Speakers: Karen Loomis and Vincent Ramirez
Topic: Lithium in Three Easy Steps: Railroad Valley Case Study
Abstract: Geologic investigations for lithium-bearing liquids have resulted in the discovery of a large brine complex in Railroad Valley, Nevada by 3PL Operating Inc. This deposit may not be unique to the region. We call this the “super-brine” complex due to the high concentration (more than 37%) of complex salts. The Pliocene deposit covers 55 square miles, is more than 1,000 feet thick, and includes 600 feet of evaporites representing about 100 cycles of evaporation. The proportion of double and triple salts, as well as metals, is typical of other commercial deposits in the western U.S.
Mapping of previously unrecognized ancient shorelines was instrumental to understanding the pluvial relationship between the high lake levels and cyclical salt layers in the basin center. Work that accompanied this basin analysis study includes geologic mapping, correlation of outcrops and subsurface units, delineation of a detailed stratigraphic and structural framework, and geophysics acquisition and analysis.
This study indicates that the Pliocene geologic history of Railroad Valley is common throughout the Great Basin region, and that similar deposits are likely in other areas if certain geologic and geomorphic criteria exist.
Bio: Dr. Karen Loomis earned her B.S. in Geology from UCLA, and her Ph.D. in Geology from Stanford University. She is Chief Geologist of 3PL Operating Inc. (3PL), and owner of Loomis Geologic Consulting, and specializes in sedimentary basin analysis.
During her 30-year career, she has worked as an international petroleum geologist exploring for oil and gas with ARCO International, Venoco, and Terra Nova Energy. She was a research geologist in the Stratigraphic Analysis group at the ARCO Research Lab, where she developed and transferred technology related to oil and gas exploration. At Kennedy/Jenks Consultants and Tetra Tech, she was an environmental scientist, and managed groundwater resources. In addition to teaching courses at ARCO, Dr. Loomis has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno and at Santa Barbara City College. She is active in the Nevada Petroleum and Geothermal Society (NPGS), and was President of NPGS in 2018–2019.
At 3PL, she has utilized her skills in basin analysis and subsurface stratigraphy to explore for lithium in Nevada. The first lithium exploration well for 3PL utilized a new exploration model not used by any other lithium mining companies, and resulted in the discovery of a lithium-enriched, super-brine complex.
For more information on Karen’s background and publications, please visit her LinkedIn page at linkedin.com/in/karenloomis.
Bio: Vincent Ramirez has a M.A. degree in Geology from UC Santa Barbara. He is the CEO of 3PL Operating Inc., a Nevada lithium exploration company.
Vincent previously worked for Shell Oil as an exploration geologist in Alaska, the continental United States, and Yemen. He has drilled 61 oil and gas wildcats worldwide, including 44 discoveries. While at Shell Oil, Vincent also was the Operations Manager for the San Joaquin Basin, and he was the appointed Structural Geology instructor at the Shell Research Lab.
Vincent discovered and developed several oil fields in central Siberia during 10 years with the Lundin Group. During this time, he transformed an oil company from bankruptcy to $850 million in value, drilled the highest-producing well in Russia (11,300 BOPD), and drilled the first multi-lateral wells in Russia, while overseeing 350 employees as CEO.
He has published extensively on structural geology subjects, including the San Andreas Fault, Ridge Basin, the California Coast Ranges, and obduction tectonics. Vincent’s geologic presentations commonly are forward-thinking and controversial.
Details:
Date: Thursday, Mar 5, 2020
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM, Pacific Time
Location: Tamarack Junction, 13101 South Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89511
More information and register online and reserve your seat!
For further information contact:
Nevada Petroleum and Geothermal Society
Phone: (775) 800-1862
Email: John@OpenMountainEnergy.com
http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/nps
The dinner bar will be sponsored by Paul Graham Drilling, Geo Drilling Fluids, and Resource Cementing, Please give them a BIG Thank You!
NBMG 