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China Carbon Graphite Inc. Releases First Quarter 2013 Results

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:33 AM on Friday, May 17th, 2013

INNER MONGOLIA, China, May 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — China Carbon Graphite Group, Inc. (OTCBB:CHGI) (“China Carbon” or the “Company”), the largest wholesale supplier of fine-grain and high-purity graphite in China and one of the nation’s top manufacturers of carbon and graphite products, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

“The recession of China’s steel industry continues to impact our sales this quarter. We strongly believe the market demand will return very soon just as the last recession in 2008 ended the following year. I am glad our management decided to not only dedicate most of our resources to produce high-grade and high margin graphite products like fine grain and high purity graphite but also continue to explore more applications of our products in order to diversify our risks. I believe this effort will be reflected on our future financials,” said Donghai Yu, Chief Executive Officer of China Carbon Graphite Group Inc.

Sales

During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we had sales of $3,060,918, compared to sales of $10,061,210 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $7,000,292, or approximately 69.6%. The sales decrease was mainly attributable to a significant decline in the demand for our products during the three months ended March 31, 2013, which resulted from the struggle of steel companies.

The breakdown of revenues for each of graphite electrodes, fine grain graphite and high purity graphite, during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, is as follows:

 March 31, 2013
Sales		 % of Total
Sales		  March 31, 2012
Sales		 % of Total
Sales
Graphite Electrodes  $ 80,960 2.6%  $ 456,647 4.5%
Fine Grain Graphite 1,394,956 45.6% 4,467,350 44.4%
High Purity Graphite 1,491,521 48.7% 5,051,089 50.2%
Others (1) 93,481 3.1% 86,124 0.9%
Total  $ 3,060,918  100.0%  $ 10,061,210  100.0%
(1) “Other” sales represent revenue generated by sales of semi-processed products and other types of products.

Cost of goods sold; gross margin

Our cost of goods sold consists of the price of raw materials, utilities, labor, and depreciation expenses in our manufacturing facilities. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, our cost of goods sold was $3,320,320, compared to $7,143,606 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $3,823,286 or approximately 53.5%. The decrease in the cost of sales was due to the decline in sales volume.

Our gross margin decreased from 29.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 to (8.5)% for the three months ended March 31, 2013. This decline is mainly attributed to a reduction in sales price due to competition, less demand and an increase of cost of goods sold, which is due to increased depreciation allocated to the cost of goods sold resulting from the transfer of construction in progress to property and equipment since the end of 2012.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses totaled $470,411 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to $955,201 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $484,790, or approximately 50.8%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling expenses decreased from $46,798 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 to $17,941 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, a decrease of $28,857, or 61.7%. The decline was mainly due to lower sales, decreased sales commission and lower shipping and handling expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Our general and administrative expenses consist of salaries, office expenses, utilities, business travel, amortization expenses, public company expenses (including legal, accounting and investor relations) and stock compensation. General and administrative expenses were $384,582 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to $851,399 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $466,817, or 54.8%. The decline in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to decreased consulting expenses and bad debt expenses offset by increased salary expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Depreciation and amortization expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses totaled $655,449 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to $567,584 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, an increase of $87,865, or approximately 15.48%. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, depreciation and amortization was allocated between costs of goods sold, selling and general administrative expenses in the amounts of $587,561 and $67,888, respectively.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, depreciation and amortization was allocated between costs of goods sold, selling, and general administrative expenses in the amounts $510,580 and $57,004, respectively. The increase in depreciation and amortization expenses is due to additional fixed assets placed in service.

Income (Loss) from operations

As a result of the factors described above, operating loss was $729,813 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to operating income of $1,962,403 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of approximately $2,692,216, or 137.2%.

Other income and expenses

Our interest expense was $862,448 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to $1,229,745 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, reflecting decreased interest expenses on loans from banks. Expenses from changes in the fair value of our warrants as a result of adopting ASC 820-10 was $44,368 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to $(479,563) for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Income tax

During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, we benefited from a 100% tax holiday from the PRC enterprise tax. As a result, we had no income tax due for these periods. The enterprise income tax at the statutory rates would have been approximately $0 and $165,203, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 without consideration of adjustments on taxable income. The tax holiday is from 2008 through 2017.

Net income (loss)

As a result of the factors described above, our net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $1,502,268, compared to net income of $253,117 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $1,755,385, or 693.5%.

About China Carbon Graphite Group, Inc.

