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#BRES Blencowe Resources – SPG Test Work Completed
Successful Completion of Orom-Cross Graphite Project SPG Test Phase
Recent testwork has confirmed the quality of Orom-Cross graphite concentrate to generate a high purity SPG product with excellent battery characteristics
Highlights:
· Blencowe has successfully completed critical next-step metallurgical test work with initial stage SPG (“spheronised purified graphite”) upgrading now completed.
· Test work was completed by two separate graphite technical experts to ensure quality control and quality assurance:
o Leading Chinese graphite laboratory at Wuhan University, which realised SPG values of 99.96 wt%C.
o Leading American graphite firm American Energy Technology, which generated SPG with purity values of 99.99 wt%C.
· These results prove that Orom-Cross graphite can upgrade into one of the purist SPG products, which will strengthen offtake negotiations and ultimately deliver more value to the project.
· Additional metallurgical test work proceeding with samples of uncoated SPG and other flake sizes distributed to potential off-takers and battery manufacturers.
Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce commented:
“The ultimate pre-qualification test for all graphite is how the concentrate upgrades to the 99.95% SPG product that then gets coated before going into the anode within the lithium-ion battery, and I am delighted to present these outstanding results above, which indicate that exceptional SPG products will be produced from Orom-Cross. Not only are we at the highest levels on most relevant indicators but testing has shown we can deliver other valuable products from waste material generated within the process which further strengthens our commercial model.”
Mr Pearce added “We are into one of the most important aspects of our Definitive Feasibility Study, where these tests ultimately prove the quality of the various end products we will produce, and therefore determine offtake interest and contracts. Passing these tests with flying colours is further proof that Orom-Cross is a standout project, and in a world where graphite is becoming increasingly under the spotlight as the supply chain tightens, this is of significant value.”
Blencowe Resources Plc (“Blencowe” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that additional test work on its Orom-Cross graphite project in Northern Uganda has been completed by two leading graphite technical specialist laboratories in both China and United States. Wuhan University in conjunction with Qingdao Jinhui Graphite Co., Ltd in China and American Energy Technologies Company (AETC) in Illinois are both industry experts in the field of upgrading graphite concentrate to uncoated battery-ready SPG product. This work is critical to understanding the commercial potential of the fines concentrate specifically for utilisation as anode materials in the lithium-ion batteries for EVs (electric vehicles) and wider rechargeable battery markets.
In line with this testwork flow sheet, graphite concentrate, which is comprised of robust and thick natural flakes, was first purified then converted into a range of value-added graphite products, with a major focus on the production of spherical uncoated and spherical surface-coated materials intended for use in lithium-ion battery anodes.
Wuhan University in conjunction with Qingdao Jinhui Graphite Co., Ltd (one of the largest SPG producers in China) have completed preliminary assessment of Orom-Cross fine concentrates with the generation and subsequent testing of uncoated SPG products, following the recent 100t pilot test program. The resultant testwork has delivered an uncoated SPG product with a 99.96% purity and outstanding size distribution and characteristics. The samples generated by Wuhan University have been forwarded to battery manufacturers for coating and initial battery testing.
In parallel Blencowe also commissioned AETC to complete an assessment of the SPG potential of the Orom-Cross product. This testing was completed at the AETC facilities in Chicago utilising their Thermal Conversion Process. The value-added downstream processing of concentrate from Orom-Cross has occurred in accordance with the inverted flow sheet practiced by AETC which is unique in the market. Blencowe chose AETC to undertake comparable testwork in part due to its capacity to deliver the uncoated, coated and battery testwork within a non-acid production process. Producing SPG products in a non-acid process would have profound environmental advantages that would boost Orom-Cross’s ESG credentials substantially.
After purifying the material using high temperature (but no acid or alkaline treatment) to a level of 99.99 wt% C, AETC subjected it to spheroidisation and classification. The resultant graphite has a very impressive tap density (read ‘energy density’) of 1.1 g/cm3, with a surface area of <10 m2/g. Both of these indicators highlight an extremely high grade end product.
