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Grafoid Inc. and the University of Waterloo Announce a JV Agreement to Develop High Performance Graphene Electrochemical Energy Systems

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:28 AM on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 16, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) on behalf of Grafoid Inc. (“Grafoid”) is pleased to announce the signing of a two-year R&D agreement between Grafoid Inc. and the University of Waterloo to investigate and develop a graphene-based composite for electrochemical energy storage for the automotive and/or portable electronics sectors.

Gary Economo, President and CEO of Focus Graphite Inc. and Grafoid Inc., said the objective of the agreement is to research and develop patentable applications using Grafoid’s unique investment which derives graphene from raw, graphite ore to target specialty high value graphene derivatives ranging from sulfur graphene to nanoporous graphene foam.

Some of the new graphene materials will contribute positively as a powerful next generation composite for fuel cell/electrochemical supercapacitor applications, he said.

Those applications include but are not limited to: electrodes, nanocatalyst support, electrolyte membranes and bipolar plates, transparent electrodes and other potential applications which create high-efficiency solutions in electrochemical energy systems and portable electronics.

“Today’s announcement marks Grafoid’s fifth publicly declared graphene development project with a major academic or corporate institution, and the third related directly to a next generation green technology or renewable energy development project,” Mr. Economo said.

It follows R&D partnering projects announced with Rutgers University’s AMIPP, CVD Equipment Corporation, with Hydro-Quebec’s research institute, IREQ, and with British Columbia-based CapTherm Systems, an advanced thermal management technologies developer and producer.

Mr. Economo said Grafoid’s investment in highly conductive graphene, combined with the University’s advanced catalyst technologies could advance the science “by opening the door to a realistic, cost-competitive option to other energy solutions.”

“Given our growth agenda for 2013, we expect to be in a position to announce a number of additional application development projects throughout the course of 2013,” Mr. Economo added.

Dr. Aiping Yu, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo will be the lead investigator of the project. Dr. Gordon Chiu, Research Scientist, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo will be working on the project.

Dr. Chiu said that research and discovery on graphene sulfur and nanoporous graphene is well documented and is a cornerstone for a wide range of applications

“The technology for tailoring graphene for energy storage systems must be developed. This will lead to unique intellectual property assets.

“Our group’s approach for targeting graphene derivatives that powerfully impact next generation energy storage systems adds significant value to commercial applications while providing invaluable knowledge and insight about the engineering of graphene and certain graphene metamaterials,” Dr. Chiu said.

Dr. Yu said that graphene without proper porosity and polarity remain “a constant roadblock for entry into next generation energy storage applications.

“My group will focus on solving the specific tailoring and design of graphene to enable entry into these energy storage areas” she said. ”

“Grafoid’s decision to invest in reducing or removing such a roadblock is a brilliant approach of enhancing graphene for impacting fuel cells, electrochemical supercapacitors and/or other portable energy storage systems,” Dr. Yu added.

Background

Alternative Energy & Graphene:

The quest for alternative energy sources is one of the most important and exciting challenges facing science and technology in the 21st century. Environmentally-friendly, efficient and sustainable energy generation and usage have become large efforts for advancing human societal needs. Graphene is a pure form of carbon with powerful characteristics which can bring about success in portable, stationary and transportation applications in high energy demanding areas in which electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices such as batteries, fuel cells and electrochemical supercapacitors are the necessary devices.

Electrochemical Supercapacitors:

Supercapacitors, a zero-emission energy storage system, have a number of high-impact characteristics, such as fast charging, long charge-discharge cycles and broad operating temperature ranges, currently used or heavily researched in hybrid or electrical vehicles, electronics, aircrafts, and smart grids for energy storage. The US Department of Energy has assigned the same importance to supercapacitors and batteries. There is much research looking at combining electrochemical supercapacitors with battery systems or fuel cells.

Fuel Cells:

A fuel cell is a zero-emission source of power, and the only byproduct of a fuel cell is water. Some fuel cells use natural gas or hydrocarbons as fuel, but even those produce far less emissions than conventional sources. As a result, fuel cells eliminate or at least vastly reduce the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels, and since they are also quiet in operation, they also reduce noise pollution. Fuel cells are more efficient than combustion engines as they generate electricity electrochemically. Since they can produce electricity onsite, the waste heat produced can also be used for heating purposes. Small fuel cells are already replacing batteries in portable products.

Toyota is planning to launch fuel cell cars in 2015, and has licensed its fuel cell vehicle technology to Germany’s BMW AG. BMW will use the technology to build a prototype vehicle by 2015, with plans for a market release around 2020.

By 2020, market penetration could rise as high as 1.2 million fuel cell vehicles, which would represent 7.6% of the total U.S. automotive market. Other fuel cell end users are fork lift and mining industries which continuously add profits to this growing industry.

Proton or polymer exchange membranes (PEM) have become the dominant fuel cell technology in the automotive market.

The U.S. Department of Energy has set fuel cell performance standards for 2015. As of today, no technologies under development have been able to meet the DOE’s targets for performance and cost.

About Focus Graphite Inc.

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus Graphite is also investing in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

About Grafoid Inc.

Grafoid, Inc. is a privately held Canadian corporation investing in graphene applications and economically scalable production processes for pristine bilayer and trilayer graphene and its graphene derivatives from raw, unprocessed, graphite ore.

Focus Graphite, Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) holds a principal interest in Grafoid on behalf of its shareholders.

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s technology hub, has become one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.

Contact Information

 

Gary Economo
President and CEO
Focus Graphite Inc.
613-691-1091 ext. 101
[email protected]
www.focusgraphite.com

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Grafoid Inc. and CapTherm Systems Inc. Joint Venture to Develop Next-Generation Graphene Cooling Systems for EV and LED Applications

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:23 PM on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 9, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) on behalf of Grafoid Inc., announced today Grafoid’s joint venture development agreement with Coquitlam, British Columbia-based CapTherm Systems Inc. to develop and commercialize next generation, multiphase thermal management systems for electric vehicle (EV) battery and light emitting diode (LED) technologies.

CapTherm Systems Inc – Progressive Thermal Management is a thermal management/cooling company specializing in personal computer, server, LED, and electric vehicle cooling systems. It develops and commercializes proprietary, next-generation high-power electronics cooling technologies.

Its multiphase cooling technologies represent the core of its products that harness the power of latent heat from vaporization.

Under the terms of the agreement, Grafoid Inc., a company invested in the production of high-energy graphene and the development of graphene industrial applications will supply both materials and its science for adapting graphene to CapTherm’s existing EV and LED cooling systems.

“This alliance represents a milestone for both companies in their pursuit of cutting edge, energy-saving, green technology graphene applications,” said George Economo, Grafoid’s business development manager.

“Integrating graphene’s superior thermal conductivity to CapTherm’s existing EV and LED cooling applications goes to the core of Grafoid’s IP development strengths,” he said.

CapTherm Systems CEO & Technical Director Timo Minx said next generation cooling technologies require next generation materials.

“Graphene and its properties as a superconductor will enable CapTherm to position itself well for future thermal challenges,” Mr. Minx said.

“Making our products even more competitive by taking advantage of graphene’s lateral and vertical heat spreading capabilities is a logical step in advancing our science to meet those future challenges,” Mr. Minx added.

He said graphene is a novel 21st century material that has the potential to revolutionize a multitude of markets.

About Grafoid Inc.

Grafoid, Inc., is a privately owned graphene investment and graphene business development company establishing international standards for the production of economically scalable graphene.

Focus Graphite Inc. holds a major interest in Grafoid on behalf of its shareholders.

About CapTherm Systems Inc.