China Carbon Graphite Group, through its affiliate, Xingyong Carbon Co., Ltd., manufactures graphite and carbon based products in China. The company is the largest wholesale supplier of fine-grain and high-purity graphite in China and one of the nation’s top overall producers of carbon and graphite products. Fine grain graphite is widely used in smelting for colored metals and rare earth metal smelting as well as the manufacture of molds. High purity graphite is used in metallurgy, mechanical industry, aviation, electronic, atomic energy, chemical industry, food industry and a variety of other fields. In September 2007, the Company was approved and designated by the Ministry of Science & Technology as a “National Hi-tech Enterprise,” a distinction that the Company still holds. Of the more than 400 carbon graphite producers in China, China Carbon Group Inc. is the only non-state-owned company to receive this honor. For more information, please visit www.chinacarboninc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” relating to the business of the Company and its subsidiary companies. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including the risk factors set forth in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
China Carbon Graphite Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31,
2013		 December 31,
2012
(Unaudited ) (Audited)
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 1,680,254  $ 129,746
Restricted cash 22,379,000 22,149,000
Accounts receivable, Net 7,142,892 11,239,002
Notes receivable 7,401,165 —
Advance to suppliers 12,503,217 1,177,462
Inventories 48,181,039 48,417,875
Prepaid expenses 785,438 280,779
Other receivables, net of allowance of $221,026 and $220,339, respectively 104,639 35,655
Total current assets 100,177,644 83,429,519
Property And Equipment, Net 40,481,778 40,964,363
Construction In Progress 18,943,945 7,324,379
Land Use Rights, Net 9,643,328 9,657,419
Total Assets  $ 169,246,695  $ 141,375,680
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $ 1,431,323  $ 2,250,745
Advance from customers 1,740,402 1,368,525
Short term bank loans 45,241,000 38,680,500
Notes payable 40,733,000 40,606,500
Other payables 1,489,655 630,179
Loan from unrelated parties 11,351,604 338,002
Dividends payable 51,353 46,816
Total current liabilities 102,038,337 83,921,267
Amounts Due To Related Parties 4,637,132 4,795,593
Long Term Bank Loans 16,067,800 4,782,900
Warrant Liabilities 179,994 224,362
Total Liabilities 122,923,263 93,724,122
Redeemable convertible series B preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 3,000,000 shares authorized; 300,000 and 300,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. 360,000 360,000
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized 25,137,518 and 25,077,518 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively 25,137 25,077
Additional paid-in capital 18,256,121 18,223,781
Accumulated other comprehensive income 9,129,202 8,982,925
Retained earnings 18,552,972 20,059,775
Total stockholders’ equity 45, 963,432 47,291,558
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity  $ 169,246,695  $ 141,375,680
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
China Carbon Graphite Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
(Unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
2013 2012
Sales  $3,060,918  $10,061,210
Cost of Goods Sold 3,320,320 7,143,606
Gross Profit (loss) (259,402) 2,917,604
Operating Expenses
Selling expenses 17,941 46,798
General and administrative 384,582 851,399
Depreciation and amortization 67,888 57,004
Total operating expenses 470,411 955,201
Operating Income (Loss) Before Other Income (Expense) (729,813) 1,962,403
Other Income (Expense)
Interest expense (862,448) (1,229,745)
Interest income 45,304 22
Other income, net 321 —
Change in fair value of warrants 44,368 (479,563)
Total other expense (772,455) (1,709,286)
Net Income (Loss) (1,502,268) 253,117
Preferred Stock Dividends (4,537) (5,018)
Net Income (Loss) Available To Common Shareholders (1,506,805) 248,099
Other Comprehensive Income
Foreign currency translation gain 146,277 423,897
Total Comprehensive Income $ (1,355,991)  $ 677,014
Share Data
Basic earnings (loss) per share $ (0.06)  $ 0.01
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ (0.06)  $ 0.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding,
Basic 25,103,518 23,315,645
Weighted average common shares outstanding,
Diluted 25,103,518 23,647,455
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
China Carbon Graphite Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
2013 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income (loss) $ (1,502,268)  $ 253,117
Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and Amortization 655,449 567,584
Stock compensation 60,345 —
Change in fair value of warrants (44,368) 479,563
Recovery of bad debt expenses  (166,601) —
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable 4,290,026 (1,310,189)
Notes receivable (7,387,374) (142,124)
Other receivables (68,745) (44,531)
Advance to suppliers (11,300,990) (5,197,009)
Inventory 386,948 (4,075,391)
Prepaid expenses (530,927) 169,188
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  (824,186) 594,274
Advance from customers 366,928 592,123
Taxes payable 99,446 (110,310)
Other payables 755,723 133,762
Net cash used in operating activities (15,210,594) (8,089,943)
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2,292) (15,831)
Proceeds from land bureau against cost of land use rights 237,749
Addition of construction in progress (11,575,140) (651,528)
Net cash used in investing activities (11,577,432) (429,610)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuing common stock — 50,000
Proceeds from short term loans 11,249,000 4,755,000
Repayments for short term loans (4,821,000) (4,755,000)
Proceeds from long term loans 11,249,000 —
Proceeds from loan from unrelated parties 10,992,029 9,313,808
Proceeds from loan from related parties 448,994 79,727
Repayments to related parties (622,072) —
Proceeds from stock not yet issued — 77,500
Restricted cash (160,700) 4,945,200
Proceeds from notes payable 17,677,000 10,778,000
Repayments to notes payable (17,677,000) (16,880,250)
Net cash provided by financing activities 28,335,251 8,363,985
Effect of exchange rate fluctuation 3,283 3,819
Net increase (decrease) in cash 1,550,508 (151,749)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 129,746 521,450
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $1,680,254  $ 369,701
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Interest paid  $1,040,625  $ 984,830
Income taxes paid $ — $ —
Non-cash activities:
Preferred stock conversion to common stock $ —  $ 94 
Investor Contact:
Ms. Renee Volaric
Director
RB Milestone Group, LLC
Tel: (212) 661-0075 ext. 113
Email:  

Company Contact:
Mr. Donghai Yu
Chief Executive Officer
China Carbon Graphite Group Inc.

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Alabama Graphite Corp. Receives Final Assays Results from Core Holes on its Coosa Drilling Program

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:24 AM on Friday, May 17th, 2013

May 17, 2013 (ACCESSWIRE-TNW via COMTEX) — May 16, 2013 – Sylacauga, AL – Alabama Graphite Corp. (the “Company”) (cnsx:ALP) (frankfurt:1AG.F WKN A1J35M) is pleased to report assay results from the remaining core holes from its 2012 drilling program at the Coosa Graphite Project, Alabama.

Drilling on the 200′ by 200′ resource grid at the Coosa Project consisted of 54 core holes. With the receipt of the current assays, all of the results have been received. In addition, results from the remaining sonic holes have also been received. The results from these holes will be reported separately.

The drill core was logged and sampled at the Company’s facility in Sylacauga and shipped to ALS Minerals in Elko, NV, for analysis. The samples were analyzed for graphitic carbon (Cg) by the LECO method. Drill holes on the A, B, C and D-lines were among the last processed as an initial visual inspection of the core suggested that their graphite content was low. In contrast, holes on the northeastern portion of the E-line contained thick intercepts of graphitic schist. To some extent, this corresponds to a small topographic high. Graphitic mineralization found along the E-line remains open to the north and east.

