OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(March 5, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) (“Focus†or the “Corporationâ€) is pleased to report the results of the fall 2012 exploration drilling program on the Lac Knife Property (the “Propertyâ€), located in the Grenville Geological Province of northeastern Québec. Twelve (12) NQ-sized core holes (total: 1,384 m) were drilled to test the strike-length extension of the Lac Knife graphite deposit up to 375 m to the South of the deposit’s West limb. The 12 exploration holes were spread over four (4) drill fences spaced 100 m apart.
Hole LK-12-170 drilled 175 m south of the deposit on Line 900 S returned the best graphitic carbon (Cgr) intersection (Table 1):
- Hole LK-12-170: 66.8 m grading 14.68 % Cgr(from 54.9 to 121.7 m), including:
- 8.0 m grading 21.73% Cgr (from 54.9 to 62.9 m),
- 21.7 m grading 17.99% Cgr (from 70.0 to 91.7 m) and
- 21.3 m grading 18.22 % Cgr (from 100.4 to 121.7 m)
Significant graphite intercepts are still encountered up to 375 m south of the deposit as evidenced by Hole LK-12-174 drilled on Line 1100 S which intersected 20.9 m grading 19.31% Cgr (from 20.0 to 40.9 m), indicating that the deposit remains open to the south. All the significant intercepts (Cgr >5%) are summarized below in Table 1.
Focus Graphite President and CEO Gary Economo said: “Once again Lac Knife confirms its status and potential as a world-class and valuable, high-grade graphite property.
“The new drill results indicate a significant strike length extension south of our main deposit as well as in the continuity and thickness of grade – those key elements required for building additional tonnage,†Mr. Economo said.
Focus Graphite’s two-phase summer 2013 drilling program will further map the limits of the graphite deposit as well as test new ground geophysical anomalies on the property, Mr. Economo said.
Table 1: Summary of best graphitic carbon (Cgr >5%) drill core intersections from the 2012 exploration drilling program at the Lac Knife property.
Section
800S |
Azimuth |
Dip |
|
Total
length (m) |
From |
To |
Core
Length* |
Cgr**
(%) |
|
S
(%) |
| LK-12-166 |
N076 |
-51 |
|
170 |
60.9 |
63.8 |
2.9 |
5.85 |
|
6.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
89.1 |
109.0 |
19.9 |
6.19 |
|
2.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
89.1 |
124.7 |
35.6 |
11.15 |
|
4.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
109.0 |
124.7 |
15.7 |
17.44 |
|
7.34 |
| LK-12-167 |
N082 |
-45 |
|
101 |
31.9 |
48.1 |
16.2 |
20.94 |
|
7.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
55.9 |
62.5 |
6.6 |
5.12 |
|
3.57 |
| LK-12-168 |
N082 |
-50 |
|
125 |
16.0 |
42.6 |
26.6 |
18.52 |
|
6.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
68.2 |
77.2 |
9.1 |
22.29 |
|
7.76 |
|
|
|
|
|
83.3 |
86.8 |
3.5 |
13.21 |
|
4.41 |
|
|
|
|
|
94.3 |
97.7 |
3.4 |
14.85 |
|
3.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
900S |
Azimuth |
Dip |
|
Total
length (m) |
From |
To |
Core
Length* |
Cgr**
(%) |
|
S
(%) |
| LK-12-170 |
N080 |
-45 |
|
132 |
54.9 |
121.7 |
66.8 |
14.68 |
|
5.16 |
|
|
|
|
|
54.9 |
62.9 |
8.0 |
21.73 |
|
6.77 |
|
|
|
|
|
70.0 |
91.7 |
21.7 |
17.99 |
|
5.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.4 |
121.7 |
21.3 |
18.22 |
|
6.37 |
| LK-12-177 |
N080 |
-45 |
|
107 |
16.6 |
19.9 |
3.3 |
9.26 |
|
1.98 |
|
|
|
|
|
28.6 |
34.5 |
5.9 |
7.11 |
|
2.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
54.6 |
96.8 |
42.2 |
12.31 |
|
4.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
54.6 |
62.5 |
7.9 |
20.26 |
|
7.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
68.3 |
80.6 |
12.3 |
20.21 |
|
7.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
84.3 |
96.8 |
12.5 |
7.33 |
|
3.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
1000S |
Azimuth |
Dip |
|
Total
length (m) |
From |
To |
Core
Length* |
Cgr**
(%) |
|
S
(%) |
| LK-12-171 |
N100 |
-45 |
|
122 |
70.5 |
72.2 |
1.7 |
19.70 |
|
6.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
90.7 |
92.4 |
1.7 |
16.29 |
|
3.18 |
|
|
|
|
|
110.1 |
114.2 |
4.1 |
7.79 |
|
3.98 |
| LK-12-172 |
N080 |
-45 |
|
119 |
20.0 |
36.2 |
16.2 |
16.63 |
|
8.25 |
| LK-12-176 |
N080 |
-45 |
|
110 |
60.0 |
65.0 |
5.0 |
7.80 |
|
2.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
81.5 |
89.9 |
8.4 |
7.11 |
|
2.82 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
1100S |
Azimuth |
Dip |
|
Total
length (m) |
From |
To |
Core
Length* |
Cgr**
(%) |
|
S
(%) |
| LK-12-173 |
N080 |
-55 |
|
98 |
51.8 |
65.8 |
14.0 |
19.15 |
|
9.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
84.6 |
89.6 |
5.0 |
21.26 |
|
9.12 |
| LK-12-174 |
N080 |
-50 |
|
125 |
20.0 |
40.9 |
20.9 |
19.31 |
|
7.37 |
|
|
|
|
|
73.0 |
76.8 |
3.8 |
35.62 |
|
4.78 |
|
|
|
|
|
86.0 |
94.4 |
8.4 |
6.09 |
|
3.41 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| *Significant Cgr intersection are expressed as core length because the host rocks are highly metamorphosed and locally migmatized and folded. However, the mineralization envelope interpreted from the historical data cross-cuts the drill holes at a high angle. |
|
| **All core sample carbon analyses performed by COREM and delivered as graphitic carbon (Cgr), internal analytic code LSA-M-B10, LECO high frequency combustion method with infrared measurement. |
The mineralization at Lac Knife is hosted in biotite-quartz-feldspar paragneiss and schist of the Nault Formation, in association with iron formations of the Wabush Formation. These are equivalent to the lower Proterozoic Labrador Trough rocks affected by the late Proterozoic Grenvillian orogeny. Metamorphism associated with the Grenvillian orogeny has resulted in the formation of economic grade concentrations of graphite dominated by value-enhanced large flakes.
