Alabama Graphite drills 24 sonic holes at Coosa
2014-08-12 07:08 ET - News Release
Mr. Ron Roda reports
ALABAMA GRAPHITE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES EXPANDED SONIC DRILLING PROGRAM AT ITS COOSA PROJECT IN ALABAMA, USA
Alabama Graphite Corp. has completed the sonic drilling program at its flagship Coosa project in Alabama. This work was performed by Major Drilling of Huntsville, Ala.
The expanded program included a total of 24 sonic holes comprising 1,301 feet (396.5 metres). Graphite was observed in a majority of the sonic cores. Over 80 per cent of the holes were either completely in or contained substantial intervals of graphitic schist. No sulphide minerals were observed in any of the cores, which reached depths of up to 65 feet (19.8 metres).
The goal of the sonic drilling was to quickly test the upper weathered portion of new target areas identified through the integration of airborne and ground geophysics with surface channel sample results. An emphasis of the drilling was to provide additional information on the oxidized portion of new target areas around the Coosa deposit. Recent Bond Work Hardness Index testing has confirmed the soft nature of the Coosa deposit in the oxidized zones. Complete assay results are expected to be received within the next couple of weeks and will be made available at that time. These results will be used to plan a more extensive core drilling program expected to begin within the third quarter of 2014.
"We are encouraged by the preliminary sonic drill results that speak to the potential for adding to the oxidized resource at the Coosa project," stated Dr. Douglas Oliver, vice-president of exploration. "Within our existing resource over 35 per cent of it is oxidized and another 30 per cent is transitional. In contrast, all other North American deposits are completely reduced making them both sulphide-bearing and harder to mill."
"Given the substantial volumes of oxidized graphitic schist material at the Coosa project, it makes sense for us to emphasize exploration of this material," stated Ron S. Roda, president and chief executive officer. "In every way imaginable -- ease of mining, ease of processing, avoidance of acid-generating sulphide waste, and potential savings in both capex and opex -- preferential mining of the oxidized resource continues to look advantageous and is consistent with our mission to become one of the greenest graphite producers in the world."
All the drill holes were cased with PVC pipe to allow for re-entry with a conventional diamond drill if it is decided to deepen them at a later date. The sonic core was logged and sampled at the company's facility in Sylacauga, Ala. Samples have been shipped to ActLabs of Ancaster, Ont., for analysis.
Rick Keevil, PGeo, a director of the company and vice-president of project development, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the contents of this press release.
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