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Cavan Acquires Additional Graphite Properties in Quebec

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:45 AM on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(May 8, 2012) – Cavan Ventures Inc. (“Cavan” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:CVN) announces it has acquired a 100% interest in two graphite projects located in Quebec subject to regulatory approvals.

The projects consist of two areas of reported historic graphite drilling results obtained by the Ministere Des Richesses Naturelles -Quebec- Department of Natural Resources, one of the areas is adjacent to TIMCAL’s producing flake graphite mine and purification facility at Lac Des Iles, Quebec, the other project is located approximately 35km to the East of this facility.

The Big Flake project is located adjacent to the TIMCAL Lac Des Iles flake graphite mine and purification facility and totals approximately 2,400 hectares and covers historic drill results reporting graphite intersections by the Quebec Department of Natural Resources. The historic drill holes are approximately 8km East-South-East and approximately 8km South-South-East from the TIMCAL minesite area. The results are reported in two historic drill hole reports GM35199 and GM35204 listed on the GESTIM MNRF database website. The report GM35199 dated December 1967, outlines from 50 feet to 325 feet “paragneiss feldspathic, quartz, biotite, and hornblende. A little graphite, especially in bands of slight calcite”. The report GM35204 dated July 1968 from 52 feet to 265 feet “Paragneiss feldspathic, biotite and quartz…containing a little graphite and pyrite.” Comparison of the descriptions of graphite to the TIMCAL minesite is the report GM35121 drilled in 1967 by the same Quebec Ministry on the TIMCAL minesite from 120 feet to 175 feet “Calcite cristalline white containing a little phlogopite and graphite.” The two historic drill holes are approximately 9km apart.

TIMCAL has owned the adjacent minesite ground since 1996 when it acquired STRATMIN Graphite Inc. which had graphite operations established since 1989- as reported in TIMCAL’s corporate website hosted on www.timcal.com.

The second project area covers approximately 900 hectares of ground that hosts two historic drill holes completed by the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources. The report GM19806 detailing a hole drilled in 1965 reported from 60 feet to 100 feet “Paragneiss of biotite, feldspath, quartz and a little…graphite.” From 100 feet to 180 feet “Pyroxenite feldspathiac metamorphic fine grained with zones of calcite and a little graphite.” The report GM35180 reporting on a hole drilled in 1969 from 205 feet to 210 feet having “granules of paragneiss quartz rich in diorite rock with a zone of graphite.” The holes are approximately 4km apart.

The company cautions that it has not verified the quality and accuracy of the historic sampling results, nor the drilling results reported in this news release. The historic figures were generated from sources believed to be reliable; however, they have not been confirmed. Although the sampling results and drilling results are relevant, they have not been verified.

The reported occurrences are within the Grenville Meta-sedimentary belt.

The terms of the acquisition are $30,000 and 500,000 shares of the company subject to Regulatory Approvals.

The technical contents of this release were approved by Marvin Mitchell, P.Eng., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Cavan Venture’s mission is to identify, acquire, and advance high potential mining prospects located in North America for the benefit of its stakeholders. For more information visit the website at www.cavanventures.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Peter P. Swistak, President

Forward-Looking Statement:

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Cavan Ventures Inc. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

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.

Contact Information

 

Cavan Ventures Inc.
Peter P. Swistak
President
1-604-683-3995 or Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770
www.cavanventures.com

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First Graphite Strengthens Management Team and Establishes Technical Advisory Board

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:09 AM on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(May 8, 2012) – First Graphite Corp. (TSX VENTURE:FGR) (the “Company” or “First Graphite”) is pleased to announce the following additions to the Company’s existing management team and the establishment of a technical advisory board. These additions to the First Graphite team will provide the technical, regulatory and administrative experience necessary to rapidly advance the Henry Project, as well as the other graphite projects within the company’s portfolio.

