International Graphite reports that metallurgical testing has begun of ore samples from its planned Springdale graphite mine in Western Australia.

More than 1.5 tonnes are undergoing laboratory assessment at ALS Metallurgy’s pilot concentration facility in Perth.

The company is expecting to produce about 100kg of concentrate from the bulk sample, the material extracted at the proposed open cut mine site at Springdale, located near the town of Denmark.

Director and chief technical officer David Pass says the results will be important to the final design of the Springdale concentrator plant.

Suitable for battery anodes

“Preliminary testing has already shown that the Springdale graphite is well suited for battery anode material (BAM),” said Mr Pass.

The bulk samples include material taken from the existing Springdale mineral resource as well as from recent discoveries at Springdale Central and Masons Bay, two of the four new finds made during the company’s drilling programs over the past 12 months.

“We are working to establish Springdale as a long term, stable and consistent supplier of high-quality graphite concentrates for BAM progressing,” Mr Pass added.

“It is at the core of our vision for a ‘mine-to-market’ graphite supply chain in Western Australia that will meet the needs of high-growth energy markets.”

BAM plant plans already set

As part of its “mine to market” integration strategy, International Graphite in May secured a site near Collie for its BAM manufacturing plant.

It is to be built in the Coolangatta industrial estate, which lies 5km from the West Australian town of Collie, and metres from a power transmission network.

Collie is at the heart of the South West Interconnected System, Western Australia’s primary power system which delivers electricity to Perth, and three regions including Kalgoorlie-Goldfields.

More ‘spectacular’ drill results

Earlier this week, International Graphite reported “spectacular” assays from the new Springdale Central prospect.

Results from 44 out of 47 reverse circulation holes drilled at the prospect produced intercepts including 12 metres at 11.6% total graphitic content (TGC); 8m at 11.4% TGC from 57m including 3m at 22.0% from 60m; and 10m at 20.9% TGC from 48m including 7m at 23.9% from 49m.

Springdale Central was the second of four new graphite discoveries made during the company’s 2022-2023 drilling campaign.

In addition to Masons Bay, there were finds at Springdale South and Springdale Far West.

Good recoveries at Masons Bay

In April its exploration program at the company’s Springdale graphite project saw a fourth discovery, with the new Mason Bay target — 2km east of the existing Springdale resource — producing strong grades from a previously undrilled area.

From a total of 60 holes, results included 15m at 11.3% total graphitic carbon (TGC), 16m at 11.7% TGC and 6m at 13.3% TGC, all from shallow depths.

The company said that flotation work on samples from Mason Bay showed recoveries exceeding 93%.