Metals Australia (ASX:MLS) reports graphite from its Lac Rainy Project in Quebec, Canada, has exceeded charging and durability benchmarks in a recent round of electrochemical tests.
The company says the test results confirmed that Lac Rainy battery-grade (99.96%) spherical graphite is ‘premium-quality’ lithium-ion battery anode material with ‘exceptional’ battery charging capacity and ‘outstanding’ discharge performance and durability.
Metals Australia now plans to rapidly advance the project towards development through the start of a Prefeasibility Study (PFS), with a goal of transitioning into a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) on the development of mining and flake graphite concentrate production at Lac Rainy.
Metals Australia reports that the graphite also exceeds expectations required by global lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and builds on the ‘premium’ qualities demonstrated by prior spherical graphite testwork, including an ‘exceptional’ yield of 65%, which highlighted potential to ‘substantially’ enhance the economics of graphite production.
Other qualities included an ‘excellent’ tap density of 0.97kg/litre, as well as a premium battery-grade spherical graphite carbon purity of 99.96% Cg using an environmentally-sustainable alkaline purification method.
Addressing the results, Metals Australia Chairman Mike Scivolo says: “The battery testwork results delivered from the Lac Rainy graphite concentrate are outstanding.
Not only have we demonstrated high yields of premium battery-grade spherical graphite from our project, but we have now confirmed this high-quality battery anode material has excellent battery charging and durability properties.
These results provide a stepping-stone for Metals to proceed to the feasibility study stage on our existing mineral resource, to demonstrate the strong economic potential of the project to deliver high-grade flake graphite concentrate as well as premium-quality spherical graphite into a North American market which has unsatisfied and rapidly growing demand for such products.
“Not only have we demonstrated high yields of premium battery-grade spherical graphite from our project, but we have now confirmed this high-quality battery anode material has excellent battery charging and durability properties.”
The results confirm that Lac Rainy is in the top tier of high-quality graphite projects, and we will now rapidly advance the project towards development. At the same time, we hope to significantly expand Lac Rainy’s mineral resource potential while advancing discussions with potential offtake and downstream development partners.
The company has now demonstrated the outstanding lithium-ion battery anode charging and durability as well as high-yield and other premium qualities of the Lac Rainy graphite.
This premium quality graphite product exceeds lithium-ion battery maker physical property and electrochemical specifications. We will now advance discussions with end-users across North America, Europe and other jurisdictions where lithium-ion battery manufacturing is being developed such as South Korea and Japan.”
The company also notes it plans to begin a ‘major’ trenching and drilling program in order to expand the Lac Rainy resource, with less than 10% of the graphite trends identified within the project having been drill tested.
Meanwhile, Metals Australia states it will also examine the potential to process its fine-to-medium flake graphite concentrate to produce premium battery-grade spherical graphite to supply directly to the North American lithium-ion battery and EV manufacturing markets.
Metals Australia is an ASX-listed active exploration and mining development company with a ‘high-quality’ portfolio of battery minerals/metals and gold projects in the mining provinces of Australia and Canada.
The company’s flagship Lac Rainy Project is situated in a ‘major’ graphite province in Quebec, Canada, and has one of the ‘highest-grade’ JORC 2012 graphite mineral resources in the region at 13.3Mt @ 11.5% Cg, including an indicated resource of 9.6Mt @ 13.1% Cg and inferred resource of 3.7Mt @ 7.3% Cg.
Images: Metals Australia Ltd