The following additions have been made to the Company’s management team:

Vida Ramin, MPA

Senior Manager, Strategic and Public Affairs

Ms. Ramin has a decade of experience with the public, private and non-profit sectors developing and implementing programs and policies, as well as providing strategic advice to executive management, on a diverse range of complex and multi-faceted land and resource management issues. In addition to holding a Master of Public Administration (with a resource policy specialization), she has completed undergraduate programs in both Geography and Environmental Science and Applied Management. Before joining First Graphite Corp., Ms. Ramin managed a TSX-listed company’s Canadian mineral exploration projects and was responsible for, among other things, strategic planning and communications, regulatory affairs and external relations. Prior to that, she worked for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources as its Manager of Lands and Aboriginal Policy.

Alan J. Wainwright, Ph.D., P.Geo.

Exploration Manager

Dr. Wainwright is an economic geologist with mineral exploration and research experience in North America, South America and Asia. Alan has worked on generative, evaluation and target delineation campaigns in world-class mineral districts with a number of exploration firms and senior mining companies since 1999, and holds B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from McGill University, University of Toronto and The University of British Columbia, respectively. Alan completed his Ph.D. on the super-giant porphyry Cu-Au deposits at Oyu Tolgoi (Ivanhoe Mines; Mongolia), and was a senior member of the Kaminak Gold Corp. discovery team at Coffee (breccia-hosted Au; Yukon). Dr. Wainwright is accredited by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

The following additions have been made to the Company’s Technical Advisory Board:

Dan Jody Dahrouge, P. Geo

Mr. Dahrouge is a professional geologist with over 20 years of experience in both Canada and internationally. He has managed all types of mineral projects, from grassroots exploration to mine development and production. Since 1988, he has successfully owned and operated Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a private Edmonton-based consulting firm, which manages exploration and development programs for both junior and senior mineral resource companies. A graduate of the University of Alberta’s Geology program (BSc. 1988) and Computing Science program (Sp.C 1993), Mr. Dahrouge is a registered professional geologist in both Alberta and British Columbia.

Daniel MacNeil

Daniel MacNeil holds a B.Sc. from St. Francis Xavier University and a M.Sc. from the University of British Columbia. He has been involved in mineral exploration since 2001 and has experience with gold, nickel, and lead-zinc exploration and development. Daniel began his exploration career with Anglo American where he was involved in lead-zinc exploration in the Selwyn Basin, and nickel exploration in the Thompson and Cape Smith Nickel belts. Daniel spent 7 years with Barrick Gold Corp. where he assisted with advanced exploration in and around the world-class Eskay Creek (British Columbia), Round Mountain (Nevada), Hemlo (Ontario) and Donlin Creek (Alaska) gold deposits and managed generative and target delineation exploration projects in Canada and the United States. Prior to working for Barrick, Daniel held the title of Senior Geologist, an internal technical role for Cardero Resource Corp. where he provided technical assistance to Peruvian gold and base metal exploration projects and Canadian coal projects.

Graphite

Graphite is a polymer of carbon that comes in three naturally occurring forms – flake, amorphous, and lump. All three are found in metamorphic as well as igneous rocks, varying by grade, particle (mesh) size and moisture content. Graphite exhibits a number of characteristics, which make it a high value industrial mineral with a broad range of applications: it is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, is resistant to strong acids and thermal shock, is a lubricant, is refractive and has the highest natural strength and stiffness of any known material.

The total worldwide graphite market is currently estimated to be US$12 billion. At present, the largest end use markets for graphite are the steel and automotive industries. However in recent years, emerging markets, including green energy development (fuel cells, solar energy and nuclear power) and batteries (lithium-ion and vanadium-redox) are creating the potential for incremental increases in demand. Meanwhile, the closure of a number of natural graphite mines in China, the world’s largest producer, is reducing world-wide supply.

About First Graphite

First Graphite Corp. is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company focused on the development of graphite projects in Canada. The company currently has three graphite properties led by its flag ship project, the Henry Graphite property, located near the Deep Bay Graphite Mine in north-eastern Saskatchewan, Canada.

