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Standard Graphite Announces Senior Vice-President, Business Development

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:23 AM on Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – April 10, 2012) – Standard Graphite Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SGH) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Benoît Gascon as its new Senior Vice-President, Business Development, effective April 10, 2012. Mr. Gascon is a highly experienced graphite executive and will play a key role in ensuring Standard Graphite achieves its strategic growth initiatives.

Mr. Gascon has over 20 years experience in the graphite industry. He was President of Stratmin Graphite, which owned one of North America’s only producing graphite mines, “Lac des Iles”. Mr. Gascon was responsible for negotiating the complete take-over of Stratmin Graphite by Imerys SA, a world leader in Industrial Minerals (annual sales of ~ C$4.9 billion and 15,000 employees) to form Timcal Graphite & Carbon, a world leader in its industry with 500 employees on 14 sites in 9 countries).

Mr. Gascon remained at Timcal in senior executive roles such as: Senior VP Business Development and Strategy, Senior VP Sales & Corporate Development & Senior VP Sales, and Deputy General Manager. Mr. Gascon’s various roles enabled him to utilize his expertise in many facets within the organization such as:

  • Developed a sales strategy by expanding applications to each client and expanding geographically the client base from USA to Europe, Japan, and further afield. He assisted in the growth of the company from one plant to seven plants worldwide.
  • Supervised nine industrial and commercial sites including corporate monitoring of eight legal entities, located in seven countries, in order to ensure the compliance to the laws, regulations, and procedures.
  • Restructured the division’s commercial structure & implemented a worldwide network aimed at ensuring a direct and continuous contact with the graphite customers.
  • Managed the group’s Canadian operations leading to the first operating profits and implemented an adapted sales structure.

“We are pleased to have someone of Benoît’s calibre join our management team,” said Chris Bogart, President and Chief Executive Officer. “As a highly regarded industry professional with extensive experience from operations to sales and marketing, Benoît’s in-depth knowledge and key industry relationships will ensure our ability to execute our long term goals.”

Mr. Gascon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales, as well as Chartered Accountant (CA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designations.

About Standard Graphite

Standard Graphite Corp is focused exclusively on the exploration and development of a large portfolio of flake graphite properties in Canada. The company is rapidly positioning itself as North America’s premier pure-play graphite exploration company and it controls 100% interest in 13 highly prospective graphite properties within known graphite districts in both Quebec and Ontario. An aggressive 2012 exploration strategy has commenced and will be implemented by a geologic team with the pedigree of a previous world-class graphite discovery.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Chris Bogart, President & CEO

Cautionary Statement:

The foregoing information may contain forward-looking statements relating to the future performance of Standard Graphite Corp. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerned with future performance are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Standard Graphite Corp.’s filings with the appropriate securities commissions.

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

 

G2 Consultants Corp.
Investor Inquiries
(604) 742-9990 or NA Toll-Free: (866) 742-9990
[email protected]

Standard Graphite Corp. – Corporate Information
Chris Bogart
President & CEO
(604) 683-2509
(604) 683-2506 (FAX)
[email protected]
www.standardgraphite.com

Standard Graphite Announce Brokered Private Placement for Up to $3,000,000

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:11 AM on Thursday, April 5th, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(April 5, 2012) – Standard Graphite Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SGH) (the “Company”) has entered into an agreement with Industrial Alliance Securities Inc. (the “Agent”), for a Brokered Private Placement on a “best efforts” basis for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the “Offering”).

The Offering consists of the issuance of a maximum 3,529,411 units at a price of $0.85 per unit (the “Units”).

Each Unit will consist of one common share at a price of $0.85 and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to subscribe for one common share at a price of $1.10 for a period of eighteen (18) months following the closing of the Offering. The Warrants are subject to an accelerated expiry which comes into effect once the shares trade above a weighted average price of $1.35 for any twenty consecutive trading-day period, subsequent to four months from Closing. In the event of an accelerated expiry, the expiry date will be the earlier of the regular 18 month expiry date and the 30 days from the date the Company advises the placees of the accelerated expiry.

The net proceeds from the issuance of the Units of the Offering will be used by the Company to incur expenditures on the Company’s Quebec and Ontario high priority graphite properties.

At the closing of the Offering, the Issuer shall pay to the Agent a fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds received by the Issuer from the sale of Units sold pursuant to the Offering. The Issuer shall grant to the Agent compensation options entitling it to purchase that number of Common Shares equal to 7% of the total number of Units sold pursuant to the Offering, exercisable in whole or in part at the price of the Units for a period of 18 months from the closing of the Offering.