CapTherm specializes in the development and commercialization of proprietary next-generation high-power electronics cooling technologies. Solid state multiphase technology represents the core of CapTherm’s products and harnesses the raw power of latent heat of vaporization. The CT Fusion line of products is the only commercially available electronics cooling product in the market that takes advantage of a phase change (from liquid to vapor) in combination with a thermal pump to create a pumped cooling loop with no moving parts requiring no additional electric power offering increased reliability and performance over contemporary cooling systems. Our technology enables the creation of a broad range of industry applications that require smaller but higher performance, higher reliability and more energy efficient products – all at a lower cost.

About Focus Graphite Inc.

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus Graphite is also investing in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements – Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, and discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are in our documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com Focus Graphite disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information

 

Focus Graphite Inc.
Mr. Gary Economo
President and Chief Executive Officer
613-691-1091, ext. 101
[email protected]
www.focusgraphite.com

CapTherm Systems Inc.
Mr. Philipp Fuhrmann
Chief Operating Officer
778-284-7691 ext 102
[email protected]
www.captherm.com

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Focus Graphite Releases Infill and Deposit Margin Drilling Results at Lac Knife Deposit : 42.8 m grading 20.43% Cgr in Hole LK-12-128

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:25 AM on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 9, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) (“Focus” or the “Company”) is pleased to report the results of the summer 2012 infill and deposit margin drilling program on the Company’s 100%-owned Lac Knife graphite Property (the “Property”), located in the Grenville Geological Province of northeastern Québec. Fifty-six (56) large diameter (PQ-sized) core holes (total: 5,638 m) were drilled with the aim to upgrade the current Inferred mineral resources in the southeastern part of the Lac Knife deposit to the Indicated category; to map the limits of the deposit; and to provide sufficient mineralised feed material for phase II lock cycle metallurgical testing and for the pilot plant testing program currently scheduled to commence this month.

Hole LK-12-128 drilled on Line 500 S targeted the western zone of the deposit and returned one of the best graphitic carbon (Cgr) intersections of the program (Table 1):

Hole LK-12-128: 42.8 m grading 20.43% Cgr (from 60.7 to 103.5 m), including 11.8 m grading 36.08% Cgr (from 79.7 to 91.5 m)

Most of the drill holes intercepted significant graphite intersections* along the strike length of West, Central and East zones of the deposit as evidenced by the following Holes:

Hole LK-12-135 drilled on section 675 S: 60.5 m grading 17.88% Cgr (from 61.0 to 121.5 m), including 13 m grading 32.33% Cgr (from 70 to 83 m) and 11.8 m grading 26.39% Cgr (from 106.7 to 118.5 m)
Hole LK-12-147 drilled on section 375 S: 42.8 m grading 17.59% Cgr (from 12.4 to 55.2 m), including 5.4 m grading 39.56% Cgr (from 15.4 to 20.8 m)
* Significant intercepts are defined as Cgr > 5% over a minimum of 6 m; maximum internal dilution of 6 m; maximum external dilution of 0 m.

All 40 significant intercepts are summarized in Table 1. Sectional views of the drilling on lines 375 S, 500 S and 675 S are available on the Company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com).

Focus Graphite President and CEO Gary Economo states: “We are extremely pleased with the results of our infill resource drilling program at Lac Knife which continue to deliver high graphite grades over significant thicknesses in both the West and Central zones of the deposit. The 2012 drilling was primary designed to improve our current understanding of the limits, geometry, and continuity in thickness and grade of the graphite mineralisation, key elements required to upgrade our current mineral resource estimate and map additional resources. Our summer 2013 exploration program at Lac Knife will include additional resource drilling to consolidate the size and limits of the deposit”.

Table 1: Summary of significant graphitic carbon drill core intersections (Cgr > 5% and minimum intersection of 6 m) from the 2012 infill and deposit margin drilling program at the Lac Knife property.

Hole Azimuth Dip Total
Length
(m)		 From
(m)		 To
(m)		 Core
Length**
(m)		 Cgr***
(%)		 S
(%)
LK-12-116 N078 -45 56 35.7 48.8 13.1 10.11 3.62
LK-12-117 N075 -50 135 64.5 79.5 15.0 7.08 3.18
LK-12-119 N081 -47 147 49.5 72.8 23.3 13.10 7.42
112.8 129.9 17.1 13.43 7.03
LK-12-120 N080 -47 138 54.7 68.2 13.5 12.60 5.30
114.5 126.7 12.2 10.45 5.47
LK-12-121 N081 -47 146 71.6 88.5 17.0 12.52 4.32
LK-12-123B N073 -47 171 23.3 41.8 18.5 15.84 5.18
LK-12-124 N089 -47 141 33.4 48.8 15.4 21.69 5.90
100.5 117.7 17.2 13.12 6.12
LK-12-125 N080 -47 159 6.9 18.0 11.2 17.93 5.22
24.2 31.4 7.2 15.62 4.22
84.0 102.5 18.5 12.63 7.81
LK-12-126 N078 -47 146 66.0 85.5 19.5 9.09 7.52
LK-12-127 N062 -69 131 16.6 33.1 16.5 19.08 4.98
90.2 112.3 22.1 12.19 6.29
LK-12-128 N075 -52 125 60.7 103.5 42.8 20.43 5.25
LK-12-129 N051 -47 111 75.0 93.0 18.0 20.97 6.72
LK-12-130 N059 -45 156 31.5 43.4 11.9 20.48 6.17
61.5 72.0 10.5 21.19 6.92
117.2 153.2 36.1 12.98 5.39
LK-12-131 N099 -48 215 22.6 92.3 69.7 15.81 5.44
112.0 130.8 18.8 12.04 4.45
147.6 214.5 66.9 17.89 9.46
LK-12-131-B N099 -48 59 17.8 58.5 40.7 12.37 4.03
LK-12-132 N073 -46 116 60.7 74.1 13.4 16.25 5.12
80.2 108.3 28.1 20.20 7.12
LK-12-133 N090 -65 101 32.5 58.3 25.8 13.73 4.56
68.2 92.0 23.8 18.19 5.96
LK-12-134 N065 -46 118 36.3 87.0 50.7 18.53 5.13
LK-12-135 N087 -53 125 61.0 121.5 60.5 17.88 5.40
LK-12-141 N076 -45 77 38.7 73.8 35.1 13.98 3.61
LK-12-142 N080 -45 75 0.0 13.5 13.5 10.62 2.88
26.0 41.2 15.2 20.28 4.13
LK-12-143 N079 -47 120 11.0 25.0 14.0 17.09 3.80
84.8 92.1 7.3 17.05 6.50
LK-12-144 N080 -45 96 27.6 92.2 64.6 17.70 7.96
LK-12-145 N104 -49 90 59.4 74.0 14.6 18.16 6.50
LK-12-146 N077 -45 81 44.3 61.9 17.6 16.84 8.20
LK-12-147 N085 -45 60 12.4 55.2 42.8 17.59 8.50
LK-12-149 N084 -55 108 67.1 78.9 11.8 14.11 3.86
LK-12-150 N078 -45 89 46.5 59.2 12.7 18.94 3.43
LK-12-153 N074 -45 78 19.0 40.2 21.2 13.17 3.07
52.1 72.0 19.9 17.05 8.05
LK-12-154 N077 -45 59 21.1 28.6 7.5 17.26 7.88
LK-12-156 N077 -45 90 9.8 18.2 8.4 19.85 3.96
56.0 70.2 14.2 19.51 7.80
LK-12-157 N077 -45 81 26.3 36.5 10.2 11.22 3.16
54.8 67.4 12.6 19.73 7.14
LK-12-158 N075 -45 41 17.5 34.0 16.5 17.79 7.38
LK-12-159 N036 -45 44 23.6 39.9 16.3 16.38 8.40
LK-12-160 N259 -50 110 10.5 109.5 99.0 26.21 6.81
LK-12-161 N098 -64 131 37.6 60.9 23.3 15.86 5.88
80.9 88.9 8.0 12.69 7.47
LK-12-162 N076 -45 92 7.5 49.0 41.5 14.23 5.20
63.7 72.0 8.3 8.07 3.91
LK-12-163 N081 -50 156 7.6 24.8 17.2 18.49 6.45
49.5 63.8 14.3 13.48 4.81
82.8 115.5 32.7 11.09 4.86
123.3 140.6 17.3 11.89 9.05
LK-12-164 N059 -45 182 2.0 21.6 19.6 9.50 2.98
74.5 88.5 14.0 16.06 6.79
114.9 124.5 9.6 15.96 8.54
164.4 181.5 17.1 10.85 4.08
LK-12-165 N077 -45 131 29.5 55.5 26.0 9.46 3.43
108.0 122.6 14.6 5.74 3.06
** Significant Cgr intersections are expressed as core length because the host rocks are highly metamorphosed and locally migmatized and folded. However, the mineralization envelope interpreted from the historical data cross-cuts the drill holes at a high angle.
*** All core sample carbon analyses performed by COREM and delivered as graphitic carbon (Cgr), internal analytical code LSA-M-B10, LECO high frequency combustion method with infrared measurement.

