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- Graphite miner BlackEarth Minerals (BEM) has welcomed outstanding test results from its stage two large scale pilot test program
- The initial results have re-confirmed the product from the company’s Maniry Graphite Project in Madagascar is of high quality
- The analysis also indicated a high percentage of jumbo flake-sized graphite concentrates, which are currently in a worldwide supply shortage
- Further testing will continue throughout April and the program is expected to wrap up in the following month
- BlackEarth Minerals is up 34.6 per cent and trading at 17.5 cents per share
Graphite miner BlackEarth Minerals (BEM) has welcomed outstanding test results from its stage two large scale pilot test program which began last month.
The program is analysing approximately 60 to 70 tonnes of material from BlackEarth’s Maniry Graphite Project in Madagascar, as part of a definitive feasibility study.
Initial results have confirmed grades of fixed carbon content of over 95 per cent, reaffirming the high quality of graphite product from the Maniry Project. In addition, the results have demonstrated the product’s potential for use in the growing electric vehicle market.
The program has also indicated that about 20 per cent of graphite concentrate yields are classified as jumbo flake-sized. Jumbo flake graphite is currently in a worldwide supply shortage, raising its price to over $US1750 (roughly A$2300) per metric tonne.
BlackEarth Minerals’ Managing Director, Tom Revy, commented that the board is delighted with initial test results achieved at the BGRIMM graphite processing and design facility.
“Undertaking this large scale pilot test program is a significant commitment by BlackEarth and we were confident the program would achieve very positive results,” he said.
“The outcomes to date have exceeded our expectation and only confirm the status of the Maniry project in Madagascar as being one that can produce world-class graphite concentrate that is highly suitable for the EV and battery markets as well as a range of other applications – all of which are in global demand,” he added.
The stage two pilot test program is currently two weeks ahead of schedule. Further testing is expected to continue throughout April, and the program is expected to wrap up in the following month.
BlackEarth Minerals is up 34.6 per cent, trading at 17.5 cents at 3:30 pm AEDT.
