Battery materials specialist International Graphite (ASX:IG6) has begun bulk pilot-scale metallurgical testwork on ore samples from its Springdale Graphite Project in Western Australia.
The company, which has a $36.33 million market capitalisation, reports more than 1.5 tonnes of material is undergoing laboratory assessment at ALS Metallurgy’s pilot concentrate production facilities in Perth, aiming to produce around 100kg of graphite concentrate.
The bulk ore samples include material taken from within the existing Springdale mineral resource and from graphite discoveries at Springdale Central and Masons Bay, which are 2 of the 4 new graphite finds identified through a reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign completed over the last 12 months at the project.
This metallurgical testwork is part of a progressing technical assessment for a proposed open-cut mine at Springdale, with the completion of a feasibility study targeted for mid-2024.
Commenting on the metallurgical testwork, International Graphite Director and Chief Technical Officer David Pass says: “Results from the bulk testwork will add important data to our Springdale concentrator plant design.
“Preliminary testing has already shown that the Springdale graphite is well-suited for battery anode material (BAM)”
Preliminary testing has already shown that the Springdale graphite is well-suited for battery anode material (BAM). The concentrates produced at ALS will be available for further BAM testwork, including at our own Collie BAM R&D facility.
We are very pleased with the progress we have made at Springdale. Final assays from the Springdale 2022/2023 drilling campaign are expected to be completed by the end of this month, with a revised Mineral Resource Estimate to follow.
We are working to establish Springdale as a long-term, stable, and consistent supplier of high-quality concentrates for BAM processing. It is at the core of our vision for a mine-to-market graphite supply chain in Western Australia that will meet the needs of high-growth energy markets.”
International Graphite is an Australian supplier of processed graphite products including battery anode material for the electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy markets.
The company is focused on developing an integrated graphite supply chain with its Springdale Graphite Project and commercial-scale downstream processing at Collie in Western Australia.
On 1 June 2023, the company inked a $4.7 million funding agreement with the Australian government to fast-track its strategy.
Write to Harry Mulholland at Mining.com.au
Images: International Graphite Ltd
