JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Initial assay results from Armadale Capital's Mahenge Liandu project, in Tanzania, show high-grade graphite mineralisation at up to 26% near-surface total graphitic carbon.
Further feedback on Joint Ore Reserves Committee- (Jorc-) compliant modelling, due for completion by the end of the fourth quarter, also indicated a substantial graphite resource, with metallurgical testwork to ascertain initial purity and flake size distribution of graphite concentrate, ongoing.
Armadale chairperson William Frewen said the results were promising. “The wide intervals and high-grade nature of the results are encouraging and should positively impact the extraction costs given the close proximity to the surface of the mineralisation,” he said.
The board is confident the remaining assay results will further reinforce the project’s upside potential, which will, in turn, be further bolstered by the ongoing Jorc modelling.
“With demand for natural graphite forecast to accelerate significantly as new lithium-ion battery gigafactories come on stream, Armadale is ideally positioned to capitalise on these compelling supply-demand market fundamentals,” Frewen said.
Meanwhile, Armadale’s team in Tanzania has undertaken a preliminary review of infrastructure and logistics requirements for mining operations to start and to get product to market.
The Mahenge Liandu project is located in the Ulanga district in south-east Tanzania, which is about 300 km south-west of Morogoro and 10 km from the Mahenge town.