Alabama's Bama met test shows 98.5% graphite purity
2014-09-24 06:09 ET - News Release
Mr. Ron Roda reports
ALABAMA GRAPHITE REPORTS 54.7% LARGE AND JUMBO FLAKE GRAPHITE WITH PURITIES RANGING FROM 96.3% TO 98.5% AT ITS BAMA PROPERTY IN CHILTON COUNTY, ALABAMA, USA
Alabama Graphite Corp. has received the first set of metallurgical results from SGS Laboratory in Lakefield, Ont., on sample material originating from the newly acquired Bama property. Using only simple flotation (without chemical or thermal treatment) the Bama composite sample produced a graphite concentrate that contained an aggregate of 54.7 per cent large flake (plus 80 mesh), of which 17.8 per cent was in the jumbo flake (plus 48 mesh) category. For all size ranges coarser than plus 150 mesh the purity exceeded 96.3 per cent with the jumbo flake fraction having a purity of 98.5 per cent in scoping-level evaluations. Another notable characteristic is the sample's low sulphur content at 0.02 per cent.
The five-kilogram composite sample was taken from the upper 50 feet of the existing Bama mine pit wall. The table presents the flake size distribution and concentrate purities of the sample.
FLAKE SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND CONCENTRATE
PURITIES
Flake size Weight % Assays % C (t)
+ 48 mesh (jumbo) 17.8 98.5
+ 65 mesh (large) 25.2 96.8
+ 80 mesh (large) 11.7 96.4
+ 100 mesh 10.4 96.3
As with the company's flagship Coosa project, the Bama mine contains a thick oxidized zone where weathering has both removed sulphide minerals and significantly reduced the hardness of the graphitic schist host. It is well established that far less work and energy are required to liberate minerals from soft, weathered host rock. In addition, the ease of liberating the graphite from the weathered rock in Alabama could lead to potential savings in both capital and operating expenses.
"We are tremendously pleased to see such high-purity values within a simple flotation, in our first sample of the Bama material," stated Ron Roda, president and chief executive officer of Alabama Graphite. "To combine this with over 50 per cent large and jumbo flakes indicate that the Bama property shows excellent economic potential. This combination of flake size distribution, purity and low sulphur content will allow us to support our mission of having one of the greenest graphite operations in the world. The Chilton properties we recently acquired will deservedly receive significant attention this fall and winter."
Alabama Graphite is continuing metallurgical studies of its Chilton and Coosa county properties with detailed flowsheet development that maximizes concentrate grade and carbon recovery while minimizing the degradation of graphite flakes. This work is in preparation for a preliminary economic assessment to begin later this year in respect of the Coosa project.
Rick Keevil, PGeo, a director of the company and vice-president of project development, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the contents of this press release.
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