Stratmin Global Resources PLC Completion of Metallurgical Analysis (2241S)
November 05 2013 - 5:31AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMSTGR
RNS Number : 2241S
Stratmin Global Resources PLC
05 November 2013
5 November 2013
StratMin Global Resources Plc
("StratMin" or the "Company")
Completion of Metallurgical Analysis
StratMin (AIM: STGR), the graphite production and exploration
company with assets in Madagascar is pleased to report the
conclusions of a recent operations review at its Lohorano property
and laboratory scale testwork based on grab samples treated at SGS
South Africa (Pty) Limited (SGS) and MINTEK under the guidance of
StratMin's appointed consultants, PROMET DADI AFRICA (Pty) Limited
(PROMET).
Summary
Preliminary laboratory scale mineralogical and metallurgical
testwork has revealed:
-- a recovery of greater than 90% graphitic carbon* content and
recovery yields up to 89% is achievable
-- 70% of graphite recovery classed as large flake (+100 mesh)
of which 59% is higher value jumbo flake (+60 mesh)
-- the existing Process Plant requires modification to better
suit the ore body beneficiation requirements
*StratMin reports graphitic carbon levels (Cg) rather than the
higher total carbon content (Ct). Ct can be up to 10% higher due to
the organic carbon present in all graphite deposits.
Manoli Yannaghas, Managing Director of StratMin, said: "These
results further confirm the potential of Lohorano to become a
leading graphite mine, producing a premium product from a very
large resource base. The work completed to date has also confirmed
that Stratmin will be able to improve processing efficiencies with
minimal additional capital expenditure. I look forward to reporting
further progress as we complete the upgrade."
For further information please visit www.stratminglobal.com or
contact:
+44 (0) 20 7467
StratMin Global Resources Plc 1700
Manoli Yannaghas (Managing Director)
Peel Hunt LLP (Nomad & Broker) +44 (0) 20 7418
Matthew Armitt / Ross Allister 8900
Tavistock Communications (Financial PR &
IR)
+44 (0) 20 7920
Simon Hudson / Conrad Harrington 3150
Competent Person's Statement
The SGS and Mintek reports and the information contained in this
announcement has been reviewed by Rob Bennett, FSAIMM, at Promet
Dadi Africa ("Promet"). Promet has been appointed by the Company to
oversee the SGS and Mintek work and to advise the Company on any
necessary plant upgrades to achieve the marketable grade of
graphite envisaged by Stratmin as set out in the June 2013
operations update.
Test work
As previously announced on 26 June 2013, a sample of ore was
taken from Block 1 of the Lohorano Mine to better understand the
metallurgical characteristics at site. Laboratory benchscale
flotation test work (simulating the Lohorano plant) achieved a
maximum product grade of 86% Cg and an average grade of 82%.
Since June, PROMET have visited the Lohorano property and
reviewed the process. Additional mineralogical and laboratory based
metallurgical test work has been performed between August and
October 2013 on the existing plant's graphite concentrate
production by SGS and MINTEK under the guidance of PROMET. The
results provide clarity on recovery rates for a number of potential
processing routes. The laboratory scale results demonstrate that
beneficiation to more than 90% Cg can be achieved using a flow
sheet including milling and flotation. Other test work conducted on
the concentrate samples showed that is possible to achieve 98.3% Cg
with an acid leach process.
Table 1: Metallurgy Results Chronology
Graphitic C Grade Recovery %
%
-------------------------- ------------------ -----------
SGS test work (Sept '13) Average 82% -
-------------------------- ------------------ -----------
November 2013 Laboratory Metallurgical Results
-----------------------------------------------------------
+ Leaching: SGS test
work 98.3% 100%
+ Pebble mill: MINTEK
test work 90.7% 96%
-------------------------- ------------------ -----------
Plant equipment is now being procured by Stratmin and the
existing installation is currently being modified and upgraded to
include for the attritioning / flotation configuration.
The laboratory scale testwork completed reveals the ore at
Lohorano upgrades from the 5.5% Cg in the ROM feed to better than
65% Cg in a single rougher flotation process with a recovery of 97%
of the in-situ graphite. A further two stages of flotation cleaning
yield a product with a graphite content of 70-80% Cg and a recovery
of 89% in total.
The existing 30 tonnes per hour plant currently produces
graphite grade carbon of up to 80%. The laboratory testwork
conducted in this recent exercise has indicated that the existing
plant has the potential to reach over 90% Cg by including a pebble
mill between the rougher float cells and the cleaner flotation
process.
The laboratory testwork conducted at SGS confirmed recovery
yield to be 89% at present with 71% being classed as jumbo flake
(+60 mesh). The Lohorano project flake size is partly due to the
altered metamorphic nature of the ore. Further testwork by MINTEK
has identified the preferred milling residency time allowing only a
6% flake damage profile while delivering 90.7% Cg. If necessary,
further residency time can be considered which will increase the
graphite grade further but potentially incur a reduced flake
product size.
Further beneficiation is possible through the use of acid
leaching. The laboratory testwork delivered a 98.3% Cg grade
product with no negative effect on the flake size.
PROMET has proposed flowsheet modifications to immediately
incorporate an attritioning step in the existing plant
configuration. Plant equipment is now being sourced and installed
by the StratMin's own personnel.
Confirmatory laboratory scale testwork is planned for use in the
design and engineering of a larger facility as well as data
generated from the plant post the inclusion of the attritioning
process step.
Upgrade costs
To upgrade carbon content at the current plant, StratMin expect
the cost of the inclusion of the preferred processing equipment to
be approximately US$200,000. This includes the cost of the mill,
dosing systems and various pumps and pipework. Work has already
begun on modifying the plant with a number of the upgrades already
complete. The ordering of the equipment suggested by Promet is
underway and which is planned to be at the mine site before the end
of 2013 and operational by early 2014.
Production
In the meantime the Company will continue to produce graphite at
between 70-80% carbon content for sale into the market place, but
will not be producing product above 90% carbon content for the
remainder of the current calendar year.
Production at the plant continues on a single shift basis and is
producing up to 40 tonnes of graphite per week for shipment. The
Company does not plan to increase production volumes prior to the
installation of the new equipment.
-ends-
About Lohorano
The Lohorano property has an indicated JORC resource of 421,000
tonnes at 5.5% graphite (inferred resource of 5,273,000 at 4.04%)
on less than 10% of the property area, is already producing a jumbo
flake product and is located within 100km of the main port of
Tamatav.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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