The mineralization at Lac Knife is hosted in biotite-quartz-feldspar paragneiss and schist of the Nault Formation, in association with iron formations of the Wabush Formation. These are equivalent to the lower Proterozoic Labrador Trough rocks affected by the late Proterozoic Grenvillian orogeny. Metamorphism associated with the Grenvillian orogeny has resulted in the formation of economic grade concentrations of graphite dominated by value-enhanced large flakes.

The Lac Knife property comprises 57 map-designated claims covering 2,986.31 ha located in Esmanville Township (NTS map sheet 23B/11), 27 km south-southwest of the iron-mining town of Fermont, in the Côte-Nord administrative district of Québec. Focus acquired a 100% interest in the property in October 2010. Maps showing the location of the Lac Knife property as well as drill holes locations are available on the company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com.

2012 Infill and Deposit Margin Drill Program, Methodology and QA/QC

The summer 2012 infill and deposit margin drilling program at Lac Knife comprised 56 large diameter (PQ-sized, 4-inch) core holes for a total of 5,628 m. The drilling program was designed to map the limits of the Lac Knife graphite deposit and provide sufficient additional data and control on mineralisation to be useful for in a new resource estimate. The drilling was also designed to provide enough mineralised material for phase II metallurgical testing (see Focus’ press release dated March 4th) and for subsequent pilot plant trials.

The 2012 drilling campaign was managed by IOS Services Geoscientifiques (“IOS”) of Chicoutimi, Québec. The infill and deposit margin drilling program started on July 1st and ended on September 17th 2012. The drilling was performed by G4 Drilling of Val-d’Or, Québec under the supervision of IOS.

The 56 holes were spread over the western, central and eastern zones of the deposit (see drill holes location map available on the Company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com).

Two slabs of about 1/4 of the 4 inch diameter PQ core were sawed parallel on each side of the central axis of the core. One of the slabs was earmarked for geochemical analysis while the other slab was kept as a witness sample. Center parts of the core were used as graphite-bearing material for the phase II metallurgical testing and for the subsequent pilot plant testing program.

A total of 2,076 sub-sample slabs of the PQ drill core were collected from all 56 holes and shipped to IOS for sample preparation (crushing and grinding). Once prepared, the samples were sent to the Consortium de Recherche Appliquée en Traitement et Transformation des Substances Minérales (“COREM”), an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 certified facility in Québec-City, for graphitic carbon (Cgr) analysis using LECO high frequency combustion method with infrared measurement (internal analytical code LSA-M-B10 for graphitic carbon; ISO 9686:2004). For the measurement of graphitic carbon, the sample is pre-treated with nitric acid, placed in a LECO capsule and introduced in the furnace (1,380ºC) in an oxygen atmosphere. Carbon is oxidized to CO2. After the removal of moisture, gas (CO2) is measured by an infrared detector and a computerized system calculates the concentration of graphitic carbon (Cgr). Total sulphur was also analyzed by LECO (code LSA-M-B41) (Table 1). For sulphur determinations, the sample is placed in a LECO capsule and introduced in the furnace (1,380ºC) until sulphur is oxidized to SO2. After the removal of moisture, gas (SO2) is measured by an infrared detector and a computerized system calculates the concentration of total sulphur (%).

Under the QA/QC program, about 10% of the samples were analyzed by COREM for total (code LSA-M-B45), organic (code LSA-M-B58), inorganic (code LSA-M-B11) and graphitic (code LSA-M-B10) carbon as well as for total sulphur (a total of 191 core samples). Duplicates of the same 191 samples were also sent to ACTLABS Laboratories of Ancaster, Ontario (ISO/IEC 17025:2005 with CAN-P-1579) for graphitic carbon (code 5D – C Graphitic) and total sulphur (code 4F – S Combustion infrared detection) determinations and for 35 multi-element analysis using ICP methods (code 1E2 – Aqua Regia). IOS introduced 181 standards, 173 duplicates and 159 blank samples into the batch of core sample as part of the QA/QC program.

Summer 2013 Drilling Program

Focus is currently working on the design of a two-phase follow-up drilling program on the Lac Knife property for the summer of 2013. Phase I of this program will include additional infill drilling within the limits of the deposit defined by the NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (see Lac Knife PEA Technical Report available on Focus’ website or at www.sedar.com). Phase II will consist of an exploration drilling program in order to test geophysical anomalies identified during last fall’s ground magnetic and horizontal loop electromagnetic (HLEM) survey done by G.L. Géoservice Inc. and interpreted by Geophysique Camille St-Hilaire Inc., both located in Rouyn-Noranda.

About Focus Graphite

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. The Lac Knife project hosts a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resource of 4.972 Mt grading 15.7% carbon as crystalline graphite with an additional Inferred mineral resource of 3.000 Mt grading 15.6% crystalline graphite. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. On October 29th, 2012 the Company released the results of a Preliminary Economic Analysis (“PEA”) of the Lac Knife project which demonstrates that the project has an excellent potential to become a producer of graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus invests in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed by Benoit Lafrance, Ph.D., géo (Québec), Focus Vice-President of Exploration and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

Forward Looking Statements – Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, and discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are in our documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com Focus Graphite disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information

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Energizer Resources on pace to meet world graphite demand with full feasibility study at Molo project targeted for Q4

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:37 PM on Monday, April 8th, 2013

Tuesday, April 09, 2013 by Carrie White

Given its robust PEA at its Molo graphite project in Madagascar, as well as the quality of the project and the speed at which it has advanced, it appears that Energizer Resources is well positioned to realize production by Q4 2015.Given its robust PEA at its Molo graphite project in Madagascar, as well as the quality of the project and the speed at which it has advanced, it appears that Energizer Resources is well positioned to realize production by Q4 2015.

 

With the graphite market forecast to ramp up significantly in the near future, Energizer Resources (TSE:EGZ) (OTCBB:ENZR) says it will be ready to meet the demand.

The company not only has a giant resource in its Molo graphite deposit in Madagascar, but it is moving toward a full-feasibility study at a rapid pace, having recently released “a very conservative” yet strong preliminary economic assessment (PEA) – one of only three junior graphite companies to have done so.

Energizer late last year unveiled an NI 43-101 resource estimate for Molo, which ranks the deposit as one of the largest in the world.

Indicated resources at the Molo deposit total 83.99 million tonnes, grading 6.36 per cent carbon (C), above a 2 per cent C cut-off grade, with inferred resources totalling 40.32 million tonnes grading 6.3 per cent C.