Below is a table summarizing the significant results from the new core holes:


         --------------------------------------------------------------------
         |Drill Hole|Area    |Total Depth|From (ft)|To (ft)|Drill    |Cg%   |
         |          |        |A(ft)      |         |       |Thickness|      |
         |          |        |           |         |       |(ft)     |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-B08C  |Resource|250'       |No Significant Intercepts         |
         |          |Grid    |           |                                  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-B09C  |Resource|49'        |No Significant Intercepts         |
         |          |Grid    |           |                                  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-C03C  |Resource|256'       |No Significant Intercepts         |
         |          |Grid    |           |                                  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-D03C  |Resource|256'       |No Significant Intercepts         |
         |          |Grid    |           |                                  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-D04C  |Resource|250'       |No Significant Intercepts         |
         |          |Grid    |           |                                  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-E04C  |Resource|256.5'     |36'      |85'    |49'      |3.08  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |A         |A       |A And      |220'     |250'   |30'      |2.20  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-E07C  |Resource|305'       |23'      |305'   |282'     |2.70  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-E08C  |Resource|276'       |25'      |270'   |245'     |2.90  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-E09C  |Resource|264'       |75'      |264'   |189'     |2.99  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I01C  |Resource|291'       |40'      |115'   |75'      |2.62  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |A         |A       |A And      |135'     |230'   |95'      |2.35  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I02C  |Resource|253'       |30'      |120'   |90'      |2.78  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I03C  |Resource|256'       |130'     |190'   |60'      |2.59  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I04C  |Resource|296'       |245'     |280'   |35'      |2.82  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I05C  |Resource|256'       |85'      |200'   |115'     |2.39  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I06C  |Resource|261'       |35'      |215'   |180'     |2.32  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |A         |A       |A          |70'      |105'   |35'      |3.41  |
         |          |        |Including  |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I07C  |Resource|285'       |165'     |245'   |80'      |3.02  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I08C  |Resource|265'       |45'      |215'   |170'     |2.64  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-I09C  |Resource|256'       |50'      |250'   |200'     |3.10  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-J01C  |Resource|253'       |60'      |110'   |50'      |2.52  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |A         |A       |A And      |155'     |205'   |50'      |2.33  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |AGC-J09C  |Resource|257'       |36'      |70'    |34'      |2.50  |
         |          |Grid    |           |         |       |         |      |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |A         |A       |A And      |170'     |210'   |40'      |2.35  |
         |------------------------------------------------------------------|
         |A         |A       |A          |A        |A      |A        |A     |
         --------------------------------------------------------------------

A map showing the resource grid and drill holes locations can be found on the Company website at http://alabamagraphite.co.

Dr. Douglas Oliver, VP Exploration, comments, “With the receipt of the final assay results, the Company has completed one phase of its exploration program and has begun the next. Our focus has shifted to preparing the database for delivery to Metal Mining Consultants so that they can begin an initial resource estimate. We are pleased with the drill results and see nothing that should preclude a favorable determination of a resource. The Company also anticipates planning a follow-up drill program later in 2013 to extend the known mineralization.”

Dana Durgin, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and independent consultant to the Company, has reviewed the contents of this press release.

About Alabama Graphite:

Alabama Graphite Corp., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alabama Graphite Company Inc., is a graphite exploration and development company whose flagship project “The Coosa Graphite Project” in Coosa County, Alabama encompasses of over 40,000 acres located in an area with significant historical production of crystalline flake graphite. For further details go to www.alabamagraphite.co

ALABAMA GRAPHITE CORP.

Daniel Spine, CEO

(404) 661-6254

Danny Gravelle, Investor Relations

(949) 481-5396

[email protected]

THE CANADIAN NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

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Rock Tech Drills 89.50 metres of 2.96% Graphite at Lochaber

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 1:23 PM on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

May 15, 2013 (ACCESSWIRE-TNW via COMTEX) — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 15, 2013 – Rock Tech Lithium Inc. CA:RCK 0.00% (frankfurt:RJIA) (the “Company” or “Rock Tech”) announces additional assay results from the drill program it announced on December 10, 2012. This planned 4,600 metre drill program included both step-out and in-fill drill holes and focused primarily on electromagnetic conductors ‘A’ and ‘C’. A few other conductors and magnetic anomalies were also tested during this drill program. The electromagnetic conductors were identified on the Plumbago area of the property during geophysical surveys in September, 2012 (click here to view a map).

Highlights of these assay results include:

-Drill hole PB-12-27A intersected 29.11 metres of graphitic carbon (“Cg”) in four intersections with grades ranging from 2.07% Cg to 4.84% Cg, including 9.35 metres at 4.84% Cg, and 9.34 metres at 3.37% Cg;

-Drill hole PB-12-32 intersected 16.70 metres at 2.62 % Cg;

-Drill Hole PB-12-33 intersected 31 metres at 1.34% Cg; and,

-Drill hole PB-12-34 intersected 148.05 metres Cg in two intersections with grades ranging from 1.16% Cg to 10.92% Cg, including 89.50 metres at 2.96% Cg;

“These assay results demonstrate the continuation of the graphite mineralization to the north along electromagnetic conductor ‘A’. Subsequent drill programs will test the northern extension of this conductor as the mineralization remains open along strike and at depth,” said Afzaal Pirzada, Rock Tech’s Vice President of Exploration and interim CEO.

To date, the Company has received and announced assay results for thirty drill holes and seven trenches. Assay results for the final five drill holes completed during the fourth quarter of 2012 are pending.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

All core samples are logged and split by wet diamond saw with half sent to the lab for analysis and half stored securely on site. The core sample lengths typically average 1 metre but vary depending on geological boundaries. Additional QA/QC procedures include inserting blanks and standards into the core sample stream at industry standard intervals with duplicate core samples taken at intervals of twenty. Core samples are prepped and analyzed by Global Mineral Research Limited in Burnaby, British Columbia. During analysis, the core samples are dried, pulverized, leached and roasted at 450? Celsius and 1200? Celsius with measured weights taken between double ignitions. The laboratories also conduct duplicate and internal standard samples at intervals of ten as part of their QA/QC program.

