries, lithium has become a hot topic. On a project site researched for geothermal back in 2008, developers searched for a deep circulating geothermal system that they hoped to exploit for geothermal power.
Geologic and geophysical mapping conducated in 2008, indicated a previously unrecognized, deep graben lying between the Silver Peak range front and outcrops of Paleozoic rocks at Goat Island and Alcatraz Island, two hills in Clayton Valley, Nevada. This graben is the main target for lithium brine as it may represent a separate sub-basin in Clayton Valley that holds brines not subject to pumping by production wells on the east side of the main valley. Exposed mineralization is confined to salt crust on the playa surface and other locations in the valley.
Back then the developer drilled a 120 meter (400 foot) geothermal gradient test well in 2006 on what is now the Clayton Valley BFF-1 project. Bottom hole temperature was 50°C (122°F) which showed moderate potential for geothermal power and therefore was not pursued.
In an announcement now, Nevada Energy Metals announces having agreed to a joint venture on the Clayton Valley Lithium project. So apart from geothermal, Nevada continues
Source: Stockhouse