The uncoated graphite was tested in the industry-standard CR2016 coin cells v. Li/Li+ counter electrode at C/10 charge-discharge rate. The material was seen to deliver very impressive reversible capacity of 367.58 mAh/g which is defined as “near theoretical” electrochemical performance, considering that theoretical capacity is 372 mAh, and hardly any graphite has been able to achieve this historically in practical applications. This indicator alone ranks Orom-Cross graphite as high as any other SPG product elsewhere.
The uncoated material was also surface-coated to form CSPG (“coated spheronised purified graphite”), which is the ultimate form of battery-ready graphite that goes into the anode. Application of surface coating makes batteries that use such graphite safer; additionally, graphite anodes which are composed of surface-coated graphite tend to have lower irreversible capacity loss, a key property linked to management of electrolyte levels inside an operating lithium-ion battery.
The coated material was put into batteries and subjected to short and long-term cycling. The carbon-coated version of this graphite displayed excellent electrochemical performance, with a reversible capacity loss and reversible capacity constituting near theoretical electrochemical behaviour which positions the material from Blencowe into the class of super-premium anode grade graphite for use in lithium-ion battery anodes.
The long-term cycling of this material has retained an excellent stability of performance characteristics as a function of cycle life, having scored a very low 1.39% degradation. Testwork suggests that Orom-Cross graphite can support 1,438 cycles while the United States ABC requirement for EV batteries is 1,000 charge-discharge cycles. Therefore, with nearly 50% additional cycles, the Orom-Cross material is again highlighting its premium quality and is ideally suited for application in the lithium-ion battery anodes.
It is worth noting that the non-spherical portion of Blencowe’s graphite (which accounted for approximately 25.6% of feed into the AETC spheroidising process) generated expanded delaminated graphite and spheroidisation process rejects, which were formulated into the composition of alkaline, lead acid batteries and an electrically conductive can coating. In all instances, the non-spherical portion of Blencowe’s material offered outstanding performance, positioning Blencowe for cost leadership in that there is a strong likelihood that near 100% of all the graphite which enters a downstream processing circuit will find use in value-added applications within batteries.
Blencowe is now proceeding with additional metallurgical test work with additional samples of uncoated SPG and other flake sizes distributed to potential off-takers and battery manufacturers for upgrades to large flake as well as opportunities for utilisation of SPG wastes.
For further information please contact:
|
Blencowe Resources Plc Sam Quinn |
www.blencoweresourcesplc.com Tel: +44 (0)1624 681 250
|
|
Investor Relations Sasha Sethi |
Tel: +44 (0) 7891 677 441
|
|
Tavira Financial Jonathan Evans |
Tel: +44 (0)20 3192 1733 jonathan.evans@tavira.group
|
|
First Equity Limited Jason Robertson |
Tel: +44(0)20 7330 1833 |
#BRES Blencowe Resources PLC – Bulk Sampling Completed
Completion of 100t Bulk Sample underlines high quality graphite product from Orom-Cross
Highlights:
· Blencowe has now successfully completed critical pre-qualification metallurgical test work with 100t bulk sample works concluded in China.
· Commercial scale results continue to confirm that a high-grade, low impurity concentrate (95-97% TGC) can be delivered from Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda.
· Increased coarse flake percentage of final mix, together with higher recoveries, will increment the overall weighted average selling price of the Orom-Cross basket of end products.
· Blencowe now has a considerably larger volume of concentrate product to send to potential end users for further pre-qualification testing.
· Positive feedback received from end users on Blencowe’s high-quality 95-97% TGC product with significant interest from established Chinese industry groups in progressing offtake arrangements.
Blencowe Resources Plc (“Blencowe” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that additional metallurgical test work on its Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda has now been completed by leading graphite technical specialist laboratory, Jilin New Technology (“Jilin”) based at Yanji in Northern China, following our recent update on 14 August 2023.
This metallurgical test work is critical to understanding the commercial scale process plant components, the quality of the end-product that Orom-Cross can deliver as a high-grade graphite concentrate as well as the flake sizing yield, and the operability of a process plant at Orom-Cross. The 100t bulk sample also provides significantly greater quantum of end product for end user testing which is critical for the Definitive Feasibility Study.
Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce commented:
“We are very pleased with these results from the 100 tonne bulk sample program. We utilized the services of a very experienced graphite plant operator at Jilin for the pilot testing as we believed this party’s extensive knowledge over decades in the industry would deliver superior net concentrate results, and I delighted to say they have delivered us a great outcome.”
Mr Pearce added: “We now have proof we can deliver a very high quality graphite concentrate from Orom-Cross on a commercial scale, which is a key DFS milestone. In parallel we are testing the upgrade of this concentrate to uncoated battery-ready 99.95% SPG (spheronised, purified graphite) and expandables as the next important step to significantly value-add our end products.
Finally, we also now have larger quantities of concentrate as bulk samples to deliver to potential buyers and engage with strategic groups. These groups can now proceed to test the concentrate and determine their level of interest for binding offtake agreements which will be crucial for our project financing. We believe these results will be attractive to a range of graphite consumers and that Orom-Cross can help deliver the shortfall of graphite expected in the market in the foreseeable future.”
Background to the Test Work
Blencowe commissioned Jilin New Technology in partnership with Wuhan University to undertake metallurgical test work on a 100t bulk sample which covered material from both the Northern Syncline and Camp Lode areas within Orom-Cross. The pilot plant program was designed to deliver the following objectives:
1. Confirm the commercial scale viability of processing the Orom-Cross ores.
2. Confirm a 95-97% TGC (Total Graphite Content) pure concentrate is possible with low impurities (in particular thorium and vanadium).
3. Confirm the laboratory testing models.
4. Confirm the liberation process in order to maintain a majority of Jumbo/XL/Large flakes within the concentrate.
5. Confirm the process flow diagram for the pilot plant design as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study.
6. Deliver significant quantum of bulk concentrate to allow Blencowe to initiate discussions with potential off-take partners.
Blencowe is pleased to announce that the pilot plant process has successfully delivered on all of the above objectives.
The optimisation of the process (on the basis of the previous laboratory testing) has been very successful with the pilot plant methodology further improved and able to deliver a shorter overall processing of the ore, whilst improving the metrics of the concentrate delivered.
A shorter processing cycle has the benefits of lower capital expenditure and lower operating costs, both of which will enhance the overall Orom-Cross project financials.
The streamlined processing design has also realised increased recoveries of the more valuable larger +50mesh flake from 6.5% to 9.5% yield (within overall basket of end products), whilst increasing overall large flake yield by approximately 2% and increasing overall concentrate recoveries to over 94%. Again, this will add further value to the project financials.
The additional metallurgical test work to date shows a robust flowsheet capable of repeatable metallurgy for a wide range of feed samples from Orom-Cross, which will now be used directly for reference in the actual concentrator engineering design for the Definitive Feasibility Study.
#BRES Blencowe Resources PLC – Bulk Sampling Complete
Highlights
· 100 tonne bulk sample mining completed.
· Transport underway to Chinese graphite processing specialist Jilin Huiyang New Material Technology Company Ltd (“Jilin”) for final metallurgical testing in its existing facilities.
· Additional 150kgs sample already sent to Jilin for initial off-site testing.
· Ugandan Government had approved landmark one-off permit for Blencowe to export bulk sample graphite from Orom-Cross earlier in Q1 2023.
Blencowe Resources Plc (“Blencowe Resources” or the “Company”) (LSE: BRES) is pleased to announce it has completed the mining and packaging of both the 100t bulk sample and 150kg of sample from its flagship Orom-Cross Graphite Project. In January 2023 the Company received an approval from the Ugandan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to export materials from its Orom-Cross Graphite Project to Chinese testing facilities to enable final bulk metallurgical test work to be undertaken. Blencowe has mandated industry specialist Jilin to complete this test work in their existing plant facility, negating the requirement for the Company to build its own bulk testing facility on-site in the near term, saving both considerable time and cost.
This final stage of metallurgical test work is a key component of the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study. Blencowe has already proven twice (in Canada/SGS and Australia/IMO) that it can achieve a high grade, low impurity 97% LOI concentrate from a composite mix of its two deposits at Orom-Cross. The Company expects to achieve the same results with this significantly larger sample size, thereby enabling the pre-qualification of end products and subsequent entry into binding offtake contracts.
