Comet Resources Testing Springdale Graphite Market Suitability
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Comet Resources (ASX: CRL) has received results from ongoing test work on natural flake graphite from the company’s Springdale graphite project in Western Australia.
Comet Resources reported that both excellent grade and recoveries were achieved from initial tests, leading to commencement of work to produce a bulk sample for further testing.
The company explained that graphite concentrates previously produced had demonstrated a unique and potentially valuable characteristic in its small size distribution, with two-thirds of the product passing the 38-micron size fraction screen.
Generally, this small size fraction of graphite is a by-product of processing of larger flake fractions, which produces smaller size graphite, but in doing so also damages the smaller flake material in the process, reducing their performance and value.
Deposits, like Springdale could potentially be, that contain high quality ultra-fine graphite are uncommon and are potentially suitable for supplying the expanding battery anode market, which continues to grow as the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) increase.
Graphite suitable for battery anode production also achieves premium pricing in graphite markets, making it a highly sought-after product.
Once the bulk sample of Springdale graphite concentrate is produced it will be forwarded to a specialist lab in Germany where it will be assessed for, among other properties, the performance of the graphite during purification, micronisation and spheronisation.
These are the key steps for the processing of natural graphite products for EV battery anode specification markets.
Comet’s German lab partners will simulate these to test Springdale’s product suitability to meet industry standards in all these areas.
“The results of this ongoing test work will determine the suitability of the natural flake graphite from Springdale for use in the manufacture of battery anodes for electric vehicles,” Comet Resources managing director Matthew O’Kane said in the company’s ASX announcement.
“Earlier tests have demonstrated the graphite from Springdale is quite a rare product due to its very small flake size, which could make it ideally suited for anode production.
“This next stage of specialised testing will hopefully confirm this.”
TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE
Email: comet@cometres.com.au
Web: www.cometres.com.au