For additional details, please see the table below:


         -----------------------------------------------------------------
         |Drill Hole ID|Length From|Length To|Width |Graphite|Geophysical|
         |             |           |         |      |        |Conductor  |
         |             |-------------------------------------|           |
         |             |Metres     |Metres   |Metres|%       |           |
         |---------------------------------------------------------------|
         |PB-12-27A    |6.20       |11.25    |5.05  |2.07    |A          |
         |             |-------------------------------------|           |
         |             |32.50      |41.85    |9.35  |4.84    |           |
         |             |-------------------------------------|           |
         |             |53.30      |62.64    |9.34  |3.37    |           |
         |             |-------------------------------------|           |
         |             |106.92     |112.29   |5.37  |2.33    |           |
         |---------------------------------------------------------------|
         |PB-12-32     |59.50      |76.20    |16.70 |2.62    |C          |
         |---------------------------------------------------------------|
         |PB-12-33     |145.00     |176.00   |31.00 |1.34    |A          |
         |---------------------------------------------------------------|
         |PB-12-34     |19.93      |78.48    |58.55 |1.16    |A          |
         |---------------------------------------------------|           |
         |including    |69.50      |78.48    |8.98  |4.02    |           |
         |---------------------------------------------------|           |
         |A            |154.50     |244.00   |89.50 |2.96    |           |
         |---------------------------------------------------|           |
         |including    |158.50     |161.58   |3.08  |10.92   |           |
         |---------------------------------------------------|           |
         |including    |196.80     |210.00   |13.20 |8.15    |           |
         -----------------------------------------------------------------

Note: The true thickness of the drill intersection may be less than the reported intervals

Drill hole PB-12-27A is located at 475476E, 5056342N (NAD 1983, Zone 18N) with azimuth 91.9? and dip -51.5?, drill hole PB-12-32 is located at 474893E, 5055831N (NAD 1983, Zone 18N) with azimuth 98.7? and dip -48.5?, drill hole PB-12-33 is located at 475599E, 5056564N (NAD 1983, Zone 18N) with azimuth 116.2? and dip -51.3?, and drill hole PB-12-34 is located at 475640E, 5056399N (NAD 1983, Zone 18N) with azimuth 292? and dip -47.1?.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration and interim CEO of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

“Afzaal Pirzada”

Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rock-tech-drills-8950-metres-of-296-graphite-at-lochaber-2013-05-15

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Graphite offers amazing potential

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:53 AM on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

THUNDER BAY – Graphite is the unsung mining opportunity in Northwestern Ontario. From Graphite, comes Graphene. This new compound has the scientific community very excited. The possibilities for graphene are international.

A new joint innovation by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the University of Cambridge could pave the way for redefining the ampere in terms of fundamental constants of physics. The world’s first graphene single-electron pump (SEP), described in a paper today in Nature Nanotechnology, provides the speed of electron flow needed to create a new standard for electrical current based on electron charge.

Graphite in Northwestern Ontario

There is some potentially huge potential for graphene coming from Northwestern Ontario, Zenyatta Ventures has found flake graphite at the company’s Albany Project.

The world’s demand for high quality graphite, to make graphene is expected to climb. Currently, Sri Lanka is the world’s leading producer of high quality graphite.

The international system of units (SI) comprises seven base units (the metre, kilogram, second, Kelvin, ampere, mole and candela). Ideally these should be stable over time and universally reproducible. This requires definitions based on fundamental constants of nature which are the same wherever you measure them.

The present definition of the Ampere, however, is vulnerable to drift and instability. This is not sufficient to meet the accuracy needs of present and certainly future electrical measurement. The highest global measurement authority, the Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures, has proposed that the ampere be re-defined in terms of the electron charge.

Malcolm Connolly, a research associate based in the Semiconductor Physics group at Cambridge, says “This paper describes how we have successfully produced the first graphene single-electron pump. We have work to do before we can use this research to redefine the ampere, but this is a major step towards that goal. We have shown that graphene outperforms other materials used to make this style of SEP. It is robust, easier to produce, and operates at higher frequency. Graphene is constantly revealing exciting new applications and as our understanding of the material advances rapidly, we seem able to do more and more with it.”

The frontrunner in this race to redefine the ampere is the single-electron pump (SEP). SEPs create a flow of individual electrons by shuttling them in to a quantum dot – a particle holding pen – and emitting them one at a time and at a well-defined rate. The paper published today describes how a graphene SEP has been successfully produced and characterised for the first time, and confirms its properties are extremely well suited to this application.

A good SEP pumps precisely one electron at a time to ensure accuracy, and pumps them quickly to generate a sufficiently large current. Up to now the development of a practical electron pump has been a two-horse race. Tuneable barrier pumps use traditional semiconductors and have the advantage of speed, while the hybrid turnstile utilises superconductivity and has the advantage that many can be put in parallel. Traditional metallic pumps, thought to be not worth pursuing, have been given a new lease of life by fabricating them out of the world’s most famous super-material – graphene.

Previous metallic SEPs made of aluminium are very accurate, but pump electrons too slowly for making a practical current standard. Graphene’s unique semimetallic two-dimensional structure has just the right properties to let electrons on and off the quantum dot very quickly, creating a fast enough electron flow – at near gigahertz frequency – to create a current standard. The Achillies heel of metallic pumps, slow pumping speed, has thus been overcome by exploiting the unique properties of graphene.

The scientist at NPL and Cambridge still need to optimise the material and make more accurate measurements, but today’s paper marks a major step forward in the road towards using graphene to redefine the ampere.

The realisation of the ampere is currently derived indirectly from resistance or voltage, which can be realised separately using the quantum Hall effect and the Josephson Effect. A fundamental definition of the ampere would allow a direct realisation that National Measurement Institutes around the world could adopt. This would shorten the chain for calibrating current-measuring equipment, saving time and money for industries billing for electricity and using ionising radiation for cancer treatment.

