Vanguard Mining Reclaims 100% Interest in Pocitos 1 Lithium Salar Project in Argentina, Enhancing Portfolio as Lithium Prices Rebound and Sector M&A Activity Exceeds US$8 Billion
(TheNewswire)
Vancouver, BC – TheNewswire - September 5, 2025 – Vanguard Mining Corp.("Vanguard" or the "Company") (CSE: UUU | OTCID: UUUFF | Frankfurt: SL5) ) announces that it has formally terminated for causeits agreement with American Salars Lithium Inc. (“American Salars”) regarding the sale of the Company’s 100% interest in thePocitos 1 Lithium Salar Project (“Pocitos 1”), an 800-hectare lithium brineproperty located near the town of Pocitos in Salta Province,Argentina.
The agreement with American Salars, originallyannounced on June 17, 2024, contemplated the sale of Vanguard’s fullinterest in Pocitos 1. At that time, American Salars disclosed aninferred lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”) mineralresource estimate in its June 17, 2024 news release1, underscoring theproject’s exploration potential within Salta Province’s prolificlithium brine district.
The agreement has been terminated for cause followingAmerican Salars’ failure to make required local government paymentsunder Law No. 8419 to the mining courts and the Mining and EnergySecretariat’s General Revenue Office of Salta, as well as its neglect to satisfy other obligations owed tocertain project creditors. As a result, Vanguard has retained 100%full ownership of Pocitos 1, thereby preserving its exploration upsideand long-term value for the Company’s shareholders.
David Greenway,President and CEO of Vanguard Mining, commented, “By regaining full control of Pocitos 1,we have not only protected shareholder interests but also preservedexposure to a lithium project with recognized potential in one ofArgentina’s most active brine districts. This outcome reinforcesVanguard’s disciplined approach to portfolio management and ensuresthat value generated from Pocitos 1 remains with our stakeholders.Looking forward, our strategy remains focused on advancing our coreuranium and gold assets, including the Yuty Prometeo Uranium Projectin southeastern Paraguay and the Brussels Creek Gold Project inBritish Columbia, while maintaining selective exposure to lithium aspart of a balanced approach to the commodities driving the globalenergy transition.”
Looking ahead, Vanguard remains firmly focused onadvancing its core portfolio of uranium and gold assets in theAmericas, while retaining selective exposure to lithium through assetssuch as Pocitos 1. The Company’s exploration strategy is designed todeliver exposure to commodities central to global energy security andthe energy transition, while maintaining disciplined capitalallocation to projects that offer the strongest potential returns forshareholders.
According to Trading Economics data, lithium carbonateprices in China are currently trading around CNY 78,720 per tonne(US$10,957/tonne), reflecting a strong rebound of more than 25% overthe past month after hitting multi-year lows below CNY 60,000 pertonne (US$8,350/tonne) earlier in 2025. While still well below theall-time highs reached during the 2022 supply squeeze, the recentsurge highlights renewed demand momentum in thelithium sector and reinforces the commodity’s role as a cornerstoneof the global energy transition.
About Pocitos 1 Lithium BrineDeposit
The Pocitos 1 Lithium Brine Project (“Pocitos 1“) islocated in the lithium-rich Puna region of northwestern Argentina, aglobally significant lithium district whose salars account for morethan 50% of the world’s lithium brine resources. In 2023, WSPAustralia completed a NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate(“MRE”) which, combining data from Pocitos 1 and the adjacentPocitos 2 block, reported an inferred resource of 140 m3 of lithiumbrine with a grade of 101 mg/L, yielding 143,000 tonnes of lithiummetal, which when calculated for lithium carbonate equivalent(“LCE”) is 760,000 tonnes.
To date, all drilling has been conducted onVanguard’s 100%-owned Pocitos 1 block.
Pocitos 1 lies approximately 10 kilometres from thetown of Pocitos, where infrastructure such as natural gas,electricity, and accommodation is available. Covering 800 hectares,Pocitos 1 is accessible year-round by road. More than US$2.5 millionhas been invested in exploration to date, including surface sampling,trenching, TEM and MT geophysics, and the drilling of three wells.These wells returned outstanding brine flow results, with continuousflows recorded for over five hours. MT geophysics has also identifieda deeper zone with potential for substantial resource expansion,supporting the project’s strong development potential.
NI 43-101 Mineral Resource EstimateHighlights:
Highest Lithium value tested using packer samplingsystem was 169ppm Lithium at a depth 363m.
The MT geophysics survey has discovered a large area tothe west with a resistivity of 0.4Ω.m and a depth of more than1km.
Ekosolve™ DLE technology pilot plant test work atUniversity of Melbourne achieved 94.9% extraction efficiency withbrines at an average lithium concentration of 86 ppm lithium of which80.76 ppm was recovered.
Significant brine flow was recorded in 2018 wells PO1and PO2 and brine and gas in PO3 drilled in November 2022.