Based on drill and trench data received to date, as well as mapping, prospecting, and geophysical surveying, graphite mineralization is confirmed at surface and over an area of at least 250,000 square metres.  Drilling has also confirmed that the mineralization is exposed at surface and open at depth in excess of 300 metres.

The conventional open pit project is expected to mine 1.17 million tonnes per year of ore, at an average head grade of 8.5 per cent with a stripping ratio of 1.65.

Brent Nykoliation, Energizer’s senior VP of corporate development, tells Proactiveinvestors that the company is targeting the completion of a bankable feasibility study and emphasizes that the Molo project can meet the current demand for graphite from the traditional steel markets and easily scale up when new demand for graphite in the energy markets heats up – as he believes it will be in the near future.

“In just 15 months from initial discovery, the team at Energizer in conjunction with its EPCM partner, DRA Mineral Projects of South Africa, has released a robust PEA study,” he says.

“Unlike other graphite companies who have released either a PEA Study or full feasibility study, Energizer’s PEA results included transportation costs FOB port as opposed to just ex-mine.”

The economics of the report, done by DRA Mineral Projects showed a post-tax net present value of $341.8 million on a 10 per cent discounted basis, with a 41 per cent IRR and a payback period of three years. Pre tax, the net present value was calculated at $421.5 million, with an IRR of 48 per cent.

According to the preliminary report, the average specification of the graphite to be produced is 92 per cent carbon (C), with average mill recovery estimated at 89 per cent. Nykoliation says that the PEA uses a conservative, average price of $1,564 per tonne of graphite, and did not include pricing for any large and jumbo flake.

Pricing for the full distribution suite of flaked graphite will be incorporated into the full feasibility study, slated to be initiated next quarter. Work on the full feasibility study will include construction of two pilot plants, each at a different accredited lab, to produce the necessary quantity of samples for presentation to potential off-take partners.

The work will also look to optimize flake size distribution and further upgrade its concentrates from purities between 98 and 98.6 per cent graphitic carbon to battery-grade target purity levels of greater than 99 per cent.

With completion of the full feasibility study targeted for the fourth quarter of this year, the start of mine construction is expected in the third quarter of 2014, and production is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2015 at an output capacity of 84,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).

Along with its large, expandable NI 43-101 compliant resource that is able to meet market demand as required with a “full suite” of flake sizes, the company says it will be able to supply products to all market segments.

Energizer says it is also currently in off-take discussions with key graphite producers and manufacturers as well as with “leading financial institutions” for moving the project through to construction and production.

“The graphite market is very complicated, so we have spoken with many groups internationally on how to go forward in a partnership basis to place the graphite in customer’s hands,” says president, director and COO Craig Scherba.

Also key to the company’s future success is the unique location of its Molo deposit, which is in a sparsely populated, dry savannah grassland area. The environmental impact is therefore low, with the property having easy access through a network of secondary roads that lead to both the regional capital and port city of Toliara, and to the port of Soalara.

Scherba says other projects in Madagascar have paved the way in terms of mining laws, making it easier for companies like Energizer to move forward with their projects.

The company is also confident that operating costs will decline in the future as many other projects – particularly coal – are starting up in the region.

The nearby Sakoa Coal Field, just 30 kilometres away, will upgrade the now serviceable infrastructure, and with targeted production of 5 million tonnes of coal on an annualized basis, Energizer says the coal project will require significant upgrades to road infrastructure, port infrastructure, and on-site power plants – into which Energizer can no doubt tap. The Sakoa Coal Field is targeting operation between 2015 and 2016.

“We have diesel power generation in our OPEX costs right now, but should be able purchase ‘over-the-fence’ power once the Sakoa plant is built,” says Scherba.

“That means our operating costs will become even more favourable going into the future.”

The location of the company’s asset in Madagascar is also at the centre of the key graphite demand markets of China, India, South Korea and Japan – an important advantage for the Project

“Molo is located at the hub of high-volume world graphite markets and it is an easy process to ship from where we are located,” Scherba says.

The company also boasts favourable partnerships, with DRA Mineral Projects on board to help it construct its mine.

“DRA and its wholly owned division, Minopex, is one of the largest and most African-centric companies specializing in mine engineering, construction, and mine operation,” says Nykoliation.

Energizer has also enlisted the help of Panalpina, an intercontinental air and ocean freight supply chain and logistics companies, which has “hands-on experience” in Madagascar.

“They, in fact, handled all the logistics for the recently completed $6.5-billion Sherritt Ambatovy nickel mine, and they have confirmed that the current infrastructure in place is suitable today to support our graphite mine,” he adds.

Importantly, Scherba says the company also plans to apply for Madagascar’s Large Mining Investment Act (LGIM) permit, which defines the framework for developing and operating large-scale mining projects in the country, and provides for legal stability and financial incentives – including a tax exemption.

“The benefits of the LGIM permit are very positive for the company as it provides exemption for tax collection for first five years of a project (within guidelines), or until the mine turns a profit.” he notes.

“Based on a three year payback, that means we wouldn’t have to pay taxes in the first three years of operations.”

Graphite has achieved critical mineral status, with over 180 applications today that are dependent on the material.

China is currently the world’s largest producer of graphite, at about 80 per cent, but Energizer points out that the product is mostly lower grade.

“China, is realizing increased costs and reduced capacity due to older and deeper mines, and recent environmental and safety mandates will see significant mine rationalization – about 210 mines into just 20 super mines planned for this decade,” says Nykoliation.

“Just in the province of Hunan, they will be shutting 20 mines in the next three to four years due to environmental concerns.”

As the demand for graphite grows, the steel industry is still expected to be the number one consumer of the product, with automotive being the next highest consumer as advancements in the electric engine continue to improve.

Nykoliation explains that the estimated demand within the auto industry of one million electric vehicles would require the equivalent of at least five Molo deposits.

Even if electric vehicles are slow to take off, he notes that graphite has multiple layers of demand. There are many other new demand channels which will require graphite in the future, including large-scale lithium ion and vanadium redox batteries for grid storage, pebble bed nuclear reactors, consumer electronics, and fuel cells.

Meanwhile, the graphene market is expected to skyrocket through 2020.

Graphene, hailed as “the wonder product of graphite” is a two-dimensional crystal of pure carbon, is the thinnest and strongest substance known to science – about 300 times stronger than steel by weight.

It is a much better conductor of electricity than copper, is stretchable, almost transparent and also conducts heat better than any other known substance. Graphene-based applications with the greatest anticipated demand include consumer electronics, communications, computing devices, industrial materials, military/security and biotech.

According to a report recently released by BCC Research, new figures from global technology strategy and consultancy company CambridgeIP indicate there is a global graphene patent race underway to exploit graphene-based applications.

A global survey shows there are currently a total of 7,351 patents filed for applications of graphene, with just 3 countries holding 68% of them.  China leads the world with 2,204, followed closely by the U.S. with 1,704 and South Korea with 1,160.  Samsung leads all companies with patents, followed by Xerox.

As well, the level of investment going toward moving graphene from the laboratory to the marketplace is unprecedented. Europe has pledged €1 billion towards graphene research, while University of Cambridge and Manchester have both committed to building graphene research facilitates totalling over €85 million.

“We have the ability at Molo to meet traditional current as well as burgeoning markets coming on board,” Nykoliation says. “Even if one or two take off, there will be a need for a lot of graphite.”

With all that in mind, Nykoliation says the company remains focused on moving the development of the Molo forward.

According to US-based research firm House Mountain Partners, in January 2012 there were nine junior exploration companies involved in graphite exploration on the TSX, TSX-Venture, ASX and the AIM Exchanges. Today, there are over 82 companies managing 150 graphite projects in 13 countries. Of those 82 companies, only 12 have delineated a NI-43101 or JORC compliant resource, only three have completed a preliminary economic assessment study (Energizer is one of them) and only one has a final feasibility study.