Current, voltage and resistance are directly correlated. Because we measure resistance and voltage based on fundamental constants – electron charge and Planck’s constant – being able to measure current would also allow us to confirm the universality of these constants on which many precise measurements rely.

Graphene is not the last word in creating an ampere standard. NPL and others are investigating various methods of defining current based on electron charge. But today’s paper suggests graphene SEPs could hold the answer. Also, any redefinition will have to wait until the Kilogram has been redefined. This definition, due to be decided soon, will fix the value of electronic charge, on which any electron-based definition of the ampere will depend.

Today’s paper will also have important implications beyond measurement. Accurate SEPs operating at high frequency and accuracy can be used to make electrons collide and form entangled electron pairs. Entanglement is believed to be a fundamental resource for quantum computing, and for answering fundamental questions in quantum mechanics.

Source: http://www.netnewsledger.com/2013/05/13/graphite-offers-amazing-potential/

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Santo Mining Corp Starts Metalullurgy Testing to Optimize Gold & Silver Extraction

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:11 PM on Thursday, May 9th, 2013

santomininglarge

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 9, 2013 — Santo Mining Corporation (OTCQB:SANP), (the “Company”), announced it has commissioned leading metallurgy laboratories SGS Metcon / KD Engineering, of Tucson, AZ and The Center For Advanced Mineral And Metallurgical Processing (or “CAMP”) at Montana Tech of the University of Montana, Butte, MT.

Together they will conduct advanced testing on bulk ore samples collected from the “Angel Del Desierto” concession located at Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico, 45 miles south of the United States border. Recent assays by Inspectorate Labs, Reno have returned impressive average grades up to 8.581 g/t Gold and 148.1 g/t Silver. Scheduled to take two weeks, this new round of testing will outline processes to optimize the extraction of the precious metals. In only nine months Santo Mining has transformed from a fledgling exploration company into an incipient gold and silver producer.

In April and May 2012 respected mine engineer Juan Luis Castillo Velez together with CEO Al French collected five soil and rock samples totaling 100 kilos for metallurgical study. The samples were dispatched in secure plastic buckets to the SGS facility in Durango, Mexico where they were repackaged and forwarded to SGS in Tucson, Arizona. During the following two weeks SGS will conduct precious metal characterization, gravity concentration, cyanide leaching, and bottle roll testing. Three samples will be forwarded to Montana Tech for mineralogy testing on their MLA or Automated mineral analysis system. The various studies will define the mineral ore and provide a general understanding of the ore body and outline processes that will optimize the extraction of gold, silver and potential platinum group metal previously reported in an economic evaluation by Platinum Investments.

Santo Mining will establish a 100% owned local subsidiary in Mexico to administer this project. As early as this summer, the Company plans to commission a qualified geologist to supervise a shallow core-drilling program with the objective of substantially increasing the inferred resources for precious metals within the policies of the CIM 43-101 standard. The Company also plans to have SGS run a pilot plant to fine tune the design of a concentration plant. Funding will likely be sourced from a recently approved $16 million equity funding program with Hanover Holdings I, LLC, of New York.

Al French, CEO, Santo Mining stated: “We are forging ahead and utilizing all available resources to keep our promise to begin producing gold and silver in the short term. This, in conjunction with the recent $16 million equity funding agreement, and enormous Greenfield opportunity in the Dominican Republic, will allow us to continue our exponential growth curve.”

About Santo Mining

Santo Mining Corporation is a junior minerals exploration and development company, based in the Dominican Republic. The Company is actively pursuing the acquisition and exploration of properties, which are strategically located in the prolific and highly prospective Hispaniola Gold-Copper Back-Arc area in the Dominican Republic. A detailed description of the Company’s activities is available at www.SantoMining.com.

Further information on the Company and its filings can be found at www.sec.gov

The Santo Mining Corporation logo is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=14686

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This current report contains “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release, such as the Company’s plans to acquire a number of highly prospective gold exploration properties, which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, any mineralization, development or exploration of the Company’s properties and the timing of any work program or exploration activities, and any results that may be obtained or the commencement of production.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance those beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For Further Information, please contact:

Tyler Troup, B.Comm
Circadian Group, Investor Relations
North American:  1-(647) 930-1037
Toll free: 1-(866)-865-2780

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WATCH: U308 Corp., InterAmerican Gaming Inc., Lomiko Metals Featured On Episode 7 Of The Next Biggest Winner TV Show

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 6th, 2013

On this week’s episode of The Next Biggest Winner we will be featuring three great small cap companies.

EPISODE 7 GUESTS

U3O8 Corp. (TSX:UWE) (OTCQX:UWEFF)

InterAmerican Gaming Inc. (PINKSHEETS:IAGM)

Lomiko Metals (TSX VENTURE:LMR)

SEGMENT 1 – Richard Spencer, President and CEO of U308 Corp. discusses Uranium Market Fundamentals. Richard also goes on to discuss the company’s property in Guyana, a prospective mine which could cover an estimated 2,000 hectares or well under 1% of the original land surface covered by its Reconnaissance Permits.

SEGMENT 2 – Marc Askenasi CEO of InterAmerican Gaming Inc. joins George to discuss the company’s mobile strategy. The company’s first product SoFit is a social gaming company that has developed software to empower individuals to track, train and compete through its SoFit platform.

Paul Gill, President and CEO of Lomiko Metals joins the show via Skype to discuss the Quatre Milles property as well as the recently announced strategic alliance with Graphene laboratories Inc.

SEGMENT 3 – Marc Askenasi CEO of InterAmerican Gaming Inc. and Richard Spencer, President and CEO of U308 Corp.  rejoin George on the stage for a round up discussion.

