Rodinia Minerals Inc. ("Rodinia" or the "Company") (CA:RM) (PINK SHEETS: RDNAF)(OTCQX: RDNAF), is pleased to announce the advancement of its exploration program at its Salar de Diablillos lithium-brine project in Salta, Argentina ("Diablillos"). "We are encouraged by our ability to define a high-grade lithium-potash zone with our auger drill exploration program and are excited to commence the next phase of exploration at Diablillos" remarked William Randall, President and CEO of Rodinia.
"Starting our first standard reverse circulation ("RC") drill program at Diablillos marks another key milestone for the Company and one, we anticipate, may provide significant support in establishing a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the property." (See Press Releases dated March 1, April 20, and May 26, 2010 for auger drill results at Diablillos).
Rodinia has engaged Quantec Geoscience Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of Quantec Geoscience Ltd. of Toronto, Canada to conduct a gravity survey of the Diablillos property and the Company anticipates receiving this analysis before finalizing the initial drill targets.
In addition, the Company has awarded the contract for drilling at Diablillos to Compania Argentina de Perforaciones S.A., a reputable drill supply and contracting company in Argentina. The mobilization of the drill is expected to commence shortly. All drilling and environmental permits in support of the drill campaign are in place, as are access agreements with surface land holders.
Raymond P. Spanjers, MSc. (Geology), Rodinia’s Manager of Exploration will be running the drill program at Diablillos. Mr. Spanjers, a licensed Professional Geologist, has 29 years experience in industrial mineral exploration, plant and mine management.
Prior to joining Rodinia, Mr. Spanjers spent 10 years with FMC Lithium Division where he explored for lithium brine deposits in Nevada and the Andean Puna of Argentina to identify potential production sites. Mr. Spanjers has also spent time exploring for and mining lithium deposits of spodumene pegmatites in the King’s Mountain Belt of North Carolina. He also oversaw the Company’s last drill campaign on its Clayton Valley Project in Nevada, USA.
Mr. Spanjers and his team in Argentina will explore across the entire salar with up to 32 drill holes using a standard RC drill rig. It is anticipated that initial drill targets will be prioritized based on an extensive review of the previously completed auger drill samples and the gravity survey to be received from Quantec Geoscience. The Company anticipates drilling under this program to occur to depths between 50 and 250 metres.
All exploration and drilling initiatives undertaken by Rodinia are supervised by William Randall, MSc (Geology), the President and CEO of Rodinia. Mr. Randall is a qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this release.
According to the Company’s sampling protocol, sample size is to exceed 300 millilitres and be stored in clean, secure containers for transportation. The prepared samples are then forwarded to the ALS Laboratory Group, Environmental Division, in Fort Collins, CO (USA) for analysis. A rigorous QA/QC program is implemented consisting of regular insertion of standards and blanks to ensure laboratory integrity.
Lithium is the lightest of all solid elements and the first element in the alkali metal column in the periodic table. It is silvery white, soft and reacts immediately with air and water. Lithium is a rare element because of its highly dispersed occurrence in the earth’s crust. Economic concentrations occur in salts from surface and substance brines and in the minerals petalite, spodumene, amblygonite-montebrasite and lepidolite in giant pegmatite deposits.
Lithium was first discovered and defined in 1817 but was not produced commercially until 1923 by a company called Metallgesellschaft AG. Until now, lithium has been a minor commodity used in small quantities by manufacturers of glass, grease and mood-stabilizing drugs. In recent years demand has skyrocketed due to the increase in mobile phone, laptops and assorted electronic devices popular with consumers.
Lithium-ion batteries have become the rechargeable battery of choice and are now almost used exclusively in cell phone and computer batteries with items such as shavers, power tools, and hybrid and electric cars switching over from the nickel varieties. The benefits of lithium-ion batteries include:
* Higher energy density to weight ratio
* Longer life
* No memory effect
Between 2003 and 2007 the battery industry doubled its consumption of lithium carbonate, the most common ingredient used in lithium-based products.
The lithium bonanza may just be starting. Lithium-ion batteries are integral to the automobile industry’s plans to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Since a vehicle battery requires a hundred times as much lithium carbonate as its laptop equivalent, the electric vehicles revolution could make lithium one of the planet’s most strategic commodities.
Rodinia Lithium Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a primary focus on lithium exploration and development in North and South America. The Company is positioned to capitalize on the expected increase in demand for lithium carbonate that is projected to result from the anticipated paradigm shift to mass adoption and use of key lithium applications like lithium-ion batteries as well as glass ceramics, greases, pharmaceuticals etc.
Rodinia is currently exploring its Clayton Valley project in Nevada, USA, which surrounds the only lithium-brine producer in North America, and its Diablillos project in Salta, Argentina.
