Anson Seeks Utah Mineral Rights to Expand Green River Lithium Project by 5.4%

Anson Targets Strategic Land Expansion in Utah

Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) has lodged an application to acquire mineral rights covering 1,175 acres of lithium-rich brine territory from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL). This move would increase the footprint of its Green River Lithium Project by 5.4%, creating a contiguous landholding by linking claims on the east and west banks of the Green River. The applied-for blocks span both Indicated and Inferred JORC Resource Areas, positioning them for inclusion in a forthcoming resource upgrade.

Blocks Cover Key Lithium Brine Zones

The eight FFSL blocks under application encompass highly prospective lithium brines, with blocks 1 to 4 situated within the current Indicated Resource Area of Interest (AOI), while blocks 5 to 8 lie within the Inferred Resource AOI. The land package notably abuts the Bosydaba #1 and Mt Fuel-Skyline Geyser wells, where recent drilling confirmed lithium-rich brines with assays reaching up to 139 ppm lithium. These wells, about 12 kilometres apart, share similar geological formations and supersaturated brine characteristics within the Leadville Limestone Formation, which ranges from 680 to 750 feet thick in the area.

Exploration Target Suggests Significant Upside

Anson has interpreted an exploration target for the FFSL ground of between 59 and 71 million tonnes of brine, grading 100 to 130 ppm lithium. This target is based on recent assay data and historical oil and gas well information, though it remains conceptual and not yet classified as a Mineral Resource. The company emphasises that the exploration target focuses solely on the Leadville Limestone Formation and that further exploration will be needed to confirm extensions to the resource.

Policy Changes Facilitate Mineral Rights Acquisition

FFSL recently introduced new policies enabling the granting of mineral rights on lands it administers, following engagement with Anson. The company expects to be the first recipient of such an allocation, with the Board of Forestry, Fire and State Lands anticipated to consider the application in August 2026. If approved, this would pave the way for a JORC resource upgrade in Q3 2026, supporting Anson’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and its plans to advance project financing for a 10,000 tonne per annum lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) production facility in 2027.

Resource Growth Without Additional Drilling

Importantly, Anson’s strategy is to expand its JORC resource base without undertaking new drilling programs, thereby limiting capital expenditure and accelerating timelines. The company plans to appoint an independent consultant to integrate the new mineral rights area into an updated JORC resource estimate. This approach aligns with recent efforts to expand the Green River project footprint, including an 18% resource area increase from a separate application for SITLA blocks earlier in July 2026.

Next Steps Toward Production

The mineral rights acquisition and resource upgrade are critical milestones ahead of the DFS, which is progressing with engineering partners and aims for completion by early 2027. This DFS will inform funding strategies for the Green River Lithium Project, which recently secured a $3.85 million payment from POSCO to advance its Direct Lithium Extraction demonstration plant. Anson’s efforts to secure land tenure, resource growth, and project permits position it well to move toward commercial lithium production in a competitive US market.