Sarytogan Graphite (ASX:SGA) is continuing to expand the “already giant” resource of the Sarytogan Graphite Project in Central Kazakhstan after uncovering further ‘high-grade’ mineralisation nearby.
The ‘thick, high-grade’ graphite intercepts were returned out of 4 drillholes from the 24 holes currently drilled from 1,937m as of 12 September.
The company reports that as the results extend up 300m north of the previous known extent of the mineralisation and with the significant depths encountered, there is potential to extend the already large Inferred Mineral Resource of 209 million tonnes at 28.5% total graphitic carbon (TGC).
Sarytogan Graphite notes that drilling is on track to be completed by November 2022 to enable an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) in 1Q 2023.
Speaking to Mining.com.au ahead of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney in November where the company will showcase its assets, Managing Director Sean Gregory said the main objective of the current drilling campaign is to characterise the different domains across the orebody.
“The Sarytogan Graphite Deposit is already exceptionally large (209Mt @ 28.5%TGC) and typically triple the grade and triple the size of many other listed graphite projects. For our initial mining studies, we will only need to identify perhaps the best 20Mt within the orebody in terms of grade, strip ratio, and metallurgical performance.
“To find the best part, we need to drill in all areas and ‘leave no stone unturned’”
To find the best part, we need to drill in all areas and ‘leave no stone unturned’. This exploration looks like it is leading towards the bonus of growing the known size of our graphite deposit.”
The MD told this new service that Kazakhstan is a well-established mining jurisdiction, ranking number 12 and 13 in the world for mining and oil and gas production by value including its production of 40% of the world’s uranium.
Gregory adds that Australian investors will also draw comfort that the Kazakh mining code was updated and modelled off the Western Australian Mining Act in 2018.
“A big part of Sarytogan’s competitive advantage is our established in-country team led by our Technical Director and 39% shareholder Dr Waldemar Mueller. We have been able to achieve our operational objectives in-country at remarkable speed including the extension of our tenement for a further 3 years to enable ASX listing and procuring drilling rigs and other contractors as and when we need them and at very competitive rates.
As a place to visit and invest, it is a beautiful country with safe and prosperous cities and a land of opportunity for mining across its vast countryside.”
Meanwhile, ahead of IMARC later this year, the MD said Sarytogan Graphite’s present drilling program will have results released to the market in batches at roughly monthly intervals for the remainder of the year leading towards an update to the MMRE early next year targeting an Indicated classification.
“Our metallurgical test work programs are also progressing at labs in Perth and with our research partners in Germany.”
Metallurgical test-work including floatation, sintering/roasting, and leaching has been underway at the labs in Australia and Germany, with the aim of replicating historical results where purities of up to 98.6% were reported.
A second diamond drill rig is now on site at the project which has improved productivity therefore enabling the aforementioned forthcoming updated MRE.
The current results had each hole produce significant intercepts above 20TGC with ST-71 returning 133.9m of graphite mineralisation in separate intervals including:
- 5.8m at 26.4% TGC from 41.4m;
- 10.7m at 20.6% TGC from 56.2m;
- 36.1m at 27.2% TGC from 142m including 12.9m at 35.8%; and
- 29.1m at 23.1% TGC from 189.7m
Other strong extension results include ST-70:
- 14.3m at 28.5% TGC from surface;
- 32.5m at 32.0% TGC from 57.3m including 8.2m at 35.6% TGC; and
- 20.7m at 24.8% TGC from 123.7m
The Sarytogan Graphite Project is in the Karaganda region of Central Kazakhstan, some 190km by highway from the industrial city of Karaganda, the fourth largest city in Kazakhstan.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Sarytogan Graphite Ltd
