Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V:GRAT, OTCQX:CBULF) said it has extracted 2,600 tonnes of graphite during its bench-mining program at its Aukam graphite project in Namibia, with the program having entered the mining phase as road construction on the mountain has been successfully completed.
Benching involves successively cutting berms along the mountain edge to steadily expose underground material while ensuring the stability of the mountain structure, allowing for the collection of graphite in stages as the platforms are constructed on the Aukam mountain, the company said.
In a benching program progress update, Gratomic told investors that of the total 2,600 tonnes of graphite extracted, about 1,000 tonnes have been transferred from the mountain to the run of mine (ROM) pad in preparation for processing.
READ: Gratomic reports assay results on third trenching program at Capim Grosso project in Brazil
The bench-mining program is proceeding as planned, the company added.
Further, Gratomic said that the safety of the benching operation was a major priority, with no incidents having been recorded during the process.
Gratomic COO Armando Farhate said that the company’s mining team understood the importance of ensuring safety as a fundamental value at Gratomic.
“At the same time, they are always looking for ways to improve productivity and yield the results that we need,” Farhate said in a statement.
Gratomic CEO Arno Brand added: "One of the main foundational pillars at Gratomic is to build a sustainable operation in an environmentally friendly, people-centric manner, so that we can leave a lasting legacy for future generations."
Access road completed
The company said the road construction that includes the ring road connection was completed this week allowing exploration and mining teams to access the mineral housed within the mountain in a safe, efficient, and effective manner.
The road will allow access to three potential platforms that will enhance the exploration program and the bench mining operations.
The upper bench for mining operations for graphite extraction is already operational, according to Gratomic.
CEO Brand commented: "Achieving this goal is extremely satisfying as this is what we, at Gratomic, have collectively been working towards.”
The company emphasized that no preliminary economic analysis, preliminary feasibility study, or feasibility study have been completed to support any level of production at the project.
Gratomic is working towards a feasibility study (FS) on the Aukam processing plant, which will provide conclusions and recommendations at an FS level relating to the scale-up of the existing processing plant to a commercial scale processing facility capable of producing the desired concentrate grades and production rates.
The supply of graphite is conditional on Gratomic being able to bring the Aukam project into a production phase, and for any graphite being produced to meet certain technical and mineralization requirements, it noted.
Gratomic is focused on becoming a leading global graphite supplier with projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada.
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