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “potential” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur. Although First Graphite Corp. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of First Graphite Corp.’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, First Graphite Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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 news release.

Contact Information

 

First Graphite Corp.
Andrew Mugridge
Corporate Development
(604) 689 2881

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BHP Billiton Expands Hearing Protection Contract in Australia with Sonomax V3

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:57 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2012

BHP Billiton Expands Hearing Protection Contract in Australia

Sonomax Technologies Inc. (“Sonomax” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: SHH) today announced that BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHP: NYSE), through its distributor Australasian Safety Services Inc., has agreed to protect an additional 4,000 workers in its facilities in Western Australia, a contract valued at $600,000. The product used to protect these workers will be the existing V3 ProFit version. BHP Billiton Iron Ore has the potential of an additional 8,000 workers to be protected with the new V5, currently in the final stages of development and testing.

“This breakthrough is made possible by the hard work of distribution partners like Michael Dean”

Said Michael Dean, CEO of Australasian Safety Services, “Our company has been servicing the mining industry for over 5 years now and we are finally starting to gain serious traction with this customer base who is very dedicated to health & safety. We are extremely proud to count BHP as one of our largest customers in Australia. The Sonomax product is now a proven commodity in the mining sector. This agreement is a result of extensive testing over the years. We are excited to get our hands on the V5 this fall to service this customer base of over 200,000 workers.”

“We are happy to report such an important contract to our shareholders for many reasons. Sonomax is much more than earphones. Hearing protection and the prevention of hearing loss has always been the heart of the company. There are over 100M workers around the world who are at risk and miners are at the top of that list. With a commitment to excellence from top mining companies like BHP and our new robust self-fit scalable product line, we will be able to protect a great number of these workers from losing their hearing,” said Nick Laperle, Sonomax’s CEO. “This breakthrough is made possible by the hard work of distribution partners like Michael Dean,” added Laperle.

About Sonomax Technologies Inc.

Sonomax® is a leader in the product development, research, and licensing of in-ear technologies. With more than 50 patents and trademarks worldwide, Sonomax’s pioneering innovation includes instant custom-fitting earpieces that deliver the most comfortable, protective and sound-enhancing experience in the world. Poised to become a standard for all in-ear applications, SonoFit™ offers OEM, ODM and aftermarket clients a broader range of opportunities in customized earpieces for the consumer, industrial, military and health markets. Learn more at http://sonomax.com

Corporate Website / Sonomax Hub

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Golden Hope Intersects 25 metres of 2.06 g/t Gold and 8 metres of 2.26 g/t Gold

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:59 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2012

Golden Hope Mines Limited (TSX VENTURE: GNH) (Pink Sheets: GOLHF) – Golden Hope Mines Limited is pleased to announce significant drill results from its recently completed Winter 2012 drill program at the Bellechasse-Timmins Gold Deposit in southeastern Quebec.

Significant near surface vertical depth results include:

  • 3 metres of 1.18 g/t Au and 8 metres of 2.26 g/t Au at 137 meters from surface in hole BD2012-186, 25 metres of 2.06 g/t Au including 5 metres of 9.21 g/t Au at 42 meters from surface in hole BD2012-188,
  • 41 metres of 1 g/t including 6 metres of 3.53 g/t Au and 3 metres of 2.40 g/t Au at 150 meters from surface in hole BD2012-190,
  • 9 metres of 1.82 g/t Au including 7 metres of 2.23 g/t Au at 53 meters from surface in hole BD2012-193 and
  • 3 metres of 12.63 g/t Au including 1 metre of 37.60 g/t Au at 117 meters from surface in hole BD2012-194.

Bellechasse-Timmins
Proposed Drilling
Click to view		 Bellechasse-Timmins
Plan View
Click to download

 

Corporate Website / Golden Hope Hub

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Focus Metals and Hydro-Quebec’s IREQ Sign Graphite Purification Technology Agreement and Anode Production Agreement for Li-Ion Batteries

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:14 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2012

MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC and OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(May 7, 2012) – Focus Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX: FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) and Hydro-Québec’s world-leading research institute, IREQ, today announced the signing of a licensing agreement enabling Focus Metals to develop a graphite purification facility and a graphite anode production facility for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

A new, Focus-owned facility will transform first-production graphite sourced from Focus Metals’ Lac Knife (Québec) high-grade deposit to battery-grade material.

