Catamarca · Argentina
The Tres Cruces Project
Accelerating the world's transition to clean energy.
Highest-grade regionin Argentina
Low impuritiesproven chemistry
20,000 tpapathway to 40,000 tpa
Fast tracktargeting production by 2029
Introducing
The Tres Cruces Project
The Project is a large-scale battery-grade lithium deposit in the Catamarca Province of north-west Argentina, approximately 30 km from the Chilean border and 154 km from Fiambalá.
It is centred on the Tres Cruces volcano and the alluvial cone beside the Tres Quebradas lithium salar, where an adjacent operator is already evaporating brine and producing lithium carbonate.
The Project is operated by 3C Resources' wholly-owned subsidiary Minera Cordillera.
The company owns or holds rights over approximately 30,000 hectares in the basin.
Project highlights
What sets Tres Cruces apart
Our technical team has mapped salars and brine chemistries across Argentina for more than a decade. Tres Cruces brings together properties that were not previously available in the basin.
Known chemistry
Brine chemistry consistent with the adjacent producing deposit, with low combined magnesium and sulphate relative to the brine projects currently in production.
Proven process
An extraction process developed and demonstrated by our own technical team on two previous projects, directly applicable to the 3C brine.
Confirmed geophysics
Geophysics across the property confirmed a hyper-saline aquifer below the alluvial cone, with results to the north and south indicating a larger basin than first expected.
Installed facilities
Fully operating laboratory and R&D facilities in Catamarca, combining analytical and lithium process research capability on one site.
Permits in place
All permits required for the current phase are secured and the environmental impact assessment is underway. Production approvals will be sought on completion of feasibility.
Two-site design
Solar evaporation at the salar concentrates the brine; a plant in the Fiambalá industrial park refines it into battery-grade lithium carbonate for export.
Resource
Defining the deposit
Four drillholes were completed in 2025, with a further six progressing through 2026 to identify and define the resource at Tres Cruces. Pump tests are under way to validate porosity and extraction parameters across the aquifer.
Drilling has confirmed the geophysics and the brine chemistry indicated by earlier work. Pre-feasibility level engineering is complete and feasibility study work has commenced.
Company timeline
Discovery to targeted production in six years
- 2023
Initial works begin with the consolidation of mining rights around the Tres Cruces volcano and the adjoining alluvial cone.
- 2024
3C Resources established in Singapore. Central Puerto (CEPU) engaged as a partner to co-fund the project.
- 2025
Geophysics confirms the hyper-saline aquifer. First four drill holes completed. Preliminary economic assessment completed and pre-feasibility engineering finished.
- 2026
10 drill holes completed. Pre-feasibility study completed and feasibility study progressing to confirm technology and detailed design.
- 2027
Preliminary infrastructure construction planned to commence, subject to financing.
- 2028 – 2029
Targeted start of production, initially targeting 20,000 tonnes per annum with a pathway to 40,000 tonnes per annum.