The Offering is scheduled to close on or about April 17, 2012 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date of closing of the Offering.

About Standard Graphite

Standard Graphite Corp. is focused exclusively on the exploration and development of a large portfolio of flake graphite properties in Canada. The company is rapidly positioning itself as North America’s premier pure-play graphite exploration company and it controls 100% interest in 12 highly prospective graphite properties within known graphite districts in both Quebec and Ontario. An aggressive 2012 exploration strategy has commenced and will be implemented by a geologic team with the pedigree of a previous world-class graphite discovery.

Standard Graphite’s nine Quebec properties are all located within these districts and centered on the metasedimentary belts of the Grenville with known marble/gneiss lithologies considered essential to host graphite deposit. They have also been metamorphosed to sufficiently high grade to produce the larger graphite flakes.

They are located within the three major graphite districts in Quebec; Wakefield, North Shore and New Quebec with notable deposits such as Lac des Iles (Timcal) and Lac Knife (Focus Metals).

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Chris Bogart, President & CEO

Cautionary Statement:

The foregoing information may contain forward-looking statements relating to the future performance of Standard Graphite Corp. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerned with future performance are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Standard Graphite Corp.’s filings with the appropriate securities commissions.

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

 

Standard Graphite Corp.
Chris Bogart
President & CEO
(604) 683-2509
(604) 683-2506 (FAX)
[email protected]
www.standardgraphite.com

Investor Inquiries
G2 Consultants Corp.
NA Toll-Free: (866) 742-9990 or (604) 742-9990
[email protected]

Standard Graphite Options Quebec Graphite Claims

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:34 AM on Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(April 4, 2012) – Standard Graphite Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SGH) (the “Company”) is pleased to report that it has signed an option to acquire a 100% interest in 31 mining claims in Quebec. The mining claims are located in rusty graphitic gneisses similar to the ones in Fermont, Quebec.

Terms

The company has the option to earn a 100% interest in a graphite property from Hamish Ross (the “Vendor”) by making the following payments and issuing the following common shares to the Vendor: (i) $5,000 and 50,000 common shares on receipt of the TSX Venture (“TSXV”) acceptance of the Definitive Option Agreement; (ii) 100,000 common shares 4 months from signing the Definitive Option Agreement, and; (iii) 100,000 common shares 6 months from signing the Definitive Option Agreement. The agreement remains subject to acceptance by the TSXV. A finder’s fee will be payable with respect to the transaction pursuant to the policies of the TSXV.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Chris Bogart, President & CEO

Cautionary Statement:

The foregoing information may contain forward-looking statements relating to the future performance of Standard Graphite Corp. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerned with future performance are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Standard Graphite Corp.’s filings with the appropriate securities commissions.

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

 

Standard Graphite Corp. – Corporate Information
Chris Bogart
President & CEO
(604) 683-2509
(604) 683-2506 (FAX)
[email protected]
www.standardgraphite.com

G2 Consultants Corp.
Investor Inquiries
NA Toll-Free: (866) 742-9990 or (604) 742-9990
[email protected]

Cavan Acquires Prospective Quebec Graphite Property

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:04 PM on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(April 3, 2012) – Cavan Ventures Inc. (“Cavan” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:CVN) announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire claims located in Quebec. The claims cover approximately 1140 hectares of ground adjacent to the historic Asbury Graphite Mine, the historic minesite area, and a large unexplored mag anomaly identified on Gestim online. The Asbury Graphite Mine area is located approximately 30km south of the TIMCAL graphite mine, one of only two currently producing graphite mines in Canada.

The Asbury Graphite mine had historic production from 1980 to 1988. The following information (file number 31J/04-0016 – The Asbury Mine), was derived from the Quebec Department of Natural Resources website at http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/mines/industrie/mineraux/mineraux-exploration-graphite.jsp and contains: The discovery of graphite occurred in 1951 with work continuing intermittently over the years. In 1974, Graphex Mines Inc., guided by surface sampling, outlined a bed with graphite content ranging from 20 to 35% carbon. Reserves in 1975 were listed at 300,000 tonnes at 10.0% carbon. The reserve estimates are historical, and a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical resource estimate as current mineral resources, therefore these historical reserves should not be relied upon, and do not have currently demonstrated economic viability. Historical reserve estimates do not meet the CIM Definition Standards for a Mineral Reserve as referred to in Section 1.2 of the National Instrument 43-101, as they have not been demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. A full review of all historic data by a qualified person, including quality assessment of results, possibly with additional drilling, would likely be necessary to bring the resource into compliance with National Instrument 43-101.

