Specialist test work on natural flake graphite sourced from Comet Resources’ 100 per cent owned Springdale graphite project in the south of Western Australia has demonstrated its suitability to produce a precursor material for use in the manufacture of lithium-ion battery anodes. Comet says the results enhance the prospects for future development of the project.
The Springdale tenure covers some 198 square kilometres and hosts its namesake graphite deposit that already boasts a maiden 15 million tonne resource going 6 per cent total graphitic carbon, including a high-grade 2.6Mt at a serious 17.5 per cent TGC.
The latest results follow Comet’s earlier test work where the Springdale graphite concentrate was identified as potentially being suitable for battery anode material applications.
Comet now says new testing of a bulk sample of graphite concentrate at a specialist testing facility in Germany has shown Springdale graphite to meet industry specifications for battery anode material, with purification up to 99.99 per cent graphite content accomplished.
Graphite suitable for battery anode production reportedly achieves premium pricing in graphite markets.
According to the company, deposits containing high-quality fine graphite are scarce, potentially making Springdale a key candidate to supply the flourishing battery anode market being spurred on by electric vehicle uptake around the world.
Curiously, management says the Springdale graphite also performed “exceptionally” well in jet mill testing, a process used to reduce the particle size of the product.
Jet milled graphite products can also achieve high prices in graphite markets according to the company.
Comet says the strong results from jet mill testing highlight Springdale’s potential to deliver another high-value saleable product on top of the lithium-ion battery precursor potential.
Comet Resources Managing Director, Matthew O’Kane, said:“The results from the specialist test programs in Germany are fantastic! They confirm graphite material from Springdale has met key battery anode grade benchmarks as well successfully producing high-value jet milled product. These results greatly increase the prospects for future development of the project. We will now assess future work programs, which include work to further optimise the processing of spherical graphite. With the continued push towards electrification, demand for these battery anode grade products should grow exponentially.”
Comet management says it is continuing discussions with numerous downstream users of graphite interested in exploring commercial opportunities related to Springdale.
The company has identified some 26km of strike prospective for graphite mineralisation at Springdale, with less than 20 per cent of the identified stratigraphy drill tested to date. The project lies less than 150 kilometres by road from the port of Esperance.
With results from the recent test work showing Springdale’s potential to host battery grade graphite and other value-added products, all eyes will be on Comet as it looks to unravel the full value of its Western Australian graphite venture.
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By Matt Birney
