MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwired – April 27, 2017) – Sama Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:SRG) (“SRG” or the “Company”) today announced the results of a ProGraphite GmbH (“PG”) technical investigation on the Company’s 100%-owned Lola Graphite deposit in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. Laboratory work and analysis conducted by PG on the Lola Graphite concentrate returned excellent results indicating that graphite from the Lola deposit is suitable for a very wide range of graphite applications, including the important traditional markets like refractories, crucibles, friction products, carbon brushes and sealing. Additionally, the combination of very favorable ash composition, high crystallinity, high oxidation resistance and excellent purification behavior makes the graphite very valuable for demanding new tech applications, including energy applications and particularly with regard to spherical graphite for Lithium Ion Batteries.
ProGraphite Main Observations:
- The high proportion of large flakes of the concentrate is remarkable. Only very few flake graphite deposits have such a high flake yield. This is a major advantage for the Lola deposit, as the large flakes trade at significantly higher prices.
- The concentrate was screened to get particle size distribution information with very favorable results: very coarse material, 2/3 of the graphite is large flake (+80 mesh), and 1/3 is “jumbo” flake material (+50 mesh).
- Compared to -100 mesh graphite of the same carbon grade, the market price for +50 mesh material is more than double, which makes the Lola deposit much more valuable.
- Main elemental impurities are Si, Al and Fe, which is typical for flake graphite. Impurities known to cause trouble in various applications, such like S or heavy metals are naturally on very low levels in the Lola graphite concentrate.
- Key advantages of Lola graphite are the favorable ash composition and the comparably low efforts required to attain high carbon grades.
- The graphite is of very high crystallinity, which means that the graphite crystals are almost perfect, making this graphite suitable for highly demanding applications like Lithium Ion batteries or synthetic diamonds.
- Purification tests verified that the graphite could easily be upgraded with standard processes to levels above 99.5%; with most elements, already under the limits for battery application. The purification performed was “mild” compared to the “harsh” purification usually applied for Lithium-Ion battery grade, thereby attesting again to the likelihood that the material will be very suitable for such an application.
- The volatiles are low, oxidation resistance is very high and the specific surface area is in the normal range.
- The graphite from the Lola deposit has a high bulk density (>700 g/l), typical Chinese graphite has bulk densities of 450-550 g/l for +80 mesh.
ProGraphite performed the investigation on a concentrate sample produced by Activation Laboratory (Actlab) in Ontario. Actlab produced a first flash flotation concentrate from the typical surface graphite rich material. No attempt to further purify the concentrate was made at Actlab. This was intentional as the Corporation wanted ProGraphite to investigate the most suitable purification processes to be applied to the flash concentrate in determining and targeting various markets and end uses.
SRG is continuing to work in close collaboration with PG and Actlab to refine metallurgical processing for developing the most optimal flowsheet.
About ProGraphite
ProGraphite GmbH is specialized in natural graphite and other carbon products. Based on more than 20 years of professional experience and passion for graphite and carbon, ProGraphite offers expert consultancy for most aspects of natural graphite projects. Furthermore ProGraphite offers a wide range of specialized lab services and extended geological and mineralogical services for graphite and other minerals. ProGraphite is also involved in trading of carbon products. The company is located in Germany. For additional information on ProGraphite: www.pro-graphite.com.”
About Sama Graphite Inc. (SRG)
SRG is a Canadian-based company focused on developing the Lola Graphite deposit, located in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. SRG is committed to operate in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.
For additional information, please visit SRG’s website at www.srggraphite.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains information that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional Information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company’s filings with the Canadian Securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet
President & CEO
Tel.: (514) 726-4158
Email: [email protected]
Jean-Paul Blais
NXT Communications
Tel.: +1 (514) 867-7447
Email: [email protected]
Contact Financial Corp.
Frederick Chabot
Tel.: 438-863-7071
Email: [email protected]