As a result, several industry analysts, notably Chris Berry and Mickey Fulp, share the view that within the graphite space, there are “many pretenders and very few contenders” – only a select few will realize production.

Given the quality of the Molo project and the speed in which it has advanced, it appears that Energizer Resources is well positioned to be one of these companies.

Source: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/41750/energizer-resources-on-pace-to-meet-world-graphite-demand-with-full-feasibility-study-at-molo-project-targeted-for-q4-41750.html

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WATCH: Season 2, Episode 5 of The Next Biggest Winner – Big North Graphite and Canada Strategic Metals

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:22 AM on Monday, April 8th, 2013

On this week’s episode Spiro Kletas, President and CEO of Big North Graphite, as well as, Chad McMillan, Director of Canada Strategic Metals, provide viewers with valuable and interesting information pertaining to both their companies and the fast rising small-cap graphite industry.

SEGMENT 1 – Matt Gowing, research analyst with Mackie Research provides a compelling argument for the future of the graphite market.

SPECIAL FEATURE: Anthony Giovinazzo of Cynapsus Therapeutics then takes the stage to discuss the company’s development of a  non-injectable delivery of the only approved drug to be used as a rescue therapy for “off” motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease as well as their recent financing and a grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

SEGMENT 2 – Spiro Kletas, President and CEO of Big North Graphite discusses the company’s interest in the past producing Nuevo San Pedro project which is an amorphous graphite mine located in Mexico, in a region that has produced graphite for more than 100 years.

Chad McMillan of Canada Strategic Metals then takes the stage to discuss the company’s metallurgical characterization results from a recent work program on the La Loutre graphite property.

SEGMENT 3 – Round Up! Matt Gowing rejoins the guests to discuss the amorphous vs. flake graphite market.

 

 

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Big North Graphite, Canada Strategic Metals Featured In Episode 5 Of The Next Biggest Winner TV Show This Weekend

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:23 PM on Friday, April 5th, 2013

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(April 5, 2013) – The Next Biggest Winner, a leading and nationally televised investment show focusing on small-cap and mid-cap companies, is pleased to announce Episode 5 will be airing across Canada this weekend.

EPISODE 5 GUESTS

Big North Graphite (TSX VENTURE:NRT)

Canada Strategic Metals (TSX VENTURE:CJC)(OTCQX:CJCFF)(FRANKFURT:YXEN)

Spiro Kletas, President and CEO of Big North Graphite, as well as, Chad McMillan, Director of Canada Strategic Metals, provide viewers with valuable and interesting information pertaining to both their companies and the fast rising small-cap graphite industry.

Gary Economo, President and CEO of Focus Graphite was unable to make the show due to illness but will be appearing in a future episode.

PROUD SPONSORS

We are proud to announce that UC Resources (UC:TSXV) and Pacific Potash (PP:TSXV) will serve as anchor sponsors for all 30 episodes of Season 2. Both companies appeared in Episode 4 and will also be appearing on future episodes.

In addition, Marketwired is the official Media Partner of The Next Biggest Winner and distributor of this press release.

NEW SEASON, NEW HOST

Season 2 promises to be even better than Season 1 with the addition of our new host, George Tsiolis. As the Founder of AGORACOM.com George brings his significant knowledge and experience of small-cap markets to the show, insuring robust interviews and information for the benefit of our viewing audience.

Tsiolis stated “The Next Biggest Winner fills a significant void in Canadian Business Media by strictly focusing on emerging companies capable of becoming… The Next Biggest Winner. Show creators Jamie Bailey and Metaphoria Productions smartly recognized there is no other nationally televised show of its kind and now provide small cap companies and investors everywhere with a great platform to connect. The production quality in our state of the art studio is second to none. I’m proud to be a Co-Producer for Season 2 and beyond!”

TELEVISION BROADCAST DETAILS

The show airs nationally on television via iChannel in prime time as follows:

WHEN: Saturday April 6th 7:30 PM EST (Also 8:30 AM & 3:30 AM)
Sunday April 7th 6:30PM EST (Also 7:30 AM & 2:30 AM)

WHERE: iChannel (See listing below or check iChannel for your local area)

Bell Channel 514 Across Canada

Cogeco Channel 136 in Ontario and Quebec

MTS TV Channel 282 in Manitoba

Rogers Channel 197 in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick

Shaw Cable Channel 110 in BC / Channel 95 Everywhere Else

Shaw Direct Channel 593 (Classic) Channel 222 (Direct)

Source Cable Channel 174 Ontario

Telus TV Not Available Yet

Videotron Channel 146 in Quebec

About The Next Biggest Winner

The Next Biggest Winner is a television interview series for Canadian investors dedicated to identifying companies poised for growth. If your company believes it is The Next Biggest Winner and would like to appear on the show, please contact us below.

To watch a sneak peek of this episode, as well as, previous full episodes click here.

Contact Information

 

Metaphoria Productions
Jamie Bailey
Creator and Producer
[email protected]

AGORACOM
http://agoracom.com/services

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Graphite is about Grade: Mason Graphite Continues to Deliver

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:25 PM on Friday, April 5th, 2013

Written By:

Graphite is about Grade: Mason Graphite Continues to Deliver

Investors looking for the next Zenyatta Ventures (TSX.V:ZEN) should be looking for companies that will perform as exceptions to the rule – rising strongly on continuous fundamental development, as opposed to drifting downward on progress. Another consideration would be a deposit that is better than Zenyatta’s Albany deposit.

What characteristics does such a company possess? Here are the three keys:

1. Ability to raise non-dilutive capital: The companies who are able to continuously raise funds at higher prices with each financing demonstrate that stakeholders are confident in management’s ability to take the project all the way;
2. Strong shareholders who aren’t running for the exits: Most companies in the resource space are seeing any and every bid hit on the slightest hint of positive news. Stock prices that actually rise and stay up on good news are green flags for “exception to the rule” companies;
3. A project that stands out from others within its sector due to key qualities such as grade, tonnage, proximity to markets, transportation and infrastructure.

In the graphite space, most, if not all of the companies, are touting unrealistic business models that are betting on new demand from as-yet un-commercial technologies, and are staffed by management with no particular expertise in graphite.

The exception to the rule?

Mason Graphite (TSX.V:LLG) is a Forbes and Manhattan company that has assembled a team of highly experienced graphite industry professionals who are hard at work on one of the highest grade graphite deposits in North America.

The Lac Guéret graphite deposit in Quebec has been a well-known high-profile deposit since at least 2006 due to its inordinately high native grade, which can easily be found in surface grab samples over 90%. Despite other high-flying graphite juniors such as Zenyatta Ventures and Energizer Resources (TSX:EGZ) hogging the limelight, Mason’s Lac Guéret deposit increasingly stands out as the most likely Next Graphite Mine in North America.

All one needs to do is compare the drill results of other would-be graphite producers with Mason Graphite’s grades, and you begin to understand the magnitude of Lac Guéret’s grade superiority.

Drill results released April 3 emphasize the point:

GC Zone
• Hole LG-221 intersected 55 meters at 26.1 % Cgr;
• Hole LG-234 intersected 128 meters at 21.1 % Cgr, including 27 meters at 37.3 %;
• Hole LG-235 intersected 197 meters at 17.1 % Cgr, including 39 meters at 33.9 %.

GR Zone
• Hole LG-248 intersected 31 meters at 20.2 % Cgr;
• Hole LG-257 intersected 32 meters at 15.9 % Cgr.

Mason Graphite's consistent and long intercepts of very high grade large flake graphite make Mason Graphite superior to Zenyatta Ventures' Albany deposit.Mason Graphite’s consistent and long intercepts of very high grade large flake graphite make Mason Graphite superior to Zenyatta Ventures’ Albany deposit.