The ground is located within the Grenville metasedimentary belt of rocks which have hosted several historic graphite mines and numerous graphite occurrences. The general host geology of the Asbury Graphite mine is crystalline limestone/marble, pegmatites and quartzites.

Terms of the acquisition have Cavan making cumulative payments of $75,000 and issuing one million common shares of the Company over 2 years. A 2% NSR will also be issued with the option to purchase back 1% for $1 million. A finder’s fee will be payable on this transaction. This transaction is subject to TSX Venture approval.

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.
1-604-683-3995 or Toll Free: 1-88-945-4770
1-604-683-3988 (FAX)
www.cavanventures.com

Lomiko Metals Jumps Ahead in Graphite Market *Site Sponsor

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:45 PM on Monday, April 2nd, 2012

April 2,2012 (Financial Press) –Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX Venture:LMR) is a graphite exploration company focused on exploring for high purity, large crystallite graphite on its Quatre Milles project.

Over the last few weeks the company has been making steady strides forward in the development of its high-potential graphite project. Those steps include completing a financing deal, hiring a geological consulting firm, making a new and experienced addition to its board of advisors, and completing a 43-101 Technical Report on its graphite project (full report available at this link)

Each move adds significantly to the unfolding Lomiko storyline. For example, the 43-101 report has been submitted to and accepted by regulators. The report details many key aspects of the historical exploration work on the property.

The report was prepared by geologist Jean-Sébastien Lavallée of Consul-Teck Mineral Exploration Consultants and includes the following highlights:

Graphicor (the past owner of the Quatre Milles property) completed reconnaissance mapping and prospecting as well as ground geophysics and a 26 hole diamond drill program totaling 1,625 metres

Three surface samples were collected and analyzed returning results of 14.16% Cgf, 18.06% Cgf and 20.35% Cgf.

23 of the initial 26 drill holes intersected graphite concentrations with graphite concentration in range of 4.69% in hole Q90-1 to a highlight of 8.07% Cgf over 28.60 metres in hole Q90-7.

The report also defines the proximity of Lomiko’s graphite project to the operational Timcal graphite mine:

The past exploration results from the project, its proximity to other known and economic graphite deposits, and Lomiko’s development plans have attracted a lot of investment capital as well.

On February 3, 2012, the company announced a financing deal to raise an estimated $700,000 of capital to fund advanced exploration work on the project.
Just over a month later Lomiko announced it had completed the financing deal for more than $900,000. That’s more than 28% more than was initially sought and reflects the investment demand for Lomiko and graphite.

Lomiko has also attracted additional management. The company has added Dr. Dietmar Siebholz to its board of advisors.

Siebholz has a Ph.D. in economics and has extensive experience in the graphite market as an investor, analyst, and discovering uses for graphite in advanced technologies.

Furthermore, Siebholz has more than 50 years of public market experience including on the floor of the Dusseldorf (Germany) Stock Exchange and nearly two decades involved in precious metals and commodities investing and markets.

These steps are key to the development of Lomiko’s rapid rise in the graphite market.

Lomiko, as an early mover in the graphite sector, has had its share price more triple since the start of 2012. It currently has a total market cap of under $9 million.

Learn more about Lomiko Metals at www.lomiko.com.

Written By: Andrew Mickey

Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: A fee has been paid for the production and distribution of this Report. This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. No information in this article should be construed as individualized investment advice. A licensed financial advisor should be consulted prior to making any investment decision. Financial Press makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of the author’s only and are subject to change without notice. Financial Press assumes no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this article and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission. Furthermore, we assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information, provided within this article.

Source: http://financialpress.com/2012/04/02/lomiko-metals-jumps-ahead-in-graphite-market/

Strike Graphite Appoints Chief Executive Officer

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:51 AM on Monday, April 2nd, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(April 2, 2012) – Strike Graphite Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SRK) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Blair Way as Chief Executive Officer.

Blair Way is a seasoned management professional with a career spanning over 25 years within the precious metals, petroleum exploration and development, and mining construction sectors throughout Australia, Asia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In the past several years, Mr. Way has demonstrated success in building and managing teams through to achieving either a major resource milestone or advancing development projects into production.

