One of the highlights of the latest quarterly activities report stated :
The new graphite discoveries provide opportunities to expand the current graphite resource
For the Campoona Central tenement :
Further Resource drilling will occur in April to close off mineralisation pods in preparation for Resource estimation
For CAMPOONA METALLURGY :
Metallurgical testing of Campoona graphite still in progress has delivered exceptional graphite concentrates: Outstanding finely crystalline natural graphite concentrate >99% TGA* achieved from mechanical cell flotation. *Graphitic carbon completed using Thermogravimetric Analysis accurate to ±1%carbon High tech applications that require graphite grading =99.95% TGA typically rely on synthetic graphite where purity is paramount and crystallinity less so. Campoona provides natural graphite at grades to rival synthetic graphite whilst at the same time delivering highly crystalline graphite
Such ultra-pure natural graphite concentrates are very rare and generally confined to narrow vein-style graphite deposits.
Further improvements in recovered grades are likely as various upgrading techniques remain to be tested over the coming months.
CONSIDERABLE assay data has been received and is still being processed for its economic potential, an overview of the results to date is discussed below (see report itself)
From the outset Archer’s plan has been to produce graphite concentrates that matched the world’s highest quality natural graphite concentrates. Several successive tests have delivered -75 micron graphite concentrates grading =99% carbon. The Company can NOW BOAST OF BEING ABLE TO EMULATE THE HIGHEST QUALITY FINE NATURAL GRAPHITE CONCENTRATES IN THE WORLD.
Tech Minerals Consulting Group reported that “the mechanical cell flotation results presented by Archer Exploration have been assessed by the Tech Minerals Consulting Group and they consider the results largely unheard of in the natural flake graphite arena with the exception of vein graphite.” Tech Minerals Consulting Group further advised that “...if Archer is capable of replicating these results consistently, then "the company will have a unique product in the natural graphite space". In assessing the potential markets for this graphite Tech Minerals Consulting Group stated that "such a product, properly introduced, is likely to be highly sought after by specialist manufacturers and end-users to include battery, polymers, ceramics, and high tech lubricants". Tech Minerals Consulting Group stated that "prices for flake graphite of 99.0% and higher in particle size ranges from 5 micron to -100 Mesh will command between A$2,500 to A$5,000 per metric tonne". Archer’s aim is to produce a range of graphite products grading to 99.95% carbon. Further testing is expected to improve the ultra pure grades already achieved. Simple metallurgical processing means that Campoona graphite can be prepared from mechanical float cells typically at =98% carbon (TGA) with limited beneficiation to deliver in excess of 99% carbon.
The focus on producing ultra-pure fine graphite has meant progress on extracting flake graphite has had to take a back seat albeit temporarily. Results of flake extraction are expected to be available April 2013 (ANYTIME SOON!)
In light of the significant knowledge gained in floating of Campoona samples, the tests for Sugarloaf will be revisited with the expectation of significant improvements in the quality of Sugarloaf graphite concentrates.
Bargain buying today at 16 cents. This should shoot back up in no time.
AXE Price at posting:
14.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
(20min delay)