Anson Resources Applies for 1,175-Acre Mineral Rights to Expand Utah Green River Lithium Project

Strategic Application for Mineral Rights to Expand Utah Lithium Basin Project

Anson Resources has strategically submitted an application to acquire mineral rights from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands covering eight blocks at its Green River Lithium Project in southeastern Utah. The company revealed that these blocks are being considered for inclusion in a future JORC Resource update following the recent resource upgrade completed on 13 May 2026. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Blackstone Minerals NV LLC, Anson is consolidating its position in a region known for lithium-rich saturated brines.

The application covers 1,175.16 acres (4.76 square kilometers) of highly prospective lithium brine deposits, representing a 5.4% expansion of the project area. Importantly, the approved blocks would connect the company’s east and west claim areas separated by the Green River, creating a contiguous project footprint. This consolidation aims to streamline exploration and development activities while maximizing control over lithium-bearing formations within the Paradox Basin.

Eight Blocks Comprise Indicated and Inferred Resource Areas

The application includes eight blocks with distinct geological and resource classifications. Blocks 1 to 4, totaling approximately 507 acres, fall within the Indicated Resource Area of Interest and are part of the recently estimated Indicated JORC Resource completed by a U.S.-based third-party modelling firm. These blocks will be incorporated into the upcoming JORC upgrade once granted.

Blocks 5 to 8, covering about 668 acres, are located within the Inferred Resource Area of Interest of the newly interpreted JORC resource. These blocks offer potential resource expansion opportunities based on existing geological and assay data but carry a lower confidence level than the Indicated category. The application reflects a systematic land consolidation approach, with inferred blocks providing upside potential for future resource estimates as new data becomes available.

New FFSL Policy Enables Anson’s Mineral Rights Acquisition

Anson’s application is a significant milestone enabled by recent regulatory changes. The company disclosed that the FFSL introduced new policies late last year allowing mineral rights allocation on lands it administers. Anson collaborated closely with FFSL on the application and anticipates being among the first recipients of mineral rights under these policies. This regulatory development indicates supportive momentum for lithium exploration on state lands.

The Utah Board of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is expected to review the application in August 2026. Approval would mark a pivotal moment for Anson and the regulatory framework governing lithium exploration in Utah, positioning the company to expand its footprint in an area with confirmed lithium geology. The evolving regulatory environment appears favorable to private-sector exploration activities.

Recent Drilling Confirms Lithium-Rich Brines in Paradox Basin

Anson’s confidence in the application is underpinned by recent exploration drilling confirming lithium-rich brines in the northern Paradox Basin. The FFSL blocks border the Bosydaba number 1 well and the Mt Fuel-Skyline Geyser wells, both within lithium-rich saturated brine zones previously unrecorded for lithium until Anson’s recent drilling programs. The Bosydaba well results were announced on 20 May 2024, and the Mt Fuel-Skyline Geyser well results on 13 April 2026.

These wells, approximately 12 kilometers apart, exhibit similar geology and supersaturated brine characteristics, reinforcing confidence that the lithium-bearing formation extends across the FFSL blocks. The Leadville Limestone Formation hosting the brines ranges from 680 to 750 feet thick in this area, as shown in Anson’s geological mapping. These confirmed geological parameters support the mineral rights application and resource estimation methodology.

Exploration Target of 59 to 71 Million Tonnes Estimated for FFSL Land

Based on exploration drilling and the JORC resource announced on 13 May 2026, Anson has defined an exploration target for the FFSL ground within the Leadville Limestone Formation. The target ranges from 59 million to 71 million tonnes of brine grading 100 to 130 ppm lithium, equating to 5,900 to 9,230 tonnes of lithium metal or 31,405 to 49,129 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.

However, Anson emphasizes this target is not a Mineral Resource and remains conceptual. While a Mineral Resource exists nearby, no JORC interpretation has yet estimated extensions into the FFSL blocks. The tonnage estimates use parameters including lease area (4.76 square kilometers), formation thickness (700 feet), specific yield (6%), and brine density (1.13 g/cm³), all validated by U.S. chemical laboratories and reported in the upgraded JORC data.

JORC Resource Upgrade Planned for Q3 2026 to Support Feasibility Study

Anson’s strategy focuses on increasing JORC estimates without additional drilling to control costs and timelines. Upon mineral rights approval, the company will engage an independent consultant to update the JORC resource, leveraging existing geological and drilling data to expand estimates across the new tenure. The Utah Board of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is expected to consider the application in August 2026, with the JORC upgrade targeted for Q3 2026.

This timing aligns with the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) announced on 9 July 2026, which will incorporate the updated resource estimate. The DFS is a critical step toward advancing funding discussions for the Green River Lithium Project in 2027. This phased approach—mineral rights acquisition, JORC upgrade, then DFS completion—aims to de-risk the project and position it for development-stage financing.

Contiguous Land Position Streamlines Project Development

The FFSL mineral rights application offers the advantage of creating a contiguous project area by connecting previously separated east and west claim blocks divided by the Green River. This consolidation simplifies development planning, infrastructure placement, and operational logistics. It facilitates unified control over the project footprint, enhancing planning for brine extraction, processing, and transportation facilities.

A contiguous landholding also eases environmental permitting, water rights management, and regulatory coordination. Managing a single integrated project area improves efficiency in stakeholder engagement and allows for optimized geological modelling, exploration drilling, and facility siting. This land consolidation adds strategic value beyond resource estimation, supporting practical project development and commercialization.

Leadville Limestone Formation Thickness Supports Resource Expansion Potential

The Green River Lithium Project’s geological foundation, particularly the Leadville Limestone Formation, shows favorable thickness ranging from 680 to 750 feet in the Paradox Basin. Anson used a conservative 700-foot thickness in its exploration target calculations, consistent with geological mapping and the upgraded JORC resource model.

This consistent formation thickness reduces geological uncertainty and supports accurate resource estimation. Thicker brine-bearing formations typically indicate larger resource volumes. The conservative approach suggests potential upside as further drilling data is integrated. The Leadville Limestone’s proven thickness across the FFSL blocks under application indicates significant potential for future JORC resource upgrades.

Historical and Recent Exploration Data Strengthen Mineral Rights Application

Anson’s application is supported by extensive geological and assay data from historical oil and gas wells and recent drilling in the Paradox Basin. The exploration target is based on decades of subsurface data from historical wells exhibiting similar geology, combined with recent lithium-specific drilling results from the Bosydaba and Mt Fuel-Skyline Geyser wells.

This integration of historical and recent data provides a robust foundation for resource estimation and exploration target definition. The recent drilling, announced on 20 May 2024 and 17 December 2025, validated lithium concentrations and brine saturation previously undocumented. This comprehensive geological model reduces uncertainty and underpins the mineral rights application and planned resource upgrades.

Application Timeline and Next Steps for Resource Update and Board Review

Anson has outlined a clear timeline for the mineral rights application and resource update. The Utah Board of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is expected to review the application in August 2026. If approved, the JORC resource upgrade is targeted for completion in Q3 2026. This accelerated timeline reflects the company’s approach to expanding resource estimates by incorporating the new tenure without additional drilling.

The JORC upgrade will directly support the DFS process, providing essential data for economic modelling and engineering. The DFS, announced on 9 July 2026, is a key milestone in advancing project funding discussions planned for 2027. Investors are likely to monitor these developments closely as indicators of project progress and financing readiness.