High grade drill intercepts from holes LG-221 (55 meters at 26.1 % Cgr) and LG-222 (36 meters at 27.5 % Cgr) located in the GC zone suggest a possible extension to the northeast of the July 2012 mineral resource envelope. Mason will follow up on these holes of interest in the next phase of drilling.

While investors are now apparently bamboozled by Zenyatta Ventures’ ‘Vein-type graphite’, it is neither as rare nor as valuable as suggested, when you consider the maximum grade of any significant intercept length is no more than 7.3%. Compare that to Mason Graphite’s existing measured and indicated resource averaging over 20%, and with long intercepts regularly averaging over 30%. Plus, with Zenyatta’s steeply dipping vein, and upwards of 40 metres of overburden, the Albany deposit is a large degree of separation inferior to Mason’s at surface deposit. In terms of purification, there is nothing special about the capability of purifying graphite to 99.96%. Purification is just a matter of process.

Grade is King – Especially in Battery Applications

Consider this: In the process of producing spherical graphite, which is the graphite type required to service the lithium-ion battery market, as much as 70 percent of the graphite is discarded in the process of shaping the graphite flakes into spheres. So any graphite producer going after the battery market is going to need a higher average grade and flake size to start with if they are to compete effectively against the high-grade large flake deposits such as Mason Graphite, whose Lac Guéret project’s indicated resource is above 20%.

Industrial Minerals indicates that batteries are the fastest growing market for graphite with growth at 15-25% per year; consumption is driven by requirements for portable electronics (mobile phones, smartphones and tablets). A significant and growing portion of demand comes from high-tech applications because of its use in batteries as anode material; natural graphite anodes are favored by all battery technologies. The battery sector is predicted to increase its share of graphite consumption from 8% to 10% in the next five years. The introduction of electric vehicle batteries may create a significant impact in the future, especially vehicles requiring batteries of 10 kWh and above.

But the explosion in battery grade graphite will take time to build, and likely over a period of 25 years, according to Stephen Riddle, president of US based natural graphite producer Asbury Carbons. “Demand for Li-ion graphite to reach 1million tonnes per year is at least 25 years away or longer and I believe some or most of this increasing demand will be synthetic graphite,” Riddle said.

So building a company on the premise that you are going to sell all or some of your graphite to battery manufacturers is a tad misleading, to say the least. High purity concentrations thinly dispersed through no-grade host material is nowhere near as desirable as consistent purity across the orebody. In this sense, Mason is head and shoulders above all the other would-be graphite miners.

Traditional Applications Drive Graphite Consumption

Industrial Minerals reports that 80% of natural graphite demand is driven by industrial applications. The dominant market, with 39% of demand, is refractories which is in turn dependant on steel and refined metal production. Demand for refractories is expected to maintain its share of the market going forward.

The main consumption of graphite products is found in traditional applications such as refractories for steel making, lubricants, and brakes.The main consumption of graphite products is found in traditional applications such as refractories for steel making, lubricants, and brakes.

Brake linings, foundries and lubricants represent about 26% of demand; increased use of graphite in friction materials, packings and gaskets was driven by reduced use of asbestos globally.

Thus, while 9 out of 10 TSX Venture listed graphite companies purport to be getting ready for a brisk battery supply business, a real graphite company needs to develop multiple product lines to satisfy a wide range of customers in diverse applications.

Graphite Companies Need to Build Customer Networks

Benoit Gascon, CEO of Mason Graphite, was the individual who built the bulk of the sales channels for the world’s largest supplier of graphite products, Timcal (http://www.timcal.com), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paris-based Imerys SA (EPA:NK), a US$5 billion market cap world leader in industrial minerals. He was CEO of Stratmin, which in 1989 began operation as North America’s only producing graphite mine. He turned around the operation, developed over 50 finished products and sold it to Imerys in 1996. Timcal was created through the acquisition of Stratmin, where Gascon developed a sales channels consisting of over 700 customers globally.

“Chinese graphite producers do not have very close connections with North American end-users or European end-users, so that is an opening where North American companies can build a competitive advantage,” he said. “That’s what we did with Stratmin Graphite in the 1990s. We evolved into a customer-oriented operation from top to bottom. That means selecting management with the right mindset, introducing flexibility in the production process and, as always, understanding the markets/industries of your customers and adapting to meet their requirements. The customer is king.”

Mason is a Prime Takeout Target

Timcal’s Lac-des-Iles deposit in Quebec has about 4 years left of ore. Is it conceivable that Timcal may be eyeing Mason Graphite’s Lac Guéret project as a possible contender?

“We’ve had that discussion with them,” says Simon Marcotte, Mason’s Vice President of Corporate Development. “They are not expressing interest right now, but that could change as we move closer to production.”

Considering that Timcal’s sales force and customers were developed by Gascon, Timcal could astutely view the acquisition of Mason as a pre-emptive move to thwart a new serious competitor right in its back yard.

Other entities however, who may be interested in such a high-grade graphite deposit include:

• Rockwood Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ROC), the world’s largest vendor of lithium and specialty industrial chemicals for the battery manufacturing sector, recently bid $6.50 a share for Talison Lithium, demonstrating a strategy of growth through acquisition. Since lithium-ion batteries incorporate from 10 to 30 times more graphite than lithium, it makes sense that such suppliers should consider incorporating a product that includes the graphite required for such batteries.

• SQM (NYSE:SQM), the world’s largest miner and producer of lithium, is a logical buyer of Mason Graphite’s graphite project, since it has already built the supply channels to battery manufacturers and lithium refiners that would make it a complimentary product addition.

• Talison Lithium Corp. (TSX:TLH): Talison, as its name implies, is primarily in the lithium business. But as it envisions becoming a supplier of lithium to battery manufacturers, its offering might be enhanced if it can deliver both high purity lithium and graphite to customers.

• FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC), a global specialty industrial chemical company, is the world’s second largest producer of lithium, and so its expectation for electric vehicles to and hybrid electric vehicles to reach 4 – 5% globlally suggests that graphite may become part of that strategy.

The Lac Guéret Deposit

The Lac Guéret graphite property currently hosts a National Instrument 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource of about 300,000 tonnes at 24.4% Cgr in the Measured category and 7.3 million tonnes at 20.2% Cgr in the Indicated category.

Lac Guéret is an exceptional deposit both for its high grade and high ratio of large flake graphite, and the fact that it starts right on surface for a potentially very low initial strip. With the current indicated resource averaging 20.4% Carbon Graphite, Lac Guéret could be in production as soon as 2015. Drilling is ongoing to deliver an updated resource calculation by the end of Q2 2013, and results continue to demonstrate excellent grade continuity throughout the deposit.

A Mason Graphite geo-technician inspects high grade graphite core at the Lac Guéret Camp in QuebecA Mason Graphite geo-technician inspects high grade graphite core at the Lac Guéret Camp in Quebec

I first wrote about the Lac Guéret deposit in 2006.

Back then, it was in the project portfolio of Quinto Mining, who was bought by Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines back in 2008 for its large Peppler Lake iron project. Consolidated Thompson was then acquired in early 2011 by Cliffs Natural Resources NYSE:CLF in a whopping $4.9 billion transaction (engineered by Forbes and Manhattan), again with the primary objective being Cliffs’ Bloom Lake Iron Ore mine.

Cliffs wasn’t interested in graphite, and so Forbes and Manhattan was able to negotiate the acquisition from Cliffs after several other juniors failed. Interestingly, Cliffs found themselves in the graphite game after all when they invested in Zenyatta to search for copper and nickel deposits in Ontario. The discovery of the graphite breccia by Zenyatta was a fluke.