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BREAKING…Santo Mining Corp to Start Producing Gold & Silver

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:21 PM on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

SANP: OTCQB

  • Entered into a definitive long-term license agreement to develop and mine its three metallic concessions located at Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico
  • Inferred resource tonnage: 3M mt at 3.17 g/t gold and 57.3 g/t silver
  • Inferred resource ounces: 306K oz gold and 5.5 M oz silver
  • Open-pit mining with truck access to highway
  • Most entitlements are in place including the environmental permit.

View Release / Corporate Profile / Hub On AGORACOM

———-

Santo Mining Corp to Start Producing Gold & Silver

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 2, 2013 — Santo Mining Corporation (OTCQB:SANP), (the “Company”), announced that on March 13, 2012 the Company entered into a definitive long-term license agreement (the “Agreement”) with Campania Minera Los Angeles Del Desierto SA De CV (Mexico) (the”Concessionaire”)to develop and mine its three metallic concessions (the “Concessions”) located at Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico, 45 miles south of the United States border. Pursuant to the 15 year Agreement, the Concessionaire will receive a 40% of any royalty from the Concessions and the Company will keep the remaining 60%. The Concessions total more than 7.27 square kilometers and have been assayed for Gold and Silver with impressive grades. Most entitlements are in place including the environmental permit.

Location Map

Due Diligence Sampling

Photos accompanying this release are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=18475

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=18474

The signing of the Agreement follows a year of due diligence under three consecutive standstill agreements. Under the Agreement, the Company is required to make payments during the first year to the Concessionaire totaling $210,000, and on 15 June 2013 the Company will transfer 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Concessionaire. $100,000 of the total initial cash payments is considered an advance on future 40% royalty payments. Preliminary assessments conducted on the first 60 hectares indicated a high probability of economic reserves that warranted entering into a definitive contract. There are indications that additional reserves are yet be discovered on the remaining 667 hectares.

QUICK FACTS:

Location: Coahuila State, North Central Mexico

Nearby Mining Operations: First Majestic Silver Corp (NYSE:AG ; TSX:FR) operates the Encantada silver mine nearby.

Area: 7.47 square kilometers of rolling desert

Inferred resource tonneage: 3M mt at 3.17 g/t gold and 57.3 g/t silver

Inferred resource ounces: 306K oz gold and 5.5 M oz silver

Secondary metals: silver & zinc

Type of mine: open-pit mining with truck access to highway

Estimated production: 2014

Estimated mine life: 2014-2030 (16 years)

Estimated employees: 66

Percent to the Company: 60%

Royalty to the Concessionaire: 40%

DUE DILLIGENCE SAMPLING:

In November 2012, a geochemical sampling survey was conducted by respected local mine engineer Juan Luis Castillo Velez under the direct supervision of Al French, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Surface soil and rock samples were collected at the base perimeter, sides and top of a mineralized rise and sent to Inspectorate Labs of Reno Nevada for fire assay analysis. The average results of all the samples was 3.17 g/t AU (gold) and 57.37 g/t AG (silver) which confirmed numerous certified and uncertified analyses previously commissioned by the Concessionaire. The highest results obtained were 8.581 g/t AU and 148.1 g/t AG.

RESOURCE CALCULATION & VALUATION:

The inferred mineral resource estimate is based partially on: 1) The results of the November 2012 geochemical sampling; 2) A 2007 Geological Assessment (Sketch) sponsored by the Mexican Secretary of Economy,

Coordination General de Mineria, and Fideicomso de Formento Minero; and 3) A Geological Report by Juan Jose Lopez Reyna, a Professional Geologist at the Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila. Adopting a conservative approach, the preliminary tonnage estimate inputs are limited to just 50% of the 60 hectares (600,000 square meters) study area multiplied by 5 meters of depth. The result indicates a potential of 3 million tonnes or $700 million in gold and silver in inferred resources at current prices. The Company plans to start shallow drilling, metallurgy testing, bulk sample testing in a local pilot plant, and commission a qualified geological report with the objective of augmenting the preliminary inferred resources estimates.

GEOLOGY & LOCATION:

The Concessions are located on the south periphery of the extinct volcano Cerro Minerva and consist of a numerous tertiary intrusive igneous rocks whose composition varies from granite, granodiorite, gabbro, diorite, andesite porphyries, rhyolite, and syenite as stocks, sills and dikes, and are generally rolling hills and all are accessible by truck transport. A jagged metamorphic aureole formed in the areas of contact with limestone and shale intrusive bodies generally consisting of irregular garnet skarn, marble, hornfels and recrystallized limestone. The gold-silver mineralization is largely encapsulated in silica. Because the gold and silver is so fine grained as to be invisible and largely refractory, the ore is not readily susceptible to standard cyanidation process. Santo Mining is evaluating a number of processing options to determine the most economical way to pre-treat or concentrate the refractory ore. Preliminary tests indicate a combination of conventional processes look optimistic and may provide excellent gold and silver recoveries on a cost effective basis.

PLAN OF OPERATION:

Santo Mining will establish a 100% owned local subsidiary in Mexico to administer this project. Later in 2013 and early 2014 the Company plans to systematically scale-up operations and purchase equipment and machinery with funds from a recently approved $16 million equity funding program with the Magna Group affiliate of Hanover Holdings I, LLC, of New York.

The Concessionaire is providing the three exploitation concessions and an environmental license all of which are in force. The Company will submit an application for a Forestry Permit (which typically takes 60-90 days to process) and a well permit for process water (which is expected to take 30 days to process). In Mexico Mining Concessions are typically granted for 50 years and allows for the exploration and extraction of underlying mineral deposits. Established in 2005, this modern system has attracted substantial long-term investment with 286 mining companies operating with foreign capital. In 2010, Mexico produced 79.37 tonnes of Gold, 4.41 billion tonnes of Silver (the largest in the World) and 476 tonnes of Base metals (copper, lead, Zinc, etc). According to Thomson Reuters, Mexico has lower gold production costs than most other countries. Since the implementation of NAFTA 19 years ago and its strong foreign investment protection provisions, the Mexican government has implemented a transparent and consistent mining policy, and Mexico has evolved into a friendly mining jurisdiction. Foreign mining companies and their wholly owned subsidiaries have a clear legal framework to refer to when exploring, developing and operating a project. In an effort to expand exploration, the Mexican government has created the Mexican Geological Survey which has established a detailed database of prospective exploration areas throughout the country.

