Black Rock Mining (ASX:BKT) has discovered extensive graphite mineralisation at its Bagamoyo project in Tanzania, with 40-55 kilometres of strike potential identified.
The early-stage fieldwork mapped a 3.5-kilometre by 700-metre zone of graphite mineralised footprint within the project’s Central lode as well as additional graphite mineralisation identified over 7 kilometres of strike at the Wami lode.
Rock chip samples have averaged 7.1% total graphitic carbon (TGC) at Central and mineralisation is open along strike for each target.
The highest assay result of 9.9% TGC was recorded in a composite chip sample taken across strike, over 20 metres of creek outcrop.
Graphite mineralisation at Central is exceptionally coarse grained compared to other observed graphite areas in Tanzania.
First-pass drilling in this area is planned to begin next month, including 8-12 reconnaissance holes to test depth continuity whilst regional exploration takes place over the extensive interpreted graphitic structures.
The two major graphitic mineralised lodes mapped to date (Central and Wami) are located within a 40-kilometre by 30-kilometre regional fold structure that has potential for extensive strike continuity.
Mineralisation is flat-lying to shallow dipping.
Given the extensive shallow cover lying over the flat terrain, drilling is expected to be a more effective method to test the depth and grade potential of mineralisation than trenching.
Operational planning
Jumbo flake graphite such as the material at Bagamoyo is typically conducive to the efficient processing of in-demand graphite products.
As such, metallurgical testing on Bagamoyo material has been planned for the core samples to be retrieved next month.
This testing program has already begun at the company’s Mahenge project (also in Tanzania), where 800 kilograms of material from the project’s key Epanko north and Ulanzi areas is being assessed for flowsheet design and marketing purposes.
This step forward for Black Rock follows on a hot streak for exploration activity at Mahenge, with an infill drilling program at Ulanzi delivering 73 metres at 10.2% TGC (including 20 metres at 14.58% TGC) and 72 metres at 9.43% TGC (including 18 metres at 13.18% TGC) just last week.
Many holes in the area have contained significantly higher grade intervals of 12% to 17% TGC.
This encouraging grade factor bodes well for flowsheet planning of Black Rock’s graphite properties in the region as does the emerging mining region’s infrastructure potential.
Bagamoyo, for example, benefits from being only 125 kilometres by road from Dar es Salaam port, which boasts eleven deepwater berths offering freight linkage within Africa as well as to Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas.
Analysis
The early-stage exploration results at Bagamoyo are encouraging, with two graphitic lodes identified with kilometre-scale strike length and significant additional strike potential.
The regional geology indicates important potential to grow this project, and regional exploration may provide significant upside to the project area, which benefits from favourable regional logistics potential.
Work to better understand Bagamoyo is an important step forward for Black Rock as the project represents significant coarse flake graphite production potential over a flat lying to shallow dipping zone of mineralisation on relatively flat ground.
The Central lode structure in particular is developing as a promising target, where newsflow from a December drill campaign could represent a future price catalyst for Black Rock.
Metallurgical testwork progress at Bagamoyo as well as more advanced developments at Mahenge have contributed to a 65% rise in the value of Black Rock shares over the past two months to A$0.066.
Black Rock also demonstrated investor support last month with a A$5 million capital raising for Mahenge, which exceeded the initial target of $4 million due to strong interest on the back of drill hits grading as high as 17.7% TGC.
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