# NOA Engages Hatch To Lead Process Development Study To Support Upcoming PFS At Rio Grande Project

Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/noa-engages-hatch-to-lead-process-development-study-to-support-upcoming-pfs-at-r--d821e035-538a-4bb9-9c7c-2b274d6eed3a

Original source: https://money.tmx.com/en/quote/NOAL/news/5950913053768768/noa-engages-hatch-to-lead-process-development-study-to-support-upcoming-pfs-at-r

Publisher: tmx

Original announcement: 2026-05-05T11:00:00.000Z

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Atlas analysis published: Unknown date

Atlas analysis updated: Unknown date

- Company: NOA Lithium Brines Inc.

- Ticker: NOAL

- Exchange: TSX

- Region: Salta Province, Argentina

- Primary commodity: Lithium

- Secondary commodities: None reported

- Document categories: Metallurgy, Other

- Extracted: 2026-09-14 14:49:50 UTC

Narrative sentiment: 0.40 · Bullish

## Minestarters Atlas summary

NOA Lithium Brines Inc. has engaged Hatch Limited to lead a process development study for its Rio Grande Project in Argentina. The study will evaluate direct lithium extraction \(DLE\) technology against existing evaporation pond flowsheets to support the company's upcoming Preliminary Feasibility Study \(PFS\).

Reasoning: The appointment of a major consultancy to conduct process development work is a positive de-risking step toward a Preliminary Feasibility Study \(PFS\).

- Positive factor: Engagement of reputable engineering consultancy Hatch

- Positive factor: Study supports upcoming PFS

- Positive factor: Evaluation of DLE technology to optimize flowsheet

Facts used in scoring: 1

## Classification and evidence

**Bench Scale Only**

Polarity: negative

Definition: Only preliminary bench tests completed — no locked-cycle or pilot work.

Why it applies: The announcement describes the start of a process development study including DLE testwork, which is at a preliminary stage.

Evidence · text

> The Study is expected to be completed in two stages: \(i\) DLE testwork and evaluation, and \(ii\) development of concept-level process design

**Single Domain Only**

Polarity: negative

Definition: Testing limited to one composite or domain — representativeness not established.

Why it applies: only one composite was tested

## Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 1. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

## Metallurgical Results (1)

### Fact 1

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/noa-engages-hatch-to-lead-process-development-study-to-support-upcoming-pfs-at-r--d821e035-538a-4bb9-9c7c-2b274d6eed3a#fact-metallurgical-facts-0)

Rio Grande Project · lithium

#### Identity

- Project: Rio Grande Project
- Commodity: lithium
- Region: argentina
- Reported Region: Salta Province, Argentina
- Ticker: NOAL

#### Test Work

- Program Status: scoping
- Sample: Rio Grande Project resource estimate

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-05-05T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: The document mentions a resource estimate as context for the project's scale.

- Positive factor: Significant LCE resource stated

Evidence · text

> resource estimate of approximately 4.7 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent \(LCE\) at an average lithium concentration of 525 milligrams per litre

## How Atlas produces this analysis

Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.