** Shares of Pantera Lithium PFE.AX rise 158.3% to A$0.031, their highest since November 12

** Co sells its Smackover lithium brine project to U.S.-based lithium firm Energy Exploration Technologies for A$40 million ($26.09 million)

** Stock on track for record best session if gains hold

** Shares see busiest session ever; ~47.8mln shares change hands, 70.9x the 30-day average of 673,765

** Stock up 66.7% YTD, including moves in the current session

($1 = 1.5330 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru)

((JasmeenAraIslam.Shaikh@thomsonreuters.com;))