Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) has achieved graphite concentrate grades of up to 98.85% through metallurgical test work at its 70% owned Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project in south east Tanzania.
These results provide for the potential production of a high value premium product which further de-risks the project.
Allan Mulligan, managing director, commented: “The Lindi Jumbo material has again delivered potential highest revenue-per-tonne results.
“This project continues to be de-risked and these results now confirm it as the stand-out graphite project in the industry.
“Furthermore, the extent of the surface outcrop at the deposit is considerable and this means we can utilise this available tonnage as early stage, low cost plant feed.”
Metallurgical results
During May a one tonne bulk sample was collected from moderately weathered outcropping material for planned bench scale plant design test work.
The resultant concentrate grade averaged of 98.3% total graphitic carbon (TGC) without the use of
chemical purification and with ample scope for further optimisation.
75.98% of the sample consisted of super jumbo, jumbo and large flake sizes, which averaged 98.34% TGC in graphite concentrate.
Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project
The company has a 70% interest in a total exploration area of 325 square kilometres in southeast Tanzania.
Walkabout is fast-tracking the project development of Lindi Jumbo to commence a surface mining and processing operation at the site.
Further resource drilling will take place during July of 2016 which will enable the early application for a mining licence.
Analysis
The additional metallurgical test results for Lindi continue to demonstrate the unique characteristics of the high grade deposit.
These results position the Lindi concentrate as a premium natural flake product suitable for the expandable graphite market and for sphericalisation for the lucrative lithium-ion battery market.
Potential basket revenues using independent price forecasts combined with estimated industry low
operating costs indicate that the potential margins achievable for the Lindi Jumbo product will be amongst the highest of the ASX peer group of aspiring graphite producers.
The purity or grade of the concentrate size ranges is important as it becomes more amenable to downstream processing with purity.
Walkabout see ample scope for further optimisation providing for further potential to increase the economics of Lindi.
The development of the Lindi project is in line with Walkabout’s new dual lithium-graphite focus.
News flow on the company's recent move into the lithium sector is expected with regard to:
- Updates on first pass mapping, trenching and sampling on the Tanzanian lithium licenses; and
- Updates on the Namibian lithium license applications.
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