Just as were were talking graphite yesterday and its high...

Just as were were talking graphite yesterday and its high quality, here we go:

Graphite Metallurgical Test Work UpdateHighlights:• Bulk sample of Springdale graphite concentrate estimated to be completed in Q2 2021.• Concentrate material will then be sent to Germany to test its amenability for the production of battery anode material suitable for use in EVs.• Final test results expected in Q3 2021.Comet Resources Ltd (Comet or the Company) (ASX:CRL) is pleased provide an update on ongoing test work on natural flake graphite from its Springdale Graphite Project (Springdale) located in Western Australia. Both excellent grade and recoveries were achieved on initial tests, leading to commencement of work to produce a bulk sample for further testing. Importantly, the graphite concentrates previously produced demonstrated a unique and potentially very valuable characteristic in its small size distribution, with two-thirds of the product passing the 38 μm size fraction screen. Generally, this small size fraction of graphite is a by-product of processing of larger flake fractions, which produces smaller size graphite, but in doing so also damages the smaller flake material in the process, reducing their performance and value. Deposits that contain high quality ultra-fine graphite are uncommon and are potentially suitable for supplying the expanding battery anode market, which continues to grow as the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) increase. Graphite suitable for battery anode production also achieves premium pricing in graphite markets, making it a highly sought-after product.Once the bulk sample of Springdale graphite concentrate is produced it will be forwarded to a specialist lab in Germany where they will assess, among other properties, the performance of the graphite during purification, micronisation and spheronisation. These are the key steps for the processing of natural graphite products for EV battery anode specification markets. Comet’s German lab partners will simulate these to test Springdale’s product suitability to meet industry standards in all of these areas.Comet Managing Director, Matthew O’Kane, commented, “The results of this ongoing test work will determine the suitability of the natural flake graphite from Springdale for use in the manufacture of battery anodes for electric vehicles. Earlier tests have demonstrated the graphite from Springdale is quite a rare product due to its very small flake size, which could make it ideally suited for anode production. This next stage of specialised testing will hopefully confirm this.”Further test work on the bulk sample of float concentrate in Germany is designed to assess the ability of the concentrate obtained by flotation to be converted into highly valuable, readily saleable products.Three different processes are to be tested:• Purification to carbon content above 99.9%, as these carbon levels pave the way for high tech applications like usage in batteries;• Micronizing for products which require well defined small flake graphite particles for their end uses; and• Spheronisation for usage in lithium-ion-battery anodes for the rapidly expanding market for EVs due to the global drive to de-carbonise the transport network.These test work streams are designed to confirm the suitability of Springdale graphite as a precursor material for these high value-added products.We look forward to receiving the results from these work streams and will provide updates as soon as the information is available.

Nice.