Graphite derived from channel and drill core sample materials taken from Goldcore's Berkwood project in northern Quebec will be sent to British Columbia-based Base Metallurgical laboratories to be processed, concentrated and purified.
The company said the graphite's amenability to purification makes it suitable for a range of industrial applications, including for lithium-ion battery anode components, noting its "compelling" jumbo- and large-flake size distribution.
"Even when compared against a global suite of graphite prospects, projects and mines, it is extremely rare to see graphite concentrates that are readily processed to yield both an abundance of large flakes and high graphitic carbon grade," said Goldcore technical advisor Michel Robert.
Graphite concentrate from the Berkwood project at 97.8% purity was in August 2019 purified by ProGraphite to 99.95%.
"The near term plan is to have Base Met repeat the process with more core and channel sample material, and then to send the concentrate to ProGraphite to purify to 99.95%, make spherical graphite and coat the graphite for application in the anode components of test batteries", said the company.
The company will also use the purified product to supply samples to battery manufacturers.
"Being able to send 15kg parcels of the company's high-grade graphite is one of the key steps to potentially securing an offtake agreement with a lithium-ion battery manufacturer and or other consumers of graphite," said chief executive Tom Yingling.
Over the past four years, Goldcore had collected and stored raw graphite mineralised rock sample material for use in the metallurgical and application tests.
