Image of a lithium brine project
Source: Adobe Stock
The Market Online - At The Bell

Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights

Pantera Minerals Ltd (ASX:PFE) has kicked off drilling at its first test well at its Smackover Lithium Brine Project in Arkansas, seeking to sample and test both lithium and bromine grades from the Smackover formation.

The testing – which is expected to be completed within 10 days – will be conducted through the re-entry of a previously drilled and completed well, focusing on the upper and middle Smackover formation brine.

Samples will be immediately dispatched for lab and DLE analysis, with analytical results expected before the years’ end.

Pantera executive chairman Barnaby Egerton Warburton said the testing would provide important indicators about the quality of lithium at the project.

“Having built a relevant acreage position in the Smackover play we are now extremely pleased to be testing lithium and bromine grades in the heart of our acreage position,” he said.

“This first test not only will provide us with lithium grade but the site we are testing from provides both a supply and disposal well for a future planned pilot plant test.”

Pantera is the as the largest listed acreage holder outside of industry majors like Exxon, Albemarle, Standard Lithium and Equinor.

Pantera shares rose on the news, and at 12:34 AEDT, they were trading at 2.2 cents – a rise of 4.76% since the market opened.

Join the discussion: See what HotCopper users are saying about Pantera and be part of the conversations that move the markets.

PFE by the numbers
More From The Market Online
Cordoba, Argentina

‘Delighted’ Patagonia up 42% on MRE for Formentera lithium project

Patagonia Lithium Ltd has released a maiden mineral resource estimate for its Formentera lithium brine project
Apple Intelligence on an iPhone

Nobody’s buying Apple’s AI-juiced iPhone 16. Is the AI hype starting to show cracks?

If the Artificial Intelligence (AI) thematic is developing cracks, you won’t see them by looking at the still strong Mag 7 stock prices
Market Update Graphic

ASX Market Update: Index rises as Trump considers China tariffs | January 22, 2025

Just after the local bourse opened, Trump says the U.S. is seriously considering tariffs on China…
Road in Namibia

‘Decades of future development opportunities’ ahead for Paladin after plant improvement works

Paladin Energy Ltd recorded uranium production broadly in line with yearly expectations, despite a fall back…