Mr. Way’s recent career path is highlighted as follows:

Most recently – VP Project Development for Ventana Gold (Vancouver), advancing projects in Colombia and recently acquired by Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista for $1.4 billion.

Just prior – President and Project Director, Oceanagold Philippines, overseeing the construction of the Didipio gold copper project.

As well as – Project Manager Non Ferrous Group with Hatch Associates (Brisbane), providing project management support for various mining and metal related projects in Australia, South Africa, China, Papua New Guinea and South East Asia.

Earlier – Project Director for BHP’s Major Projects division (QNI Pty Ltd) in Townsville, Queensland.

Mr. Way holds a Bachelor of Science (Petroleum Geology) from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Queensland, Australia.

Blair Way remarks about his appointment, “While it is very satisfying to be coming off some success by being part of the Ventana team during a take-over, it is now very gratifying at this point in my career to secure a key role within a commodity sector which I am certain is poised for explosive growth in these coming years. I’m delighted to be part of it and looking forward to applying my skills and experience in a Company with such great potential.”

Geoff Balderson, who will remain as President, remarks on the appointment, “We’re very pleased to have Blair come on board with us. The Company is committed to assembling a first class executive and management team in the graphite space, a team with the ability to build and manage projects through the development to PEA stage and through the joint venture and acquisition process. Blair Way is qualified to lead this team and advance the Company rapidly for the benefit of all shareholders.”

About the Company:

Strike Graphite Corp. is a progressive exploration company with seasoned management targeting strategic assets on a global scale. In addition to aggressively advancing its graphite properties in north eastern Saskatchewan toward the goal of achieving a compliant 43-101 resource by Q4, 2012, the Company is also advancing the Satterly Lake gold project in north western Ontario, located just west of Gold Canyon Resources Inc.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Geoff Balderson, President

For more information on the above or to view the Company’s Corporate Presentation on its Graphite assets and opportunity, please visit the Company’s website at www.strikegraphite.com.

We seek safe harbor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Geoff Balderson
Strike Graphite Corp.
President
604.669.9330
604.669.9335 (FAX)
[email protected]
www.strikegraphite.com

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.

Northern Graphite Successfully Produces and Tests Spherical Graphite for Use in Lithium Ion Batteries

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:40 AM on Monday, April 2nd, 2012

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 2, 2012) – Northern Graphite Corporation (TSX VENTURE:NGC)(OTCQX:NGPHF) is pleased to announce that the Company has successfully manufactured test quantities of spherical graphite from graphite concentrate produced from the Company’s 100% owned Bissett Creek deposit. The spherical graphite has been evaluated in Lithium/graphite battery test cells and the performance of these cells demonstrated that it meets or exceeds current commercial performance requirements and that Bissett Creek graphite does not contain any impurities that negatively affect cell performance. Further test cycles are on-going. The cells were made and testing carried out in a highly qualified, independent laboratory.

Gregory Bowes, Chief Executive Officer, commented that: “Value added processing such as the manufacture of spherical graphite is a big part of Northern Graphite strategy to create value for shareholders.” He added that: “As a result of work that has been completed over the last two years we can now provide potential strategic and offtake partners with representative test samples of graphite concentrate produced using the same flow sheet that will be employed in a full scale mine, and spherical graphite based on that concentrate.”

About Spherical Graphite

Spherical graphite is used to make the anodes in Li ion batteries and is manufactured from the flake concentrate produced by graphite mining operations. The upgrading process consists of micronizing the graphite flakes, rounding them to create a spherical or “potato” shape, and purifying them to increase the carbon content to 99.95%. Northern Graphite micronized and rounded its Bissett Creek graphite to basic industry specifications and can modify it to meet the requirements of various products and manufacturers. Spherical graphite sells for much higher prices than run of mine graphite concentrates and could further enhance the economics of the Bissett Creek Project.

Currently, almost all spherical graphite is produced from small flake concentrates (-100 to +150 mesh) and 70% of the graphite is destroyed in the process. As a result, it takes three tonnes of small flake graphite to make one tonne of spherical graphite. These losses are the single largest cost in the manufacturing of spherical graphite. However, Northern Graphite has achieved spherical graphite yields from its large flake concentrate as high as 70% which will substantially reduce production costs. The large flake nature of the Bissett Creek deposit provides the Company with the flexibility to sell its concentrates into high value, large flake markets or produce spherical graphite at competitive costs for the Li ion battery market.