CEO Benoit Gascon has spent substantially all of his life working in the graphite space as CEO and in other roles of Stratmin Graphite until it was merged into Timcal. He is probably one of the most qualified individuals in the entire graphite industry to repeat Timcal’s success – an asset that is glaringly absent in most other would-be graphite companies.

The Exception to the Rule

TSX Venture-listed mining explorers and developers have seen their valuations deteriorating over the last year by as much as much as 80%. The exceptions to the rule are few and far between. Mason has thus far stood out as a clear exception to the rule. The Forbes and Manhattan machine has demonstrated repeatedly that they can sell assets up the food chain to major companies, and also that they can raise capital regardless of market conditions. It will be interesting to see how other graphite stories end as this protracted bear market begins to take its toll on the number of publicly traded companies. Mason Graphite is one of the clear exceptions to that rule, and shareholders in the company will benefit from that. Its just a matter of time.

Disclosure

The author is a shareholder in Mason Graphite and so should be regarded as biased. No compensation has been received for the production or distribution of this article. This article is intended for information purposes only and is in no way to be construed as recommendation to buy or offer to sell any securities mentioned herein. The information contained in this article is derived from sources believed to be reliable, but no warranty of same is expressed or implied. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author solely and in no way represent the opinions of management of Mason Graphite or any other company mentioned herein. Resource investing is inherently risky and you could lose all or part of your investment. Always consult a registered investment advisor in your jurisdiction before deciding if any investment is right for you.

Source: http://www.midasletter.com/2013/04/mason-graphite-continues-to-deliver-high-grades-1304046/

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$50 Million Raised on London’s AIM for Graphene Company Bodes Well for Lomiko and Graphene Labs Strategic Alliance

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:21 AM on Thursday, April 4th, 2013

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and NEW YORK, NEW YORK–(April 4, 2013) – LOMIKO METALS INC. (TSX VENTURE:LMR)(PINKSHEETS:LMRMF) (Europe: ISIN: CA54163Q1028, WKN: A0Q9W7) (the “Company”) recently presented to the Richmond Club in Toronto, a network of wealthy individual investors, analysts and fund managers outlining details on the Lomiko and Graphene Labs Strategic Alliance announced February 15, 2013 and commenting on recent carbon purity tests.

Lomiko confirms that results for the tests were reported as per industry standard to two decimal points. Readings of 100.00% carbon purity were reported as 100% and are considered ultra high purity by industry standards and comparable to synthetic graphite. A video of the presentation is available:

http://www.richmondclub.com/Luncheon%20Videos/LomikoMar272013/index.html

Regarding the Strategic Alliance, A. Paul Gill, CEO and Director of Lomiko states: “Recently, Graphene Nanochem has raised $ 50 million on the London, U.K. AIM. We believe Lomiko and Graphene Labs are poised to benefit from tremendous interest in graphene. We are working on attracting a strategic investor to participate in our vertically integrated graphene business opportunities.”

Scope of the Strategic Alliance

Lomiko and Graphene Labs agree to co-develop a vertically integrated supply chain that includes a secure supply of high-quality graphite, cost-effective and scalable processing, tight quality control and integration of graphene-based products in end-user products. The parties will capitalize on the secure supply of high quality graphite, provided by Lomiko, and the extensive customer database and expertise in graphene materials brought by Graphene Labs.

Lomiko will provide mineral samples from the Quatre Milles Project required for testing natural high quality flake graphite for graphene conversion over the two year Agreement.

Graphene Labs will develop a feasible procedure for the purification of flake graphite for use in graphene production, and will provide guidance on technologies tailored to the production of graphene and graphene-related materials.

The Agreement also calls for joint Research and Development, Public Relations efforts, and business and marketing strategy for end uses of the graphite and graphene products. Lomiko will also have the option to provide equity financing(s) to Graphene Labs on an exclusive basis for two years providing that it meets Graphene Labs funding criteria of raising at least $ 500,000 US Dollars within eight months of the agreement,$ 1,000,000 US Dollars within twelve (12) months and $ 2,000,000 US Dollars within eighteen (18) months. If the conditions are not met, Lomiko loses the exclusivity but keeps the right to participate in financings on a non-exclusive basis.

The Agreement is subject to approval by the TSX.

On Behalf of the Board

A. Paul Gill, Chief Executive Officer

We seek safe harbor.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information

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Paul Gill Provides Update on Graphite Market and Company’s Flagship Project – Richmond Club March 27, 2013

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:29 AM on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Paul Gill, President and CEO of Lomiko Metals recently took the stage at the Richmond Club in Toronto to provide the investment community an update on the Graphite Market as well as the company’s flagship Quatre Milles Project.

Click image below to watch presentation.

Corporate Website / Hub On AGORACOM

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Big North Graphite Assays up to 5.31% Graphite in Grab Sample on Grand Lac du Nord Property, Quebec

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:14 AM on Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

Vancouver, B.C., March 27, 2012 – BIG NORTH GRAPHITE CORP. (TSX-V:NRT.V – News) (the “Company” or “Big North”) is pleased to announce that it has received graphite grab and channel sample assay results derived from the Company’s summer-fall sampling and mapping program on the Grand Lac du Nord property (the “Property”) located in eastern Quebec. The Property consists of one contiguous claim block totalling approximately 2,009 hectares and is located approximately 140 kilometres northwest of Sept-Iles, Quebec. The Property is accessible via paved and logging roads. The sampling program has confirmed a multiple graphite bearing structure covering an area approximately 4 kilometres by 2 kilometres with results of up to 5.31% Graphite in grab sample. Highlights of the grab and channel assays are shown in the tables below*. In total, 137 grab samples were taken. A further 389 samples were taken out of 93 total channels.

Best grab sample results table:

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |Sample|Graphite| |Sample|Graphite| |Sample|Graphite| |Sample|Graphite| |Sample|Graphite|
 |No    |%       | |No    |%       | |No    |%       | |No    |%       | |No    |%       |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114612|5.31    | |114588|2.97    | |114633|1.88    | |114675|1.44    | |114559|1.21    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114061|4.80    | |114566|2.92    | |114575|1.85    | |114616|1.41    | |114579|1.20    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114678|4.46    | |114607|2.70    | |114614|1.84    | |114643|1.39    | |114677|1.17    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114063|4.43    | |114599|2.49    | |114627|1.76    | |114659|1.38    | |114660|1.17    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114679|4.24    | |114563|2.47    | |114580|1.75    | |114561|1.38    | |114613|1.17    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114582|3.98    | |114065|2.41    | |114637|1.73    | |114662|1.36    | |114576|1.15    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114584|3.94    | |114646|2.27    | |114581|1.71    | |114600|1.35    | |114621|1.15    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114062|3.88    | |114583|2.26    | |114595|1.70    | |114628|1.33    | |114631|1.13    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114674|3.71    | |114586|2.23    | |114589|1.69    | |114645|1.32    | |114555|1.13    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114673|3.65    | |114578|2.22    | |114597|1.61    | |114611|1.31    | |114655|1.12    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114606|3.61    | |114654|2.20    | |114626|1.56    | |114610|1.30    | |114573|1.12    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114619|3.49    | |114569|2.20    | |114567|1.55    | |114648|1.30    | |114658|1.10    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114568|3.24    | |114587|2.19    | |114636|1.54    | |114657|1.29    | |114556|1.10    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114608|3.14    | |114585|2.11    | |114574|1.53    | |114651|1.29    | |114642|1.09    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114647|3.11    | |114676|2.08    | |114602|1.52    | |114663|1.26    | |114618|1.09    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114565|3.10    | |114603|2.04    | |114652|1.51    | |114620|1.25    | |114630|1.08    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |114596|3.06    | |114601|1.89    | |114572|1.47    | |114562|1.22    | |      |        |
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent the average grade of a deposit.

