OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – March 9, 2017) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS) (OTCQX:FCSMF) (FRANKFURT:FKC) (“Focus” or the “Company”) announces a rectification to the Measured and Indicated mineral resources statement released by the Company on January 24, 2017(1) for its 100%-owned Lac Knife flake graphite project, located 27 km south of Fermont, in the Côte-Nord administrative region of northeastern Québec.
On February 5, 2017, Focus was informed by AGP Mining Consultants that a correction was applied to the classification model which affected the south portion of the resource estimate announced on January 24, 2017. The correction only affected the internal distribution of the Inferred and Indicated resources in the area covered by the latest infill drilling. The grade estimation was not affected by the change.
The 2014 infill drilling program successfully upgraded Inferred resources to the Indicated and Measured categories. The upgraded resources are located to the south and outside of the open pit shell that was used for the 2014 Lac Knife project feasibility study(2) (“FEAS”). In the current FEAS mine plan, any additional tonnage located outside of the FEAS open pit shell design would only be mined and processed after the 25-year mine life.
Following the adjustment made by AGP Mining Consultants, using a 3.0% graphitic carbon (Cg) cut-off, the revised Measured and Indicated resources at Lac Knife now stand at 13.56 million tonnes grading 14.95% Cg (Table 1). This represents a 42% increase in Measured and Indicated resources compared to the 9.576 million tonnes grading 14.77% Cg reported in the 2014 FEAS (Table 2). The adjustment also translates into a 43% increase in graphite tonnes, from 1.414 million tonnes to 2.027 million tonnes (Table 1). Additionally, there are 840,000 tonnes of Inferred resources grading 13.90% Cg (Table 1).
| Table 1. Revised Lac Knife Mineral Resource Estimate @ 3.0% Cg cut-off | |||
| Tonnage | Cg | Contained Graphite | |
| (t) | (%) | (t) | |
| Measured | 447 000 | 21.45 | 96 000 |
| Indicated | 13 112 000 | 14.73 | 1 931 000 |
| Measured + Indicated | 13 560 000 | 14.95 | 2 027 000 |
| Inferred | 840 000 | 13.90 | 117 000 |
- Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
- There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves.
- The rounding of tonnes as required by NI 43-101 reporting guidelines may result in apparent differences between tonnes, grade and contained graphite.
| Table 2: Revised Sensitivity to cut-off change and comparison to the 2014 feasibility study | |||||||||
| Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (3.0% Cg Cut-off base case) |
2014 Mineral Resource Estimate (3.0% Cg Cut-off base case) |
Percent Change | |||||||
| Cut-off | Tonnes | Cg (%) | Cg Tonnes | Tonnes | Cg (%) | Cg Tonnes | Tonnage | Graphite | |
| Measured | > 10.0 | 440 000 | 21.66 | 95 000 | 428 000 | 23.81 | 102 000 | 3% | -7% |
| > 5.0 | 447 000 | 21.45 | 96 000 | 432 000 | 23.66 | 102 000 | 3% | -6% | |
| > 3.0 | 447 000 | 21.45 | 96 000 | 432 000 | 23.66 | 102 000 | 3% | -6% | |
| > 2.0 | 447 000 | 21.45 | 96 000 | 432 000 | 23.66 | 102 000 | 3% | -6% | |
| Indicated | > 10.0 | 11 227 000 | 15.86 | 1 781 000 | 7 466 000 | 15.77 | 1 177 000 | 50% | 51% |
| > 5.0 | 13 021 000 | 14.80 | 1 927 000 | 9 065 000 | 14.44 | 1 309 000 | 44% | 47% | |
| > 3.0 | 13 112 000 | 14.73 | 1 931 000 | 9 144 000 | 14.35 | 1 312 000 | 43% | 47% | |
| > 2.0 | 13 114 000 | 14.72 | 1 931 000 | 9 146 000 | 14.35 | 1 312 000 | 43% | 47% | |
| Measured + Indicated | > 10.0 | 11 667 000 | 16.08 | 1 876 000 | 7 894 000 | 16.21 | 1 279 000 | 48% | 47% |
| > 5.0 | 13 468 000 | 15.02 | 2 023 000 | 9 497 000 | 14.86 | 1 411 000 | 42% | 43% | |
| > 3.0 | 13 560 000 | 14.95 | 2 027 000 | 9 576 000 | 14.77 | 1 414 000 | 42% | 43% | |
| > 2.0 | 13 561 000 | 14.95 | 2 027 000 | 9 578 000 | 14.77 | 1 415 000 | 42% | 43% | |
| Inferred | > 10.0 | 698 000 | 15.10 | 105 000 | 2 196 000 | 15.81 | 347 000 | -68% | -70% |
| > 5.0 | 832 000 | 14.00 | 116 000 | 2 941 000 | 13.75 | 404 000 | -72% | -71% | |
| > 3.0 | 840 000 | 13.90 | 117 000 | 3 102 000 | 13.25 | 411 000 | -73% | -72% | |
| > 2.0 | 840 000 | 13.90 | 117 000 | 3 116 000 | 13.20 | 411 000 | -73% | -72% | |
- Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
- There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves.
- The rounding of tonnes as required by NI43-101 reporting guidelines may result in apparent differences between tonnes, grade and contained graphite.