The licensing agreement is in two parts. The first part is related to Focus Metals’ development of a graphite purification process that brings Lac Knife’s processed graphite to 99.95% carbon for use in lithium battery applications. The processing includes spherical shaping as well as thermal and chemical purification. The second part of the agreement provides for the production of anodes for Li-ion batteries.

IREQ will provide technical support and cooperate in future material and processing technology improvements.

Focus Metals’ President and CEO, Gary Economo, said the new purification and production facilities will be built in Québec and will be owned and managed by Focus Metals. The new purification facility will be designed, subject to positive economic analysis, to produce 15,000 tons of spherical battery-grade flake graphite at peak, by 2015, whereas the anode production facility will be designed to produce up to 5,000 tons of anodes. The exact cost of the facilities and the financing required have yet to be determined.

In exchange for the technology licence, technological support and future processing improvements, IREQ will receive a licensing fee that will be paid in cash over a three-year period, representing less than 10% of the current working capital, as well as a royalty fee based on a percentage of future sales.

“This agreement represents a huge and significant milestone for us as we move through pre-development to production of our Lac Knife technology graphite deposit,” said Mr. Economo. “Moreover, the marriage of Focus’s Québec-based, world-class graphite deposit to the Québec-based global leader in processing technologies-especially in battery anode production-will leave Focus Metals well-positioned to secure its place as a quality supplier to the fast-growing lithium battery manufacturing sector.”

“In particular, this agreement reinforces our goal of becoming the lowest-cost technology graphite producer in the world,” Mr. Economo added. “To have an all-Québec technology agreement with a world leader in graphite anode development and patenting bodes well for our shareholders.”

Mr. Economo went on to say that the battery-grade process will be incorporated into the Lac Knife Preliminary Economic Assessment due in June 2012.

Focus Metals is the 100% owner of the Lac Knife deposit, which contains 4.9 million tons of measured and indicated resource grading 16% Carbon as graphite (Cgr) and 3.0 million tons of inferred resource grading 16% Cgr (see NI 43-101-compliant Technical Report on the mineral resource estimate filed on SEDAR), the bulk of which is intended for use in technology applications.

IREQ is recognized globally as a leading technology source for renewable energy solutions.

“We believe that the high-grade graphite of the Lac Knife property, associated with our graphite purification and shaping technologies, will yield a quality product for Li-ion battery applications,” said Karim Zaghib, Director – Energy Storage and Conversion at IREQ.

About IREQ

Hydro-Québec’s research institute, IREQ, is a global leader in the development of advanced materials for battery manufacturing and designs cutting-edge processes in its state-of-the-art facilities. IREQ holds more than 100 patent rights and 15 licences for battery materials that are used by some of the world’s most successful battery manufacturers and materials suppliers. Its contributions are helping to develop safe, high-performance lithium-ion batteries that can be charged more quickly and a greater number of times. IREQ also acts as lead partner with private-sector companies based in Québec to build EV and HEV charging stations in support of its technology developments. It promotes open innovation and partners with private firms, universities, government agencies and research centres, both in Québec and abroad. These partnerships allow IREQ to develop, industrialize and market the technologies resulting from its innovation projects.

About Hydro-Québec

Hydro-Québec is Canada’s largest electricity producer and ranks among the world’s leading hydropower producers. It also transmits and distributes electricity. Its sole shareholder is the Québec government. It uses mainly renewable generating options, in particular hydropower, and supports the development of wind energy through purchases from independent power producers. Its research institute, IREQ, conducts R&D in energy efficiency, energy storage and other energy-related fields. Hydro-Québec invests $100 million per year in research.

