Infinity Stone Ventures Corp (CSE:GEMS) said it has entered into a contract with SGS Canada Inc to conduct a flotation and hydrometallurgical test program on a 2.7 kilogram (kg) sample from Infinity Stone's Rockstone graphite project.
The project is located 45 kilometres west of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. In addition, testing will be performed to investigate the possibility of further impurity removal of the purified graphite through acidic fluoride leaching.
Infinity Stone said its goal is to explore the production of EV battery-grade graphite – 99.8% graphitic carbon (Cg) purity – derived from the Rockstone project. Working with SGS Labs, Infinity Stone said it previously was able to refine samples from the Rockstone project to 96.1% Cg purity.
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The Rockstone project graphite morphology appears to be highly ordered hexagonal graphite crystallites and crystallite agglomerates, likely formed by hydrothermal activity at a formation temperature of 702 Celsius, according to Infinity Stone.
Graphite is a key mineral in the production of electric vehicle (EV) battery cells. Approximately 1.2 kg of graphite per kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy capacity is required for modern EV battery cells. For example, Infiniti Stone said this means a Tesla Model S 100D has approximately 120 kg of graphite.
Infiniti Stone CEO Zayn Kalyan said: "With a global deficit of graphite expected this year, and China currently controlling 84 percent of the global supply, our Rockstone project is strategically positioned to meet the rapidly growing demand. We are looking forward to a number of upcoming catalysts as we further exploration work on the project, including our pending drill program, alongside today's metallurgical program.”
Infinity Stone said it expects to receive drilling permits this month to begin its autumn drilling program. The company intends to twin the GC-12-01 high-grade discovery hole (24 meters averaging 25% graphitic carbon) and to drill numerous other electro-magnetic (EM) targets. There are more than 18 additional EM anomalies on the project similar to the GC-12-01 discovery anomaly that the company said it has identified as drill targets.
Vancouver-based Infiniti Stone said it is working with the exploration team to draft a National Instrument 43-101 compliant report based on the exploration work done on the project and to coordinate further exploration.
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