Compared to the model announced on January 24, 2017, the revised model improves the Measured and Indicated resources tonnage by 12% and it contains 14% more graphite tonnes (Table 3). The improvement to the Measured and Indicated resources category is offset by a reduction in the Inferred category amounting to 63% in tonnages and 69% in graphite tonnes.
| Table 3: Revised model compared to the previous announcement on January 24, 2017 | ||||||||
| March 2nd, 2017 Revised resource estimate (3.0% Cut-off) |
January 24th, 2017 Resource estimate (3.0% Cut-off) |
|||||||
| Tonnage | Cg | Graphite | Tonnage | Cg | Graphite | Percent change – Tonnage | Percent change – Contained Graphite | |
| (t) | (%) | (t) | (t) | (%) | (t) | |||
| Measured | 447,000 | 21.45 | 96,000 | 447,000 | 21.45 | 96,000 | 0% | 0% |
| Indicated | 13,112,000 | 14.73 | 1,931,000 | 11,654,000 | 14.38 | 1,675,000 | 13% | 15% |
| Measured + Indicated | 13,560,000 | 14.95 | 2,027,000 | 12,101,000 | 14.64 | 1,771,000 | 12% | 14% |
| Inferred | 840,000 | 13.90 | 117,000 | 2,299,000 | 16.20 | 372,000 | -63% | -69% |
While the grade for the estimated blocks was not affected by the change, there is an apparent minor variation to the average grade of the combined Measured and Indicated categories at the 3% cut-off due to the redistribution of the higher grade Inferred blocks that were converted to Indicated resources.
The updated mineral resource is based on 231 core drill holes totalling 22,505 metres of historic and recent drilling from 2014. This includes 149 surface drill holes totalling 12,041 metres completed since 2010. Mineral Resources have been reported within a constraining pit shell at a cut-off grade of 3.0% Cg.
Details on the Mineral Resource Estimation procedures are given in the Company’s news release dated January 24th, 2017, available at www.focusgraphite.com and at www.sedar.com.
Lac Knife Project
The Lac Knife project comprises 57 map-designated claims covering 2,986.31 ha located in Esmanville Township (NTS map sheet 23B/11), 27 km south-southwest of the iron-mining town of Fermont, in the Côte-Nord administrative region of Québec. Focus acquired a 100% interest in the project in October 2010. A map showing the location of the Lac Knife project is available on the company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com.
The mineralization at Lac Knife is hosted in biotite-quartz-feldspar paragneiss and schist of the Nault Formation, in association with iron formations of the Wabush Formation. These are equivalent to the lower Proterozoic Labrador Trough rocks affected by the late Proterozoic Grenvillian orogeny. High grade metamorphism and folding associated with the Grenvillian orogeny has resulted in the formation of important concentrations of graphite dominated by value-enhanced large flakes.
The Lac Knife project hosts a Measured and Indicated mineral resource* of 13.56 million tonnes grading 14.95% Cg (447,000 tonnes Measured @ 21.45% Cg and 13,112,000 tonnes Indicated @ 14.73% Cg) as natural flake graphite with an additional Inferred mineral resource* of 840,000 tonnes grading 13.90% Cg. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite concentrate.
The Feasibility Study filed with SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on August 8, 2014 for the Lac Knife Project indicates the project is economically viable and has the potential to become a low-cost graphite concentrate producer based on 7.86 million tonnes of Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves** grading 15.13% Cg included in the Mineral Resource (429,000 tonnes Proven @ 23.61% Cg and 7,428,000 tonnes Probable @ 14.64% Cg).
| * | Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. |
| ** | The Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are inclusive of those Mineral Resources modified to produce the Mineral Reserve. The reference point for the Mineral Reserve Estimate is the mill feed. |
Qualified Persons
Pierre Desautels, P.Geo. Principal Resource Geologist of AGP Mining Consultants Inc. Qualified Person under NI 43-101 who is independent of the Company, has review and authorized the release of the mineral resource estimates presented herein.
Mr. Marc-André Bernier, M.Sc, P.Geo (Québec and Ontario), a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.
About Focus Graphite
Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced exploration and mining company with an objective of producing graphite concentrate at its wholly-owned Lac Knife flake graphite deposit located 27 km south of Fermont, Québec. In a second stage, to meet Quebec stakeholder interests of transformation within the province and to add shareholder value, Focus is evaluating the feasibility of producing value added graphite products including battery-grade spherical graphite.
Focus Graphite is a technology-oriented graphite mining development company with a vision for building long-term, sustainable shareholder value. Focus also holds a significant equity position in graphene applications developer Grafoid Inc.
For more information about Focus Graphite, please visit www.focusgraphite.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This News Release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets; (vi) the risks associated with entering into joint ventures; (vii) fluctuations in commodity prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; (ix) competition faced by the Company in securing experienced personnel and financing; (x) access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development and exploration activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the Company; (xii) the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the Company is subject to; (xiii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv) risks related to potential conflicts of interest; (xv) the reliance on key personnel; (xvi) liquidity risks; and (xvii) the risk of potential dilution through the issue of common shares.
Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in metal prices, exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this News Release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the accuracy of this release.
(1) Refer to Focus news release dated January 24, 2017, available at www.focusgraphite.com and at www.sedar.com.
(2) Refer to Focus news releases dated June 25th and August 8, 2014, available at www.focusgraphite.com and at www.sedar.com
Mr. Gary Economo
Chief Executive Officer
+1 613-241-4040
geconomo@focusgraphite.com
www.focusgraphite.com