Almost all spherical graphite is currently produced in China and purified using strong acids which results in large volumes of acidic and toxic waste. This method is not environmentally sustainable as the demand for, and production of, Li ion batteries increases. It is also inconsistent with the green energy objectives of the hybrid and all electric car industry. The high quality and purity of graphite from Bissett Creek has enabled the Company to develop a proprietary purification technology that is environmentally friendly and sustainable. The technology works at much lower temperatures than traditional thermal purification techniques and will result in lower capital and operating costs.

Value Added Processing

Based on the positive test results, the Company will commence engineering and design work to define the capital and operating costs of a facility to upgrade Bissett Creek graphite concentrate into spherical graphite. The objective is to provide Li ion battery manufacturers with a stable, secure source of supply that is produced in an environmentally acceptable manner. This facility will initially be based on the approximately 20% of Bissett Creek production that is -80 mesh with the ability to scale it to larger volumes in the future.

Don Baxter, P.Eng, President of the Company and a “Qualified Person” under 43-101, is responsible for and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.

The Graphite Market

Graphite prices have increased substantially due to the ongoing modernization of China and other emerging economies which has resulted in strong demand from traditional steel and automotive markets. In addition, new applications such as lithium ion batteries, vanadium redox batteries, fuel cells and nuclear power have the potential to create significant incremental demand growth. The manufacturing of Li ion batteries requires up to 30 times more graphite than lithium and their use in the growing EV/HEV market is expected to require significant increases in graphite production. However, graphite production and exports from China, which produces 70% of the world’s supply, are expected to decline and an export tax and a licensing system have been instituted. As a result, both the European Union and the United States have declared graphite a supply critical mineral.

Northern Graphite Corporation

Northern Graphite Corporation is a Canadian company that has a 100% interest in the Bissett Creek graphite deposit located in eastern Ontario. Northern Graphite is well positioned to benefit from this compelling supply/demand dynamic with a high purity, large flake, scalable deposit that is located close to infrastructure. A bankable Final Feasibility Study (“FS”) and permitting are expected to be completed in the first half of 2012, following which mine construction could commence, subject to the results of the FS and financing. Additional information on Northern Graphite can be found under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company’s website at www.northerngraphite.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of statements that include words such as “could”, “potential”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “likely”, “will” or other similar words or phrases. These statements are only current predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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

Contact Information

 

Northern Graphite Corporation
Gregory Bowes
CEO
(613) 241-9959

Northern Graphite Corporation
Don Baxter P.Eng
President
(705) 789-9706

Zenyatta shares scream higher ahead of graphite discovery drilling results

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:00 PM on Friday, March 30th, 2012

Without any official news, Zenyatta Ventures shareprice skyrocketed almost 60%. Meanwhile it awaits results from drilling on a new graphite discovery.

Author: Kip Keen
Posted: Friday , 30 Mar 2012

HALIFAX, NS (MINEWEB) –

Over the past two days, trading in Zenyatta Ventures (TSX-V: ZEN) – a newcomer to the graphite exploration game in Ontario, Canada – went from sleepy to hyper. Until Wednesday’s open, daily trading volume of Zenyatta stock averaged 57,000 over the past 16 trading days. Though it had no news to report, that started to change on Wednesday. Zenyatta’s shares climbed 20 percent to C$0.18 on trading volume over a million, about a twenty-fold increase relative to its daily average over the past few weeks.

And on Thursdayn Zenyatta shares sky-rocketed. As of presstime – with still no news to report – Zenyatta was up 58 percent to C$0.29 on a blistering 4.6 million in trading volume.

Graphite – for which Zenyatta recently started exploring near Hearst, Ontario – is undoubtedly the powder setting off Zenyatta shares. Back in early January Zenyatta noted it had drilled a compelling intercept with numerous broad intervals showing significant graphite in a breccia pipe, what it now calls the Albany graphite deposit. Zenyatta highlighted eight of these intercepts, with as much as 68 metres @ 4.2 percent carbon starting about 113 metres downhole. The other intercepts graded between about two and five percent carbon over widths from about five to 50 metres.

At the time the news did not register on Zenyatta shares which were trading around the C$0.15 mark. It did at Zenyatta, which quickly sent samples of the Albany graphite core to a mineralogist at Lakehead University in Ontario for study.