Highlights of channel sample results table:

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 |Channel|Easting |Northing |Bearing|Mineralization |Length |Average |
 |No     |(UTM)   |(UTM)    |(°)    |               |along  |grade   |
 |       |        |         |       |               |the    |graphite|
 |       |        |         |       |               |channel|%       |
 |       |        |         |       |               |(m.)   |        |
 |       |        |         |       |---------------|       |        |
 |       |        |         |       |From   |To (m.)|       |        |
 |       |        |         |       |(m)    |       |       |        |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |1A     |630218.0|5639413.0|130    |4.60   |7.60   |3.00   |1.11    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |1B     |630225.9|5639409.6|130    |0.00   |3.00   |3.00   |1.88    |
 |       |        |         |       |--------------------------------|
 |       |        |         |       |6.00   |7.00   |1.00   |1.15    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |1C     |630238.5|5639400.3|130    |2.00   |3.00   |1.00   |1.10    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |4A     |629821.0|5639822.0|85     |0.00   |2.50   |2.50   |1.39    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |6A     |629190.0|5640628.0|270    |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |2.61    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |6B     |629186.6|5640630.9|270    |1.00   |2.00   |1.00   |1.14    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |10A    |629346.0|5641843.2|95     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.04    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |10B    |629343.0|5641846.0|95     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.51    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |10C    |629345.0|5641857.0|95     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.96    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |11A    |629055.0|5642622.0|290    |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.18    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |11B    |629056.0|5642620.0|290    |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.00    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |12C    |629062.0|5642726.0|70     |0.00   |3.00   |3.00   |1.35    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |12D    |629065.0|5642726.0|70     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.08    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |12E    |629065.6|5642727.2|70     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.36    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |12F    |629066.6|5642728.6|70     |0.00   |4.00   |4.00   |1.27    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |12G    |629079.0|5642738.0|70     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.68    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |13A    |628980.0|5643783.0|100    |0.00   |1.80   |1.80   |1.35    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |13B    |628982.0|5643784.0|100    |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |1.19    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |14A    |628805.0|5643682.0|90     |0.00   |3.00   |3.00   |1.41    |
 |       |        |         |       |--------------------------------|
 |       |        |         |       |13.00  |14.00  |1.00   |1.38    |
 |       |        |         |       |--------------------------------|
 |       |        |         |       |17.00  |23.00  |6.00   |1.38    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |14B    |628828.0|5643683.0|90     |0.00   |5.00   |5.00   |1.36    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |15A    |628606.0|5643950.0|90     |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |0.94    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |15B    |628608.0|5643948.0|90     |0.00   |3.00   |3.00   |1.28    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |16A    |628644.0|5643912.0|90     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.11    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |17B    |628742.0|5643778.0|270    |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |1.10    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |18A    |629011.0|5644038.0|60     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.98    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |18B    |629011.9|5644039.3|60     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |2.46    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |18C    |629012.7|5644040.7|60     |0.00   |5.00   |5.00   |1.71    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |20A    |630265.0|5639279.0|140    |0.00   |4.00   |4.00   |1.32    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |20B    |630267.0|5639275.0|140    |0.00   |8.00   |8.00   |1.39    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |22A    |632756.0|5639578.0|260    |2.00   |4.00   |2.00   |1.81    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |24A    |632787.0|5639666.0|300    |7.00   |8.00   |1.00   |2.40    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |25A    |632748.0|5639724.0|240    |0.00   |8.00   |8.00   |3.87    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |25B    |632741.7|5639718.9|240    |0.00   |10.00  |10.00  |3.27    |
 |       |        |         |       |--------------------------------|
 |       |        |         |       |13.00  |17.00  |4.00   |1.25    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |26A    |632752.0|5639796.0|20     |0.00   |5.00   |5.00   |2.90    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |27A    |632798.0|5640144.0|40     |1.00   |2.00   |1.00   |1.32    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |27B    |632792.0|5640146.0|40     |0.00   |3.00   |3.00   |2.95    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |28B    |631197.2|5640156.6|230    |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |1.58    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |29A    |630894.0|5640119.0|230    |2.00   |19.00  |17.00  |1.12    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |30A    |630891.0|5640089.0|230    |0.00   |3.00   |3.00   |1.63    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |32A    |630979.0|5639678.0|270    |0.00   |12.80  |12.80  |1.23    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |33A    |630803.0|5640147.0|40     |0.00   |11.00  |11.00  |1.47    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |35A    |630709.0|5640133.0|190    |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |1.38    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |36A    |630660.0|5640189.0|210    |1.00   |2.00   |1.00   |1.51    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |37A    |630529.0|5640329.0|20     |0.00   |3.00   |3.00   |1.30    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |38A    |630526.0|5640439.0|50     |0.00   |6.00   |6.00   |2.86    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |39A    |630564.0|5640413.0|80     |0.00   |4.00   |4.00   |1.16    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |40A    |630606.0|5640410.0|40     |0.00   |1.00   |1.00   |1.75    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |41A    |630625.0|5640403.0|90     |0.00   |5.00   |5.00   |1.27    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |42A    |630698.0|5640387.0|70     |0.00   |2.00   |1.00   |1.81    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |43A    |630713.0|5640387.0|90     |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |1.38    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |44A    |630733.0|5640386.0|200    |0.00   |6.00   |6.00   |0.89    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |48A    |630402.0|5640419.0|180    |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |1.58    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |49A    |630401.0|5640430.0|180    |3.00   |4.00   |1.00   |1.27    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |51A    |630325.0|5640486.0|50     |1.00   |3.00   |2.00   |1.64    |
 |       |        |         |       |--------------------------------|
 |       |        |         |       |4.00   |5.00   |1.00   |1.12    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |52A    |630298.0|5640498.0|50     |2.00   |5.00   |3.00   |1.37    |
 |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 |53A    |630423.0|5640995.0|70     |0.00   |2.00   |2.00   |2.31    |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

?.Channels do not necessarily represent the true width of the mineralized zone.

Grand Lac du Nord Property:

The Property was previously explored by SOQUEM, Inc. following up on airborne electromagnetic (EM) anomalies. Ground work in 2000 and 2001 identified a high grade sillimanite formation. The presence of graphite over the property was also noted visually but not given any focus at the time.

The Property contains a graphitic paragneiss formation approximately 8 kilometres in length by 1 to 2 km wide. The formation is composed of quartz, graphite, biotite and sulphides. The sulphides are in veinlets or disseminated in the paragneiss while the graphite is in disseminated flakes. A second formation parallel with the above consists of a sillimanite paragneiss band, also 8 km in length with a width of about 1 to 2 km. This horizon composed of quartzfeldspars, sillimanite, graphite, biotite, garnet and cordierite. The formation is intercalated with bands of quartzite.

Property maps including full results will be posted on the Company’s website at: http://www.bignorthgraphite.com. The Company currently intends to mount an exploration campaign on the Property commencing with a complete graphite characterization followed by diamond drilling. The exploration target is an open-pittable, crystalline flake graphite deposit similar to other graphite deposits and mines in Quebec such as Focus Metals Inc.’s Lac Knife Deposit and Timcal Graphite and Carbon’s Lac des Iles Mine.

Jean-Sebastien Lavallee (OGQ #773), geologist, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, independent of Big North, and an optionor of the Property, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

About Big North Graphite

Big North Graphite Corp (NRT.V) is a graphite exploration and development Company focussed on select graphite assets in Canada and Mexico.

For further information, please contact Spiro Kletas at (604) 629-8220.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

(signed) “Spiro Kletas”
Spiro Kletas
President and Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by the Company.

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Posted in Graphite | Comments Off on Big North Graphite Assays up to 5.31% Graphite in Grab Sample on Grand Lac du Nord Property, Quebec

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