About Focus Metals

Focus Metals Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. It is the owner of the highest-grade (16%) technology graphite resource in the world. The company’s goal is to assume a dominant industry leadership position by becoming the lowest-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus Metals is invested in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release may contain or refer to “forward-looking statements” that reflect Management’s expectations regarding Focus Metals’ future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. These statements reflect Management’s current beliefs at the time of this news release and are based on information currently available to Management. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Management’s expectations are exploration risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. While the Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, it specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

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

Gary Economo, President and CEO
Focus Metals Inc.
Ottawa
613-691-1091 ext. 101
[email protected]
www.focusmetals.ca

Louis-Olivier Batty, Media Relations
Hydro-Quebec
514-289-4214
[email protected]

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Graphite proving resilient in tough markets, constrained supply expected

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:14 PM on Friday, May 4th, 2012
4th May 2012

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – It would seem as if there is a new darling in the minerals market, as investor interest in graphite was seen rocketing over the past year.

From a total of about four listed companies making it their business to supply hungry markets with the carbon allotrope in 2011, the number of listed firms had increased to about 30, with most listings taking place since the beginning of the year.

Analyst Jeb Handwerger said that during the year, graphite had performed strongly, outpacing the generally depressed market.

“Graphite stocks have hit new highs and have recently pulled back, while gold and silver miners have hit two-year lows. This demonstrates excellent relative strength in an overall weak natural resource equity environment,” he said.

For example, AngloGold Ashanti, Africa’s biggest gold producer, fell 4.2% to R269.50 a share in April, the weakest in more than two years, while Gold Fields, the world’s fourth-biggest gold producer, dropped 5% to R100.73 a share during the same period. On Friday, silver miner Minera Atacocha, the Lima-based zinc and silver mining company, fell by 5.4%.

He expected global demand for graphite to increase exponentially from the current production of about 1.1-million tons over the next few years, possibly reaching 1.6-million tons in five years on the back of the rapid adoption of smart phones, laptops and hybrid-electric cars – all using lithium-ion batteries.

Lomiko Metals CEO Paul Gill also recently said demand for graphite was expected to rise as electric vehicles and lithium battery technology became more widespread and commonplace. Demand for graphite would also increase as new-generation nuclear reactors were being built in China, and if fuel cells and graphene patents became products.

Canadian supplier Northern Graphite CEO Greg Bowes believes people were starting to realize that it took far more graphite than lithium to make lithium-ion batteries and that graphite was, in fact, the supply critical material.

“However, graphite comprises a far larger market than lithium and it has a number of growing uses and new uses. It is not just dependent on the growth of electric vehicles to be successful,” he said.

However, Bowes believes that the story is not as rosy as some would have it.

He told Mining Weekly Online that although prices for the commodity have increased on the back of rising industrial demand, owing to the growth of developing economies and a tight supply from the world’s largest graphite supplier China, prices for the commodity remained largely flat.

“Owing to the economic slowdown in the US, Europe and China, prices had not seen significant increases in the past months. However, it has not declined and with renewed economic growth, will likely continue on an upward trend,” he said.

There is a phenomenal amount of renewed interest in graphite mining in Canada, after the industry had seen little activity for years, with numerous companies racing to be first in line to produce the sought-after flake graphite, prized for its extreme resistance to heat and high conductivity.

CONSTRAINED SUPPLY

However, there are not many new serious development-phase projects coming on-stream soon, with the last significant graphite mine built 30 year ago.

“There are not many graphite mines outside of China. Large economic deposits are rare and right now most operating mines in North America are small. We could see the need for 30 to 40 new graphite mines over the next decade,” Handwerger said.

Northern Graphite found itself among a handful of miners developing a high-quality graphite project, scheduled for production within the next year or so. The miner planned to open its Bissett Creek project, one of the first new graphite mines to open outside China since the 1990s by the end of 2013. A bankable feasibility study for the project, including a mine closeout plan was expected by June.

Ontario Graphite was also developing a graphite mine at its Kearney deposit, located in the same region as Northern Graphite’s Bisset Creek.