Al French, CEO, Santo Mining Commented on the news: “The closing of this gold & silver mining contract is a major milestone for Santo Mining Corp as it squarely launches us into the “Junior Mining” league. The project is consistent with our vision to acquire production ready properties in Mexico and highly prospective properties (exploration concession applications) in the Dominican Republic. This, in conjunction with the recent $16 million equity funding agreement, provides Santo Mining with a credible window of opportunity for short-term exponential growth on top of the longer-term opportunities in the Dominican Republic.”

About Santo Mining:

Santo Mining Corporation is a junior minerals exploration and development company, based in the Dominican Republic. The Company is actively pursuing the acquisition and exploration of properties, which are strategically located in the prolific and highly prospective Hispaniola Gold-Copper Back-Arc area in the Dominican Republic. A detailed description of the Company’s activities is available at www.SantoMining.com.

Further information on the Company and its filings can be found at www.sec.gov.

The Santo Mining Corporation logo is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=14686.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This current report contains “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release, such as the Company’s plans to acquire a number of highly prospective gold exploration properties, which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, any mineralization, development or exploration of the Company’s properties and the timing of any work program or exploration activities, and any results that may be obtained or the commencement of production.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance those beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tyler Troup, B.Comm
Circadian Group, Investor Relations
North American: +1 (647)-930-1037
Toll Free: +1 (866) 603-3330

www.SantoMining.com
Due Diligence Portal: http://circadian-group.com/santo.html

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Lomiko Adds Graphene Experts Dr. Polyakova and Dr. Stolyarov to Board of Advisors

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:18 PM on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Apr 30, 2013 — Vancouver, B.C., and New York, NY – Lomiko Metals Inc. CA:LMR -8.33% LMRMF -8.82% DE:DH8B -20.41% (europe:ISIN)(wkn:A0Q9W7) (the “Company” or “Lomiko”) is very pleased to welcome Dr. Elena Polyakova and Dr. Daniel Stolyarov to the Advisory Board of Lomiko Metals Inc.

Dr. Elena Polyakova founded Graphene Laboratories in 2009 as President and Chief Executive Officer. Since founding Graphene Laboratories, the company has grown to be the leading manufacturer and supplier of graphene materials. Dr. Polyakova is an invited speaker at many international forums and conferences, and her input on the graphene industry is regularly published by journalists covering business and technology.

Dr. Polyakova has won numerous awards for her entrepreneurship, including Mass High Tech’s Women to Watch award (2011) and the Hauppauge Industrial Association of Long Islands’ Young Entrepreneur award (2012).

She received her Masters’ degree in Physics and Applied Mathematics with honors from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Southern California. During Dr. Polyakova’s post-doctoral work at Columbia University, her work on graphene was published in many leading peer-reviewed journals, which she co-authored with Nobel and Kalvi prize winners, as well as members of the National Academy of Sciences. It was then that she realized the commercial potential of graphene, which led to the founding of Graphene Laboratories, Inc.

Dr. Daniel Stolyarov co-founded Graphene Laboratories in 2009 and has since served as Chief Technology Officer. At Graphene Laboratories, he leads efforts to introduce new materials to the Graphene Supermarket product line. He also overviews all production efforts and leads all collaborative R&D projects of Graphene Labs. His work continues to play a critical role in securing Graphene Labs place as a leader in the manufacture and sale of 2D materials.

Dr. Stolyarov speaks at many international conferences about advancements in 2D materials, and insight from his work at Graphene Laboratories has been written about by several publications, including BBC and Physics World.

Previously, he worked at Energetiq Technology Inc. as a Research Scientist, where he helped develop the EQ-99 Laser Driven Light Sourceâ„¢ which won the SPIE and Photonics Media Prism Award (2010), and at Brookhaven National Laboratory as an Assistant Scientist.

He received his Masters’ degree in Physics and Applied Mathematics with honors from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Southern California. During his academic career, his work on graphene was published in many leading peer-reviewed journals, which he co-authored with Nobel and Kalvi prize winners, as well as members of the National Academy of Sciences.

Lomiko Metals also confirms that it has issued 200,000 stock options at .10 to each new Advisor exercisable for up to 60 months from the date of grant. The options are subject to a four-month hold period commencing April 30, 2013. The options to be granted will be issued in accordance with the company’s stock option plan.

For more information, review the website at www.lomiko.com, or contact A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or by email at: [email protected].

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.

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Graphene: the nano-sized material with a massive future

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:23 AM on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

(CNN) — Ever since it was discovered in 2004, graphene has been hailed as a natural wonder of the materials world destined to transform our lives in the 21st century.

Graphene’s amazing properties excite and confound in equal measure. How can something one million times thinner than a human hair be 300 times stronger than steel and 1,000 times more conductive than silicon?

CNN Labs asked the head of MIT’s graphene research department, Tomas Palacios, to explain why graphene is such a special material and what we can expect it to do for us in the future.

CNN: What is graphene?

Tomas Palacios (TP): Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice.

This special atomic arrangement gives graphene truly unique properties. For example electrical currents in graphene move faster than in any other material we know of.

Products such as cell-phones will be integrated into the likes of the clothes, pieces of paper and in windows
Tomas Palacios

Heat can also move in graphene very fast and it is the best thermal conductor that we have. On top of this, graphene is the thinnest material in the world as well as the strongest, much stronger than steel and, of course, much lighter.

Finally, because it is only one atom thick, it is perfectly transparent and flexible.

CNN: What applications will it have?

TP: The very first application where graphene is going to be used is probably as a replacement for (the relatively expensive metal) indium selenide in solar cells.