In late February Zenyatta said the results looked positive, with fine to coarse sized flakes and graphite accounting for almost all the reported carbon. This was good news for Zenyatta as it is the coarser-sized flakes of graphite that catch a premium on the graphite market. Thus Zenyatta took the next logical steps. It would drill more, it said, and it would contract SGS Lakefield, an independent consulting company, to test the core samples further to get a sense of how amenable Albany graphite might be to extraction and processing. Those results are expected in May or June.

Around Mid-March Zenyatta started drilling the deposit to test girth. Zenyatta has reason to believe it might be sizeable as it had defined the target as a particularly strong electromagnetic anomaly some 1,400 metres by 800 metres. In a stylized long section on its website Zenyatta shows the deposit as a deep, 1,400-metre-long breccia pipe with a graphite matrix. Drilling will go at this picture with a finer brush.

Zenyatta has said it would drill 4,000 metres in the breccia pipe and that results would be out within a few weeks. That was March 15, some two weeks ago. Has the ticking clock on imminent drilling results caught investor attention? It may be. As of presstime Zenyatta President and CEO Aubrey Eveleigh could not be reached for comment.

Whatever the case, Zenyatta now stands as another example of the hot market for graphite stories. As previously mentioned in these pages, investors look to be clamouring to find graphite investment vehicles and have been willing to pay a premium – as was the case in a recent private placement by Flinders Resources (TSX-V: FDR), another graphite-focused junior. Graphite prices have burgeoned in recent years as it has become apparent that the growing battery industry especially will need large amounts of high purity graphite.

Source: http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page103118?oid=148474&sn=Detail&pid=102055

First Graphite Announces Option Agreement for Mt. Heimdahl Property

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:59 PM on Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – March 28, 2012) –

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS AGENCIES

First Graphite Corp. (the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:FGR) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mining option agreement (the “Option Agreement”) dated March 26, 2012, with Thomas Lewis (the “Optionor”), pursuant to which the Optionor has granted the Company an option (the “Option”) to acquire a 100% interest in certain claims located in the Slocan Valley region of the province of British Columbia (the “Mt. Heimdahl Property”).

The Mt. Heimdahl Property, totalling approximately 1045 hectares is located in the Valhalla Ranges, in high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Valhalla Complex, within the Omineca Crystalline Belt. Infrastructure is well developed in the Mt. Heimdahl Property area, as the property is approximately 35 kms south west of Nelson BC, or alternately 41 kms north east of Castlegar. There are existing forestry roads, and a high-tension power line that runs through Koch Creek, approximately 8 kms south of the property, where Eagle Graphite’s beneficiation plant is located.

In consideration of the grant of the Option, the Company will pay $5,000 and issue 100,000 common shares of the Company to the Optionor within five business days of the date that the TSX Venture Exchange issues its approval of the agreement (the “Approval Date”). In order to maintain and exercise the Option, the Company must, by the first anniversary of the Approval Date, issue to the Optionor an additional 100,000 common shares of the Company and pay the Optionor an additional $5,000.

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.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.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.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/641771#ixzz1qR2L7IRv

Zenyatta finds graphite while exploring Ontario for nickel-copper

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:06 PM on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

Zentatta Ventures

 

By Greg Klein

On completing its December 2010 IPO of $9.9 million, Zenyatta Ventures (TSXV:ZEN)began 2011 with big ambitions. The company set out to explore its Albany Project in northern Ontario, which may sit on a structure related to the Mid-Continent Rift, home of a number of significant deposits around Lake Superior. Zenyatta hoped for a nickel-copper-polymetallic deposit comparable to the Norilsk Nickel mine in Siberia, Vale‘s Voisey’s Bay operation in Labrador or Rio Tinto‘s Eagle deposit in Michigan. So far, that goal has proved elusive. But what the Albany Project (aka Arc of Fire) drill results do show, says President/CEO Aubrey Eveleigh, might be equally compelling — the possibility of an exceptionally large deposit containing the exceptionally unusual occurrence of vein-type graphite.

Vein (or lump) graphite is the rarest, hence most expensive, type of natural graphite. At the other end of the scale, amorphous graphite is the type most commonly found and is widely used for steelmaking, auto parts, sports equipment and other applications. Flake graphite is essential to the emerging markets that include solar panels, fuel cells, pebble-bed nuclear reactors and the lithium-ion batteries that are becoming standard for electronic devices and electric vehicles. But little is spoken of vein graphite — likely because there’s so little to speak of.

