Mozambique Graphite Concentrate Market Research
Perth, Mar 20, 2015 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Triton Minerals Ltd (
ASX:TON) (Triton or Company) is pleased to announce that graphite market research completed by Independent Metallurgical Operations ("IMO") has confirmed that Triton's Mozambique graphite concentrate is suitable for use in a diverse range of graphite products.
Triton Minerals' Managing Director & CEO Brad Boyle said: "IMO's research results demonstrate the suitability of Triton's Mozambique Graphite ("TMG") concentrate in nearly all main sectors of the graphite market.
Further test work is now being conducted to establish the detailed technical specifications of the TMG concentrate, to help Triton determine which of these sectors to target further."
As recently announced by Triton, IMO has been engaged to complete an independent study on the physical properties and specifications of the TMG concentrate.
This work will enable Triton to better understand and target the range of applications for the TMG, and thus enabling Triton to refine and better cater for potential client's needs.
As a result of the initial review IMO has confirmed that the graphite market is broken into five main sectors, including:
- Battery Market (includes Off-grid Energy Storage, EV's)
- Specialty Graphite Market
- Steel & Refractory
- Lubricants Automotive & Electrical
- Specialty & Other Graphite Market
Further research by the Company confirms the demand in the Battery Market continues to grow, as new methods and technology is applied to create more efficient batteries for the energy storage systems and electric vehicles. Some examples of the battery uses are shown in Appendix 1 in link below.
These main sectors comprise several sub-sectors, each with specific graphite requirements. A more detailed overview about the graphite granularity and grade specifications for these sub-sectors are contained in Appendix 2 (attached).
As previously announced by Triton, initial metallurgical test work undertaken by ALS Laboratories (Adelaide) confirmed that the TMG ore, through standard flotation methods, is readily able to produce graphite concentrates which assay from 95.8%TGC to 97.3%TGC.
Further, the metallurgical results confirm the graphitic concentrate produced through the standard flotation methods contain low levels of impurities, which means the graphite is liberating cleanly from the graphitic ore.
The tests verify low levels of volatiles and impurities. The impurities are mainly silica in the form quartz followed by anorthite and muscovite, which can be readily separated without having any detrimental impact on the quality of the graphite concentrate.
These flotation tests produced graphite concentrates with a weighted average purity of 97.1%TGC, 2.7% Ash and 0.2% Volatiles, without the need for chemical treatment.
Metallurgical tests have also confirmed that the graphite concentrate can be upgraded to 99.9%C using simple chemical wash. Leaching is a very effective method to remove gangue minerals from graphite concentrate without flake size reduction. The amount of consumables required for the purification process is low due to the very high grade of the graphite concentrate and the low levels of the impurities which can be readily removed.
Based on the metallurgical and mineralogical test results to date, the applications for which the TMG concentrate is suitable, according to the independent IMO study, include the following:
- Dry Cell, Lead Acid and Alkaline Batteries
- Lithium Ion, Spherical Graphite and Fuel Cells
- Refractory Crucibles
- Foundry Core and Mould Wash
- Gaskets
- Lubricants and Releasing Agents
- Brake Linings
- Carbon Brushes
- Powder Metallurgy
- Graphite Powders
- Polymer Additives
- Conductive Polymers and Plastics
Based on the positive metallurgical recovery results, high purity levels and the extraordinary quality of the TMG achieved to date, Triton believes that, with further testing and analysis, the Company will be able to expand the list of suitable graphite applications to encompass all of the graphite sectors and potentially a full range of the graphite sub-sectors.
CONCLUSIONS
Triton controls the largest known graphite-vanadium deposit in the world at the Nicanda Hill.
Metallurgical test work on the Mozambique graphite confirms Triton can produce high purity graphite concentrate of between 95 and 97%TGC through simple and relatively inexpensive flotation recovery methods, with low levels of volatiles and impurities and is readily upgradeable to a purity of 99.9%TGC.
The IMO research verifies the versatility of the TMG and its suitability across a number of the graphite sectors. Triton believes that these results continue to reaffirm the high quality of the Mozambique graphite and that they will assist Triton in its ability to accommodate the material requirement of the broader and expanding graphite market.
Triton is working towards creating a new graphite industry benchmark with TMG, by aiming to offer the world's lowest cost and most diversified graphite product range, together with the longevity of a reliable supply of high quality flake graphite.
To view figures, and data, please visit:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-TON-713670.pdf
About Triton Minerals Ltd
Triton Minerals Limited (ASX:TON) is an ASX listed, responsible mineral explorer and resource management company headquartered in Perth, Australia.
Led by a highly experienced management team, Triton Minerals' vision is to grow shareholder's value through discovery or development of base metal, gold and other precious metal deposits.
Triton has made excellent progress with its three Graphite projects located in the Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique, with the program successfully identifying a number of graphitic exposures.
It is the Company's belief that the Mozambique, Balama North Project could host multiple and very substantial world class graphite deposits.
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