The company will start a new drill/production wellprogram when the permits are issued by the Salta MinesDepartment.
Click Image To View Full Size
The Project has completed a base line environmentalstudy in preparation for a contemplated 20,000 tonne per year(“tpy”) Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) production plant for the project as previously announced byVanguard and contemplated in the WSP Engineering MRE.
The scientific and technical information contained inthis news release has been reviewed and approved by LawrenceSegerstrom, a consulting geologist who is a “Qualified Person”as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI43- 101”).
Argentina and Salta: A
Premier Global Hub for Lithium Brine Development
Argentina has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s most
attractive jurisdictions for lithium investment and consolidation.
Over the past three years, leading international companies—including
Rio Tinto, Eramet, Lithium Americas, Tecpetrol, and POSCO—have
committed or deployed more than US$14 billion through acquisitions,
strategic financings, and project expansions. This surge reflects both
the exceptional geological quality of Argentina’s salars, and a
supportive policy environment designed to attract foreign direct
investment and accelerate project development.
At
the heart of this transformation is the province of Salta,
consistently ranked as one of the most favorable mining jurisdictions
in South America. With established infrastructure, investor-friendly
policies, and proximity to world-class lithium salars, Salta has
become a focal point for new capital and advanced-stage project
development.
Lithium Sector
Consolidation Momentum
Recent transactions underscore Argentina’s strategic role in
global lithium supply chains:
Rio Tinto completed its US$6.7 billion acquisition
of Arcadium Lithium (March 2025), bringing tier-one assets such as
Fénix, Sal de Vida, and Olaroz into its portfolio.
Eramet regained full control of its
Centenario-Ratones project through a US$699 million buy-back of Tsingshan’s stake
(October 2024).Lithium Americas
consolidated the Pastos
Grandes basin via a US$227 million acquisition of Arena Minerals
(April 2023).Tecpetrol executed a C$309 million take-private of
Alpha Lithium (December 2023), securing Tolillar and Hombre Muerto
projects.POSCO most recently advanced a non-binding
US$62 million proposal (July 2025) to acquire Lithium South’s HMN
assets, highlighting continued appetite for
consolidation.
Together, these transactions represent approximately US$8 billion in
M&A value across Argentina.
Strategic Investments
and Development Capital
Beyond corporate consolidation, multi-billion-dollar development
expenditures are reshaping Argentina’s lithium landscape:
Rio Tinto sanctioned ~US$2.5 billion (December
2024) for the expansion of its Rincón project.Eramet–Tsingshan
announced ~US$1.7 billion in phased development at
Centenario-Ratones.POSCO earmarked ~US$1.6 billion for its Sal de
Oro project.Strategic financings continue to flow, including IFC’s US$180
million loan to Arcadium’s Sal de Vida, Glencore’s US$100 million
prepay for Galan’s Hombre Muerto West, and Triple Flag’s US$28
million royalty on Zijin’s 3Q project.
Vanguard’s View
Global lithium demand is projected to triple by 2035, fueled by
growth in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and grid-scale
renewable integration. With one of the largest lithium brine resource
bases globally, Argentina—and particularly Salta—stands at the
center of this supply expansion.
The
introduction of Argentina’s Régimen de Incentivo a las Grandes
Inversiones (RIGI) framework further enhances investor confidence,
offering long-term stability and scalability for large-cap projects.
Together, these factors solidify Argentina’s and Salta’s position
as premier global hubs for lithium brine development.
About Vanguard Mining Corp.
Vanguard Mining Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration
company focused on the discovery and development of high-value
strategic minerals. The Company is currently advancing uranium
exploration projects in the United States and Paraguay, with a focus
on identifying and developing assets critical to the global energy
transition. Vanguard is committed to responsible exploration and value
creation through the acquisition and advancement of highly prospective
uranium properties.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in
this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lawrence
Segerstrom, a consulting geologist who is a “Qualified Person” as
such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-
101”).
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
“David Greenway”
David Greenway, CEO
For further information, please contact:
Vanguard Mining Corp. Brent Rusin
Phone: +1 672-533-0348
E-Mail: brent@vanguardminingcorp.com
Website: https://vanguardminingcorp.com/
Neither the Canadian SecuritiesExchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is definedin the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy oraccuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
This news release may contain
certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information
(collectively, “Forward-Looking Statements”) within the meaning of the applicable
Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, included herein including, without
limitation, statements with respect to the Offering and the
anticipated use of the proceeds therefrom, are forward-looking
statements. When or if used in this news release, the words
“anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and
similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or
information. Such statements represent the Company's current
views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a
number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable
by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business,
economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and
uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause
results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from
the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not
intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these
forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in
assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting
such statements and information other than as required by applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
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1 American Salars Lithium Inc., “American Salars Acquires PocitosLithium Salar Project with Inferred Lithium Carbonate MineralResource”, June 17, 2024. Link
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