The Lac Knife property comprises 57 map-designated claims covering 2,986.31 ha located in Esmanville Township (NTS map sheet 23B/11), 27 km south-southwest of the iron-mining town of Fermont, in the Côte-Nord administrative district of Québec. Focus acquired a 100% interest in the property in October 2010. Maps showing the location of the Lac Knife property as well as drill hole locations are available on the company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com.
2012 Drill Program, Methodology and QA/QC
The fall 2012 exploration drilling program at Lac Knife comprised 12 NQ-sized core holes for a total of 1,384 m. The drilling program was designed to test the southern extension of the lac Knife graphite deposit over a total strike length of 375 m. Details of hole collars azimuth and dip as well as total length are provided in Table 1. The 12 holes were spread over four (4) 100m-spaced drill fences (800S, 900S, 1000S and 1100S). Each fence is comprised of three holes spaced 50 m apart with the exception of the hole LK-12-171 which is located 50 m north of fence 1000S due to land terrain conditions (see drill holes location map available on the company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com). The complete set of section 800S, 900S, 1000S and 1100S are also available on the company’s website.
The exploration drilling program at Lac Knife started in mid-September 2012 and ended on September 26. The drilling was performed by G4 Drilling of Val-d’Or, Québec under the supervision of IOS Services Géoscientifiques (“IOSâ€) of Chicoutimi, Québec.
A total of 538 half-split NQ drill core samples were collected from all 12 holes and shipped to IOS for sample preparation (crushing and grinding). Once prepared, the samples were sent to the Consortium de Recherche Appliquée en Traitement et Transformation des Substances Minérales (“COREMâ€), an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 certified facility in Québec-City, for graphitic carbon (Cgr) analysis using LECO high frequency combustion method with infrared measurement (internal analytical code LSA-M-B10 for graphitic carbon; ISO 9686:2004). For the measurement of graphitic carbon, the sample is pre-treated with nitric acid, placed in a LECO capsule and introduced in the furnace (1,380ºC) in an oxygen atmosphere. Carbon is oxidized to CO2. After the removal of moisture, gas (CO2) is measured by an infrared detector and a computerized system calculates the concentration of graphitic carbon (Cgr). Total sulphur was also analyzed by LECO (code LSA-M-B41) (Table 1). For sulphur determinations, the sample is placed in a LECO capsule and introduced in the furnace (1,380ºC) until sulphur is oxidized to SO2. After the removal of moisture, gas (SO2) is measured by an infrared detector and a computerized system calculates the concentration of total sulphur (%).
Under the QA/QC program, 10% of the samples were analyzed by COREM for total (code LSA-M-B45), organic (code LSA-M-B58), inorganic (code LSA-M-B11) and graphitic (code LSA-M-B10) carbon as well as for total sulphur (a total of 48 core samples). Duplicates of the same 48 samples were also sent to ACTLABS Laboratories of Ancaster, Ontario (ISO/IEC 17025:2005 with CAN-P-1579) for graphitic carbon (code 5D – C Graphitic) and total sulphur (code 4F – S Combustion infrared detection) determinations and for 35 multi-element analysis using ICP methods (code 1E2 – Aqua Regia). IOS introduced 42 standards, 51 duplicates and 36 blank samples into the batch of core sample as part of the QA/QC program.
Summer 2013 Drilling Program
Focus is currently working on the design of a two-phase follow-up drilling program on the Lac Knife property for the summer of 2013. Phase I of this program will include infill drilling within the limits of the deposit defined by the NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (see Lac Knife PEA Technical Report available on Focus’ website or at www.sedar.com). Phase II will consist of an exploration drilling program in order to test the geophysical anomalies identified during last fall’s ground magnetic and horizontal loop electromagnetic (HLEM) survey done by G.L. Géoservice Inc. and interpreted by Geophysique Camille St-Hilaire Inc., both located in Rouyn-Noranda.
About Focus Graphite
Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. The Lac Knife project hosts a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resource of 4.972 Mt grading 15.7% carbon as crystalline graphite with an additional Inferred mineral resource of 3.000 Mt grading 15.6% crystalline graphite. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. On October 29th, 2012 the Company released the results of a Preliminary Economic Analysis (“PEAâ€) of the Lac Knife project which demonstrates that the project has an excellent potential to become a producer of high quality flake graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus invests in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.
The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed by Benoit Lafrance, Ph.D., géo (Québec), Focus Vice-President of Exploration and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
Forward Looking Statements – Disclaimer
This news release may contain forward looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, and discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are in our documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com Focus Graphite disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
