Australian mineral explorer Green Critical Minerals (ASX:GCM) is working towards starting a maiden drilling program at the Ultra High Purity McIntosh Graphite Project in Western Australia.
The company reports it has begun preparing for the 10,500m maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program expected to begin in May 2023. Preparation work includes logistic, and access road improvements to allow equipment easy access to the drill sites.
In the lead up to the drilling program, the company reports it has completed a heritage survey by the Malarngowem Land Aboriginal Corporation and Trace Archaeology. This survey covered the ‘high-priority’ graphite drill targets identified from the electromagnetic survey, rock chip sampling, and mapping of various outcropping mineralisation,
Additionally, the company says the completion of the heritage survey provides clearance to start drilling activities at Green Critical Minerals’ exploration target of 67-100 million tonnes @ 2% to 5% total graphitic carbon (TGC).
Commenting on the survey, Green Critical Minerals Chief Executive Officer Mark Lynch-Staunton says: “We recognise the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of Australia’s indigenous people and are committed to working in partnership with them to achieve our exploration goals while respecting their traditions and values.
“We recognise the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of Australia’s indigenous people and are committed to working in partnership with them to achieve our exploration goals while respecting their traditions and values”
Gaining heritage clearance for our exploration targets is a significant milestone and paves the way for GCM to deliver on the significant resource expansion potential at the McIntosh graphite deposit.”
Throughout the survey, Green Critical Minerals reports it established a positive and productive relationship with the local Malarngowem group and its traditional owners that attended and participated in the survey. The company says it also worked closely with the group’s representatives to ensure its activities did not interfere with or harm any cultural heritage sites or artefacts.
Green Critical Minerals also reports it is currently progressing a preliminary ore sorting study, along with a metallurgical testwork campaign to be conducted at SGS Lakefield in Canada, battery anode qualification testwork, a downstream processing facility Scoping Study, and delivering of an updated McIntosh Upstream Prefeasibility Study (PFS) to advance McIntosh.
Green Critical Minerals is an Australian mineral exploration and development company focused on its portfolio of projects across the country. These assets include the McIntosh Graphite Project in Western Australia, a 40% interest in privately owned base metals company Red Fox Resources, the North Barkley Rare Earths Project in the Northern Territory, and the Torrington Tungsten and Topaz Project in New South Wales.
The company also has the option to secure a 90% interest in the Hawkwood Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Gold-PGE project in Queensland currently held in a joint venture with private company Auburn Resources.
Images: Green Critical Minerals Ltd