Works to excavate and transport the bulk samples were undertaken under supervision of the Company’s geologists and the Ugandan Department of Geology, Survey and Mines (DGSM). Works were carried out by local Uganda firm ADT/LogVoy. The 100t bulk sample and the 400litres of groundwater are being sea-freighted from the Port of Mombasa, and the 150kgs of same samples are being fast-track air-freighted to same Jilin facility, to undergo metallurgical testing as a precursor to build knowledge before the larger samples arrive.
Once this bulk sample test is completed over the next few months Blencowe will utilise these same facilities to lift the 97% concentrate to a 99.95% SPG-ready product, which can then be tested by OEMs to ensure it meets their requirements. When this OEM testing is successfully completed binding offtake contracts may then be secured. In parallel Blencowe will also be doing same 99.95% SPG-ready testing in USA to obtain a separate qualification with another technical industry expert, thereby ensuring the widest range of offtake partners are available to the Company.
Cameron Pearce, Executive Chairman commented;
“Our process to secure end-product qualification, which then opens the door to binding offtake contracts, is underway. This is a methodical process designed to deliver an end-product that meets the most stringent battery grade testing by the OEMs. We are very confident in the product to be produced from Orom-Cross, especially given the lack of impurities within the concentrate in all testing thus far. If we can continue to demonstrate this quality in the months ahead we will be in excellent shape to complete this pre-qualification process.”
He added “The pre-qualification process remains a barrier to entry for many would-be graphite producers, as achieving the battery level quality the OEMs require is challenging. However, based on historical test results we are confident we will achieve this and, in doing so, place Orom-Cross as one of the highest quality graphite projects worldwide.“
For further information please contact:
|
Blencowe Resources Plc Sam Quinn |
www.blencoweresourcesplc.com Tel: +44 (0)1624 681 250
|
|
Investor Relations Sasha Sethi |
Tel: +44 (0) 7891 677 441
|
|
Tavira Financial Jonathan Evans |
Tel: +44 (0)20 3192 1733 jonathan.evans@tavirasecurities.com
|
|
First Equity Limited Jason Robertson |
Tel: +44(0)20 7330 1833 jasonrobertson@firstequitylimited.com
|
Twitter https://twitter.com/BlencoweRes
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/72382491/admin/
#BRES Blencowe Resources PLC – Metallurgical Test Work Update
Larger sample confirms same high quality end product as previous metallurgical test work.
Highlights:
· Blencowe successfully completes critical metallurgical test work on substantially up-scaled quantities of Orom-Cross composite mix, as per what was previously tested by SGS in Canada.
· Results continue to highlight a high grade, low impurity concentrate can be delivered from Orom-Cross.
· Duplication of bench scale testing results now completed through to bulk sample test stage.
· Test work completed by leading Australian metallurgical test firm IMO.
· Blencowe now has considerably more volume of end product to send to interested end users for testing.
Blencowe Resources Plc (“Blencowe” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that additional metallurgical test work on its Orom-Cross graphite project in Northern Uganda has been completed by leading technical specialist firm IMO based in Perth, Australia. This work is critical to understanding the quality of the end-product that Orom-Cross can deliver as a high-grade graphite concentrate, as well as what the process flow will look like to achieve this on a pre-commercial scale. It also provides significantly greater quantum of end product for end user testing which is critical for the Definitive Feasibility Study.
Blencowe appointed IMO to undertake metallurgical test work on material gathered from its drilling campaigns which covered both the Northern Syncline and Camp lode areas within Orom-Cross. The program was designed to deliver the following objectives:
1. Confirm a 95-97% TGC (Total Graphite Content) pure concentrate is possible with low impurities (Thorium and Vanadium).
2. Confirm ~90% recovery is achievable for this concentrate.
3. Confirm the liberation process in order to maintain a high percentage of Jumbo/XL/Large flakes within the concentrate.
