UK-based mineral exploration company Cornish Lithium has been granted planning permission from the Cornwall Council to assess the potential for geothermal lithium production in the vicinity of the village of Blackwater in Cornwall, England. This follows the announcement of the plans for this project earlier this year.
Ground preparations for the drilling of the first exploration borehole have already begun, with actual drilling expected to start after Easter. Drilling will take approximately six months to a target depth of around 2000 meters.
The potential for Blackwater for hosting a geothermal lithium resource had been identified based on an extensive digital model of the geology of Cornwall, as well as data from a research borehole drilled at Twelveheads. A research borehole at Blackwater will help build on the knowledge gained at Twelveheads while also exploring the lithium potential of the geothermal waters. A second borehole may be drilled if the results of the first are favorable.
“As we outlined during our recent presentation to local residents, an environmentally sustainable, domestic supply of lithium is an essential component of the UK’s transition to renewable energy, and Blackwater has been identified as a highly prospective area to explore for lithium in geothermal waters from our extensive digital modelling of Cornwall’s geology,” stated Mike Round, head of geothermal lithium at Cornish Lithium.
“Upon completion of our drill program, test results from our exploration borehole will enable us to better understand the potential of the geothermal waters that underlie the site and could provide an important step towards achieving our aim of creating well-paid career opportunities for local people,” added Round.
More recently, Cornish Lithium announced an agreement with Northern Lithium Ltd. to collaborate on accelerating the development of a sustainable, domestic supply of lithium in the UK.