American Salars Acquires Lithium Brine Project at Argentina’s Cauchari Salt Lake

Argentina's Lithium

Strategic move puts company next to world-class lithium producers in Argentina's Lithium Triangle

American Salars Lithium (CSE:USLI) has signed a letter of intent to acquire the Cauchari Minas Ines 01 lithium brine project, a 1,235-hectare claim located at the southern end of the Cauchari Salt Lake in Salta, Argentina. This acquisition positions American Salars within one of the world’s most prolific lithium brine districts, often referred to as part of the “Lithium Triangle.”

Sampling from the concession has recorded up to 383 ppm lithium, taken from just 30cm below the salt crust, indicating early potential for commercial-grade brine. The project covers 12km², with half of it located directly on the salar — increasing its likelihood of hosting brine-bearing aquifers.

“The potential of this section of the Salar de Cauchari is immense,” said Nick Horsley, CEO of American Salars. “We're adjacent to operators already producing battery-grade lithium.”

Near Major Lithium Players

The Cauchari Salt Lake is already home to projects operated by Exar-Ganfeng and Lithium Argentina, both of which produce battery-grade lithium carbonate. The Rincon salar, owned by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO), lies just 13 km from the Ines 01 claim.

A structural fault zone running north-south through the concession may act as a brine conduit, enhancing the site's lithium prospectivity. The broader Cauchari basin spans 2,550 km² and is underlain by a sedimentary aquifer estimated to reach depths of up to 500 meters.

Infrastructure and Exploration Advantage

The project is easily accessed via Road 51 from Salta, with existing mining roads leading directly to the site. It benefits from close proximity to rail, electricity, gas pipelines, and port access via Chile, supporting future development.

Geological data points to geyser-fed mineralization, leading to the accumulation of lithium, potassium, boron, rare earths, and borate minerals like ulexite and tincal, historically mined along the western edge of the salt lake.

The surface geology includes salts and sulfates, resting on a carbonate platform formed by late volcanic activity, which may have served as a key source of mineral-rich brines.

The acquisition marks a strategic entry into one of the most geologically and commercially favorable lithium basins globally, with growing global demand and rising geopolitical interest in critical minerals from stable jurisdictions.