4. Confirm the process flow diagram for plant design as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study.
5. Deliver bulk concentrate samples to allow Blencowe to initiate discussions with potential off-take partners.
Blencowe is pleased to announce that all 5 objectives have been met or exceeded in this latest round of test work. Open cycle floatation testing produced recoveries between 90-92% and concentrate grades consistently range between 95-98% which are battery grade.
The additional metallurgical test work was commissioned to test the upgradeability of the bench scale test work completed by SGS in Lakefield. A total of 1,400kg was processed (as compared to 100kg within SGS test work) and all metallurgical test-work undertaken to date shows a robust flowsheet capable of repeatable metallurgy for a wide range of feed samples from Orom-Cross.
A total of eight rougher and cleaner flotation tests were carried out on the Master composite that culminated in the flowsheet that is atypical of similar graphite projects. The flowsheet consists of a flash and rougher flotation stage followed by a primary cleaning circuit with a polishing mill followed by three stages of cleaner flotation. The intermediate concentrate is classified and then further upgraded in secondary cleaning circuits with stirred media mills (SMM) followed by cleaner flotation.
The proposed flowsheet was employed in a continuous pilot operation to determine the metallurgical response under typical operating conditions. The final concentrate graded 96.4% C(t) at 90.6% total carbon recovery which exceeded the company’s expectations and places the end product recovered at the higher end of the spectrum in comparison to its peers.
Test work was focussed on the 5 points above and not geared towards optimising the flake size fractions. As the resultant splits using an unoptimised circuit are within 5% of the fractions as determined by the original SGS bench scale works there may be further incremental value to be added by optimising ahead. The key takeaway from these results is that the scaling factors in the metallurgical testing will likely replicate the original test work and results through to commercial scale production.
At the end of this larger scale metallurgical program, approximately 80kg of concentrate was produced (versus 5-8kgs from SGS in Canada) which will be forwarded to potential end-users and project partners for additional test work on screening splits and grade analysis, as well as suitability for further downstream processing of the concentrate.
The design of the processing plant will be based on both the SGS and IMO test-work and best practice in similar operations. Importantly, the process requires no primary crushing or grinding of the ore, thus preserving the larger flake sizes, which is a material advantage over hard-rock graphite deposits.
Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce commented:
“We are delighted with these IMO met test results as they not only continue to underpin Orom-Cross concentrate as high quality in all key areas relevant to end users but the test work has highlighted that we can now deliver these end results on a much greater scale of raw material as processed. This is a key steps towards commercial stage production testing in a pilot plant facility. It also highlights the potential to increase the percentage of the more valuable coarse flake products through further optimisation of the processing circuits and this will be considered in the next round of testing.
This latest set of results sets us up nicely for the bulk sample trial we will be conducting on 100 tonnes of Orom-Cross composite in 1H 2023 and if these same results are produced from that exercise we will be largely pre-qualified in terms of end products delivered as concentrate.”
For further information please contact:
|
Blencowe Resources Plc Sam Quinn |
www.blencoweresourcesplc.com Tel: +44 (0)1624 681 250
|
|
Investor Relations Sasha Sethi |
Tel: +44 (0) 7891 677 441
|
|
Tavira Financial Jonathan Evans |
Tel: +44 (0)20 3192 1733 jonathan.evans@tavira.group
|
|
First Equity Limited Jason Robertson |
Tel: +44(0)20 7330 1833 jasonrobertson@firstequitylimited.com
|
Twitter https://twitter.com/BlencoweRes
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/72382491/admin/
Background
Orom-Cross Graphite Project
Orom-Cross is a potential world class graphite project both by size and end-product quality, with a high component of more valuable larger flakes within the deposit.
A 21-year Mining Licence for the project was issued by the Ugandan Government in 2019 following extensive historical work on the deposit and Blencowe is moving into the Definitive Feasibility Study phase shortly as it drives towards first production.
Orom-Cross presents as a large, shallow open-pitable deposit, with a maiden JORC Indicated & Inferred Mineral Resource deposit of 24.5Mt @ 6.0% Total Graphite Content. Development of the resource is expected to benefit from a low strip ratio and free dig operations, thereby ensuring lower operating and capital costs.