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Volt Resources test-work highlights potential to improve graphite project economics

Last updated: 15:58 20 Apr 2020 AEST, First published: 15:18 20 Apr 2020 AEST

Volt Resources Ltd - Volt Resources highlights potential to improve Bunyu Graphite project economics in recent test work
The test work program was undertaken by highly respected technical group, American Energy Technologies Co.

Volt Resources Ltd (ASX:VRC) is encouraged by positive results from the first stage of a test-work program on ore from the Bunyu Graphite Project in Tanzania.

The test program was undertaken by respected technical group American Energy Technologies Co, which is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Results demonstrate that there is scope to improve sales revenue from Bunyu products, with initial results showing a large increase in the percentage of high price (+30# and +50#) graphite flake as well as a reduction in the lower-priced graphite flake.

In January 2020, Volt commissioned AETC to undertake a test-work program using a representative sample from drilling completed as part of the Stage 1 Feasibility Study (FS) at the Bunyu project.

A graphite product from the Bunyu ore sample was prepared and analysed for certain physical, chemical and processing properties to provide information for its suitability for several value-added graphite market applications including as anode feedstock for lithium-ion battery cells.

The representative sample of ore was obtained from a composite sample produced from a metallurgical drilling program undertaken as part of the Stage 1 Feasibility Study.

Volt’s Bunyu Graphite Stage 1 Project will produce on average 23,700 tonnes of natural flake graphite product annually at up to 96% TGC.

Stage 1 funding initiatives advance

Managing director Trevor Matthews said: “We are delighted with these initial test-work results, which is further confirmation to the previous test-work programs during the PFS and FS stages of project study and development that Bunyu’s flake distribution is suitable for supply to traditional markets and for use in new high demand applications such as battery anode end-use markets.

“Given these results, there is an opportunity to make improvements to the project economics outlined in the Stage 1 Feasibility Study for Bunyu.

“Our Stage 1 funding initiatives continue to advance, even in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which is causing delays in the process and I look forward to providing updates on our Mauritian Note Offer and other funding sources in due course.”

The samples supplied were screened to -3.35mm and this was confirmed with a light top -size crush at the US Laboratory prior to grinding. Wet grinding was undertaken in a ball mill in 4.5lbs batches for 5 minutes at 70% solids.

Polishing mill utilised 0.5” diameter alumina balls at 20 minutes for 50 wt. % solids as the operating conditions.

The recovery of 68.5 wt.% of the total available concentrate was deemed appropriate by the consulting laboratory, extracting what they believe was as a fully representative sample of flake graphite product sample for thermal purification by the induction furnace into the secondary processed grade.

There is a substantial increase in the percentage of high priced +30# and +50# graphite flake with a consequent reduction mainly in the lower-priced fine graphite flake.

With further test work and analysis, this could have major economic benefits for both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Bunyu project.

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