Another project – the only notable new project of any size, according to graphite analyst and blogger Dr Alex Cowie – that could be in production soon was the Almenara graphite project being undertaken by Magnesita, an unlisted company in Brazil.

“This could produce 40 000 t of graphite a year, increasing global production by 10%,” he said on Agoracom’s graphite blog.

Bowes pointed out that the new entrants to the market hold earlier-stage exploration projects and it would take many years to determine if they have anything, let alone get permits in place and build the mines – processes that could take years to complete.

However, he expected graphite prices to resume its rising trend when global economic recovery is achieved, leading to renewed demand for the commodity.

Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
Source: http://www.miningweekly.com/article/graphite-proving-resilient-in-tough-markets-constrained-supply-expected-2012-05-04

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Chris Berry, founder of research firm House Mountain Partners joins BNN to talk graphite market

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:57 PM on Friday, May 4th, 2012
Chris Berry, founder of research firm House Mountain Partners joins BNN to talk about the graphite market and why it has been making waves recently.

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Greg Bowes, CEO, Northern Graphite joins BNN to talk about his company and the Bisset graphite mine being developed

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:37 PM on Friday, May 4th, 2012
Commodities : May 4, 2012 : Northern Graphite [05-04-12 11:50 AM]
Greg Bowes, CEO, Northern Graphite joins BNN to talk about his company and the Bisset graphite mine being developed in Ontario.

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InvestmentPitch.com Produces Educational Video Discussing Supply, Demand & Uses

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:39 AM on Friday, May 4th, 2012

Vancouver, British Columbia, May 3, 2012 – InvestmentPitch.com has produced an educational video discussing the supply, demand, and many uses of graphite. If this link is not enabled, please visit www.InvestmentPitch.com and enter “graphite supply” in the search box.

Graphite, which evokes images of pencils, golf clubs and tennis rackets, is becoming the darling of the investment community. Natural graphite deposits can generally be characterized as one of three types: crystalline or flake, amorphous, and lump graphite.

Due to its amazing chemical and physical properties, graphite, distant cousin to a diamond, is finding new uses across a wide range of industries. It’s ironic that in our rush to decrease our carbon footprint, we’re turning more and more to carbon products.

For example, the lithium-ion battery is one of the fastest-growing uses of graphite, with each battery containing greater than 10 times more graphite than lithium. These batteries are already widely utilized in the consumer electronics industry in mobile phones, computers and digital cameras, as well as for power tools.

Mackie Research stated “Over the near to mid-term, we expect growth in the refractory market to accelerate to compliment a continuation of strong trends in the lithium ion battery market, where approximate growth is running at 25 – 30% per year.”

According to the United States Geological Survey, fuel cells have the potential to consume as much graphite as all other uses combined.

Graphite is also projected to be a key component in next-generation pebble bed nuclear reactors, which are fuelled by tennis-ball-sized graphite spheres with uranium embedded in them. China is now building the first two commercial units, with plans to have 30 by 2020. University of West Virginia researchers say these reactors could use the world’s entire output of flake graphite.

The dominance of China as a producer with 73% of the market, coupled with measures introduced by the Chinese government to limit exports, has created a supply concern for the rest of the world.

Both the European Union and the United States have already put graphite on their critical mineral lists.

A supply squeeze is now being felt, depicted in the new prices of flake graphite which have risen dramatically over the last year.

Byron Capital Markets expects continued pressure on pricing from customers as they look for supply outside of China. Byron expects to see annual graphite demand increase from 1.1 million tones to about 2.6 million tones by 2020. Even if the lithium-ion predictions don’t pan out, Byron still sees demand steadily rising to 1.5 million tones by 2020.

Because most of the graphite mines being developed worldwide are small flake and amorphous in nature, large flake graphite will encounter the greatest demand. And with demand for graphite growing in double digits and prices reaching $2,500 to $3,000 per ton, the future for graphite companies with actual projects is excellent.