Read: ‘Mantis:’ the monster-sized hexapod robot

After that, I think we will see a new array of communication devices that don’t just use graphene but which also use other two-dimensional materials.

Products such as cell phones will be integrated into the likes of the clothes, pieces of paper and in windows.

Another direction is transparent displays. Basically we are going to have electronic displays embedded almost everywhere, in the windows, in our glasses, in the walls, everywhere.

To do this we need very thin materials that are also transparent and graphene could be that material.

CNN: When will products containing graphene be available?

TP: It depends on the specific application. I believe that the use of graphene in solar cells, displays and so on is probably going to be in the marketplace in a couple of years.

Read: ‘Afterlife’ feels ‘even more real than real’

More complex applications such as computers or cell phones will probably take longer, maybe within five and ten years.

CNN: What challenges remain for researchers?

TP: One important challenge facing graphene is the way the material is developed.

Graphene was isolated for the first time using the Scotch Tape technique (where ever thinner strips are peeled off a block of graphite using sticky tape) and the quantities we can make in large areas still lag behind this method.

The ambition is that one day graphene will be fabricated in the same way that you print newspapers
Tomas Palacios

There has been a lot of work to try and enhance the manufacturability of graphene and there are a few techniques that look very promising but they are not completely mature yet.

The second challenge is that graphene is a material that is only one atom thick. Anything that you do to it is going to impact its properties.

Read: Flying robots learn mind-boggling tricks

We still need to understand better how to fabricate graphene devices and how to be gentle enough not to (break) the formula.

CNN: Are production methods improving?

Recently, Samsung Electronics has demonstrated a single layer of graphene which is 30 inches in diameter. So in just a few years we have gone from micro-meter sized flakes all the way to 30 inches.

The ambition is that one day graphene will be fabricated in the same way that you print newspapers — in a roll to roll process using the same kind of equipment. This will change the entire economics of the electronics industry.

CNN: Are there any other materials like graphene?

TP: Graphene was the first two-dimensional material to be discovered, but it is not the only one. Now there are more than 10 materials that are all two-dimensional with complimentary properties that could be integrated with graphene to provide extra functionality.

Boron nitride for example is also one-atom thick and instead of being a conductor it is an insulator (of heat), the best insulator we know. If you go to three atoms thick we have another material called molybdenum disulfide which is a semi-conductor, like silicon, but lighter and stronger.

These materials can then be combined in order to fabricate completely new material structures that don’t exist in nature. I think that that is a very powerful proposition.

I am completely convinced that graphene is going to end up changing our lives
Tomas Palacios

CNN: When will graphene-based products hit main street?

TP: If you look at how long it traditionally takes new materials to make an impact in the market, it typically takes around 20 years.

We need to be patient but things seem to be moving faster than with other materials.

I think the next couple of years will see quite significant improvements in the growth techniques and synthesis of two-dimensional materials.

At a basic research level we are going to see an emphasis on trying to understand what happens when you stack these materials one on top of the other.

That is going to enable a lot of new understanding which will enable completely new devices.

I am completely convinced that graphene is going to end up changing our lives. Exactly how, I don’t know and I don’t think anyone can know for sure but there is nothing thinner, stronger or more suitable to conduct electricity and that has to be useful for many important things.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/29/tech/graphene-miracle-material/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

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END OF DAY ALERT – (PP: TSX-V) Pacific Potash Corp Up 36% on 2.9M Shares (Sponsor)

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:50 PM on Friday, April 26th, 2013

                                                                            

Last Traded: $0.13 Up: $0.035

Percentage: 36.84% Vol. 2.8M Shares

————–

Pacific Potash is engaged in the exploration and development of the Provost Potash Property and the surrounding potash claims targeting the Prairie Evaporite Formation. Pacific Potash has officially acquired 100% interest in Western Potash Corporation’s Amazonas Basin claims in Brazil.

Investment Highlights – Brazil

Amazonas Potash Basin

  • The Brazilian Government plans to reduce Brazil’s reliance on potash imports from 91% to 60% over the next 5 years
  • Soils in Brazil are deficient in potassium and require potash to remain productive
  • The Amazonas potash basin is similar in geology and dimension to the Saskatchewan potash basin in Canada
  • The claims are situated close to a primary market: Brazil is the 2nd largest importer and 3rd largest user of potash in the world
  • Two deposits owned by Petrobras—Arari and Fazendinha—are located 20 and 40 km west of the property being optioned by Pacific Potash. These two deposits have reported historic resources as follows*:Fazendinha – 520 Mt @ 28.8% KCl
    Arari – 659 Mt @ 17.7% KCl

Highlights of 43-101 Report

  • Potash has been intersected on 3 margins immediately adjacent to the property (West, North, and North East).
  • The Property is located on the northwest limb of the Middle Amazonas Basin, extending across the deepest part of the basin axis. The known occurrence of potassium salts (potash) is in Cycle VII in the Nova Olinda Formation. The Cycle VII potash mineralization occurs in numerous drill holes in the Middle and Lower Amazon basin, including those that define the Fazendinha and Arari potash occurrences.
  • Well log control from within the basin, but outside the claims, indicates thickening of the Nova Olinda formation towards the basin axis.
  • Potential potash layers are expected to occur at depths of 1100 to 1800 m.

Investment Highlights – Alberta

Provost Potash Property

  • Two 100%-owned MAIM permits totaing 17,781 hectares of land, located 250 km southeast of Edmonton and 45 km west of the historic Unity Potash Mine
  • Exceptional infrastructure (access to water, paved roads, services lines, railway, workforce)
  • Alberta was ranked the No. 1 jurisdiction for Mining and Exploration by the Fraser Institute in 2011
  • The Alberta Department of Energy (Mineral Development Division) advised that potash royalty would be similar to salt at $.045/tonne compared to Saskatchewan’s $6.00/tonne
  • 50:50 Joint Venture Twenty-four MAIM permits totaling 213,269 hectares, owned in a 50:50 Joint Venture with Grizzly Discoveries Inc.

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