Currently the world’s supply depends on Sri Lanka, whose mines contain exceptionally pure graphite, often grading over 90%. The product transmits heat and electricity more efficiently than other graphite types and is easier to mould. As a result, it’s in high demand for specialized uses such as the electric brushes used in motors and generators and in powder metallurgy used to manufacture parts for industries that include the automotive, aerospace, energy and medical/dental sectors.

 

So how did Zenyatta’s aspirations turn from a Voisey’s Bay to a Sri Lankan-type target? “We flew our property with an airborne survey and got a very large conductor that measures 1,400 metres by 800 metres,” explains Eveleigh. “That’s a whopping conductor. We thought it was copper-and-nickel massive sulphides. It’s covered with swamp so we had to drill blindly. But we started to get this graphite-rich breccia zone. Basically, from top to bottom we were getting all this graphite. So it’s pretty large and pretty unique because it’s a hydrothermal graphite deposit unlike what anybody is promoting in North America right now. There is one in Sri Lanka that’s similar to it, and that’s a vein-type graphite.”

Results announced January 19 from one hole show eight separate breccia zones, the first starting at 79.8 metres and the last ending at 522 metres. The following assays were released.

  • 4.6% carbon over 9.9 metres
  • 4.2% over 67.5 metres
  • 3.3% over 7.9 metres
  • 2.5% over 48.2 metres
  • 3% over 26.4 metres
  • 4.2% over 5.5 metres
  • 2.1% over 7.5 metres
  • 3% over 16 metres

A mineralogical study at Lakehead University found graphite ranging from fine (-270 mesh) to coarse (+40 mesh). The next step is bench-scale testing to better determine the deposit’s purity, flake-size distribution and recoverability. Results from SGS Canada are expected within two to four months.

“This could be exceptional; it could be very valuable; and certainly the market is bullish on graphite right now,” says Eveleigh.

Meanwhile, drilling will resume presently. “We need to determine the size of it. If we judge by the airborne conductor, it looks pretty big, but you still have to prove that. So we’re stepping out quite a ways, like 200-metre step-outs. If it’s still there, we can extrapolate in between and say this looks like a pretty big deposit. If it’s as big as the conductor suggests, it will be one of the biggest graphite deposits in the world.”

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About 4,000 metres of drilling is planned. And the company’s still looking for that big nickel-copper find in its 121,000-hectare Albany Project. “We have 28 different claim blocks,” Eveleigh points out. “We found the graphite on one block and we’re advancing that, but we’re also exploring the other 27 blocks.”

The graphite deposit has “good access and good infrastructure,” he adds. It sits four kilometres from an all-weather logging road, 30 from the Trans-Canada Highway and 70 from a rail line.

As a geologist, Eveleigh’s career began with Noranda and includes a seven-year stint as a partner in a consulting firm that worked for around 50 juniors and majors. He also held a highly successful position with Wolfden Resources and is currently president of Eveleigh Geological Consulting, which has provided expertise for companies including Rio Tinto, Goldcorp (TSX:G), Agnico-Eagle (TSX:AEM), Diavik Diamond Mines andBHP Billiton.

Zenyatta’s team includes Barry Allan, an exploration geologist turned Senior Mining Analyst for Mackie Research Capital, and Cliff Davis, who boasts over 40 years’ experience in open-pit and underground mining. Brian Davey, a member of the Moose Cree First Nation, has 28 years’ experience in issues mostly related to First Nations economic development. Some other management and advisory staff include Don Bubar, president of Avalon Rare Metals (TSX:AVL) and Roland Butler, co-founder of Altius Minerals (TSX:ALS), which holds a 10% interest in a 3% Voisey’s Bay net smelter royalty.

The company has an 80% earn-in option with Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF), which calls for $10 million of spending over four years. Zenyatta has already earned 25% by completing its airborne survey. Cliffs holds 11.8% of Zenyatta’s shares.

“Cliffs also helps with technical support, so we’re moving this along together,” Eveleigh says. “They obviously like these projects, and they’re very supportive of us.”

Insiders hold 23.5% of Zenyatta shares while another 35% is institutional. At press time Zenyatta had 39.6 million shares trading at $0.15 for a market cap of $5.9 million.

Eveleigh will make a presentation at OnPage Media’s May 2 Graphite Express-Conference at Toronto’s Sheraton Hotel. Click here  for free registration.

Read more articles like this at resourceclips.com .

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