Click here to InvestmentPitch.com’s educational video discussing the supply, demand, and many uses of graphite. If this link is not enabled, please visit www.InvestmentPitch.com and enter “graphite supply” in the search box.

InvestmentPitch.com is a multimedia company that provides a combined solution for creating and hosting financial video content, and distributing it across multiple platforms to investors and financial professionals. InvestmentPitch.com specializes in producing short three minute videos based on news releases and research reports. InvestmentPitch is currently raising $500,000 from the sale of 5 million units at $0.10, by way of an offering memorandum. For more information email [email protected].

CONTACT:
InvestmentPitch.com
Barry Morgan, CFO
604-684-5524
[email protected]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/03/idUS279550+03-May-2012+HUG20120503

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Bolero jumps on graphite trend

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:04 PM on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

VANCOUVER — Proving there is still healthy demand for new graphite plays, new entrant Bolero Resources‘ share price nearly doubled after announcing it had secured some prospective graphite claims in northern Ontario.

The claims happen to be contiguous to Northern Graphite‘s Bissett Creek claim block, a property that helped propel Northern’s share price from 90¢ in mid-January to an early April peak of $3.72. And not only are Bolero’s roughly 50 km2 of claims contiguous to the 30 km2 Bissett property, but they actually fully surround it.

On news of the announcement Bolero saw 4.3 million shares traded on the Venture as it’s share price doubled from 9¢ to 18¢, and briefly traded as high as 21¢. The company has 38.6 million shares outstanding, or 53.2 million fully diluted.

To secure the property Bolero paid $50,000 on signing the deal and has agreed to pay a further $50,000 and a million shares once the Venture approves the deal. GeoInvest Enterprises, the vendor, also receives a 2% net smelter return royalty and a production royalty equal to $25 per tonne of all graphite mined from the property.

This is by no means the first time Bolero has made the most of a trend or area play.

In December 2009 the company secured an option on 44.5-sq.-km of claims contiguous to Imperial Metals ‘Red Chris project in northern B.C., later adding roughly 13 km2 more. Bolero’s property border sits roughly 5.5 km southwest of the Red Chris East Zone discovery.

After completing preliminary work in 2010 on the property, which Bolero named Red Chris South, the company announced it would be drilling four holes totalling 1,400 metres in 2011 to follow up on two identified anomalies. After announcing the 2011 work plans in early July the company’s share price spiked from around 24¢ to a high of 58¢.

The excitement quickly wore off and the share price dropped back to pre-announcement levels by early August. It was not until early March 2012, however, that the company released results from the program. Of the four holes drilled, three hit no mineralization and a fourth returned a high of 0.0075% Cu and 0.015 g/t Au.

In March 2010 the company also jumped into the rare earth market, entering into an option agreement on 226.6 km2 of claims surrounding Spectrum Mining‘s Wicheeda rare earth discovery in British Columbia. After preliminary survey work in 2010 the company drilled 1,830 metres on the Carbonatite Syndicate property to test anomalies in 2011, but none of the seven holes hit any significant alteration or mineralization, so the company did not assay the holes.

The company plans further geochemical sampling in the region in 2012, while as of the end of 2011 the company had spent roughly $790,000 in acquisition costs and $2.2 million towards deferred development expenditures on the property.

And in September 2010 the company took a go at the Yukon gold rush, acquiring 128 quartz claims covering 26.3 km2 in the White Gold district “in close proximity to recently announced discoveries by Kaminak Gold…and by Underworld Resources.”

2010 work on the White Gold claims consisted primarily of soil sampling, with the highest values found coming in at 0.042 g/t and 0.045 g/t Au. 2011 work concentrated on infill soil sampling and returned a high of 0.121 g/t Au.

Bolero ended 2011 with roughly $857,000 in working capital. The company plans to soon start extensive work on its newly secured graphite project, as well as advance its Red Chris South and Carbonatite Syndicate properties this year.

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Source: http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/bolero-jumps-on-graphite-trend/1001127495/

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