Sarytogan Graphite Ltd (ASX:SGA) has fielded new results that extend the mineralisation at the Sarytogan Graphite Deposit in Central Kazakhstan.
Thick high-grade graphite intersections have been returned outside of the existing 209-million-tonne @ 28.5% total graphite content (TGC) inferred mineral resource.
Intersections above 25% TGC include:
- 75.1 metres @ 34.6% TGC from 2 metres including 51.1 metres @ 36.8% in ST-85;
- 47.4 metres @ 33.4% TGC from surface including 14.3 metres @ 37.7% and 21.3 metres @ 31.7% from 57.4 metres including 13.7 @ 38.0% in ST-87; and
- 22.8 metres @ 26.8% TGC from 2 metres including 5.3 metres @ 39.2% and 10.1 metres @ 30.6% from 34.3 metres in ST-84.
Beyond the zones
Mineralisation now extends beyond the existing resource up to 1,000 metres south-west of the Northern Graphite Zone (NGZ), 800 metres south-east of the NGZ, 150 metres north of the NGZ and 300 metres north of the Central Graphite Zone (CGZ).
This wraps up the company’s 2022 drilling program with 46 holes drilled for 3,044.6 metres.
Further results are expected from the CGZ ahead of a planned mineral resource upgrade in the first quarter of 2023, targeting the indicated classification to inform economic studies.
Sarytogan managing director Sean Gregory said: “The 2022 drilling program has been completed on schedule and on budget without incident which is testament to the capability of our established in-country team and their long-standing relationships with the local contractors and community.
Giant mineral resource
“The known thick high-grade graphite mineralisation has now been extended up to 1 kilometre outside of the existing giant mineral resource.
“The results closely follow the breakthrough metallurgical results where we achieved 99.87% graphite purity.
“It truly is an exciting time for the development of Sarytogan with an upgraded mineral resource on track for Q1 2023 to inform economic studies.”
Next steps
One final batch of drilling results remains outstanding from the CGZ, and is expected in January 2023.
The company will further optimise early metallurgical results where purity of 99.87% TGC was achieved – this is being conducted at labs in Australia and Germany.
The next big news will be the mineral resource upgrade, to be delivered in the first quarter of the new year.