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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

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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

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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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Golden Hope Intersects 3.08 g/t Au Over 25 Metres and 2.01 g/t Au Over 32 Metres at Bellechasse-Timmins, Quebec

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:51 AM on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

 

Golden Hope Mines (TSX VENTURE: GNH)( Pink Sheets: GOLHF)

Golden Hope Mines Limited recently announced further significant results from its 2011 drill campaign in southeastern, Quebec. The company is pleased to present the following highlights from holes BD2011-174, 175, 176 and 177.

Hole Number From To Length (m) Au (g/t)
BD2011-174 23 25 2 2.24
BD2011-174 106 107 1 2.97
BD2011-174 221 253 32 2.01
Including 233 238 5 10.18
Including 249 253 4 1.93
BD2011-174 266 267 1 2.33
BD2011-174 406 431 25 3.08
“The results continue to confirm significant widespread mineralization at Bellechasse-Timmins. We are pleased with the amount of important information that we continue to accumulate as we move closer to our initial goal of a resource estimate at Bellechasse-Timmins” states Frank Candido, President, Golden Hope Mines Limited.

Investment Highlights

  • New discovery resulting in 20km mineralized gold belt
  • 10,000+meter drill program currently in progress
  • Recent Drilling Intersects 6140 g/t Au (197.4 oz/t Au) of Gold Over 1 Metre
  • Target Potential for multiple multi-million ounce deposits
  • Positive Preliminary Metallurgical Testing – recovery ranged from 97% to more than 99%
  • Dominant land position in the most recent North American stalking rush

The Bellechasse Gold Belt

Location

  • Site of the first gold rush in North-America in 1828
  • Strategic land position comprising 80% of mineralized belt
  • 554 mining claims spanning 24,436 hectares
  • Excellent infrastructure nearby

Geology

Gold mineralization in the Bellechasse area occurs in quartz/carbonate veins in albite diorite and related intrusive rocks, and also in minor amount in the veins within the volcanoclastic rocks that host the diorite.

The area in which mineralization is known measures approximately 875 metres along 045° and approximately 650 metres across the regional strike. Gold-bearing zones consist in quartz-filled structures which locally exhibit stockwerk pattern and may be brecciated. They are known to develop in plug-like protrusions of diorite emplaced in the country rock (T1 Zone) and in larger diorite masses (T2 Zone).

Click to enlarge

Corporate Website / Golden Hope Hub

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Golden Hope Repeats Long Intercept in Wedge Holes with 1.27 g/t Au Over 57 M

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:43 AM on Monday, March 5th, 2012

Golden Hope Mines recently announced further significant results from its 2011 drill campaign in southeastern, Quebec. The company received results from the wedge holes BD2011-167a and BD2011-167b.

The two wedges repeat the 53m long intersection of 0.63 g/t Au found in previously announced hole BD2011-167 with a 56m long interval of 0.75 g/t Au in BD2011-167a and a 57m long interval of 1.27 g/t Au in BD2011-167b. At its bottom extremity, the wedge also confirms the previously encountered mineralization found in BD2011-167 as BD2011-167a intersected 5m of 2.59 g/t Au including 1m of 12.40 g/t Au. The horizontal extent of this zone is still under investigation with more drilling planned in the immediate vicinity.

“The wedges confirm the presence of the mineralized zone of gold and in particular repeat the previous announced results from hole 167. We are pleased with the amount of important information that we continue to accumulate as we move closer to our initial goal of a resource estimate at Bellechasse-Timmins” states Frank Candido, President, Golden Hope Mines Limited.

About Golden Hope Mines Limited:

Golden Hope Mines Limited is a mineral exploration company that seeks to grow shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration and development of potentially large-scale gold and base metal projects suitable for underground and/or open-pit mining. The company’s focus is in southeastern Quebec, Canada. The company’s claim blocks lie within an area that extends approximately 100 kilometres along the Appalachians of southern Quebec from near Ste-Lucie-de-Beauregard to about 16 kilometres southwest of Beauceville.

Corporate Website / Golden Hope Hub

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$TSXV Week in Review

Posted by AGORACOM at 5:52 PM on Sunday, February 26th, 2012

The $TSXV had another strong week. I was definitely looking for a correction, but that has yet to materialize – we may just rock ‘n’ roll into PDAC. I remain confident that the good issuers will prevail and the cream will rise in addition to certain hot sectors like Graphite and precious metals that will bring volume in. I am also keeping a close eye on Uranium and some interesting biotech issues.

There are a few points that I noticed this week that stood out:

  • Market Internals: Long side momentum players and the “Jitney Magic Men”(broker code 99 that takes out those key levels in the blink of an eye) are all over issues with good news and price levels to be taken out.
  • Risk Appetite: There is a sense that the worst is behind us and money is flowing into the speculative issues. There is money available to fiance projects of merit. Retail can follow this via http://canadianfinancing.com/
  • The CRB Index: The CRB index is crossing it’s 200EMA and is trending very nicely.

Here is where the $STXV stands going into Monday morning:

I’d like to see some larger trading ranges and divergence added to the MACD but I will take the levitation. I want to see that ADX continue to rise and would love to see more volume in this market.

By the way has anyone else been hearing about Zinc? Is it just me or it starting to make noise again?

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$TSXV Week in Review

Posted by AGORACOM at 9:53 PM on Saturday, February 18th, 2012

I though we were going to see  sell off into the end of the week as per my risk off post, but it looks like the equity markets are going to push higher and the $TSXV is going to challenge that 1,673 high – caveat: beware of a double top here and that November high. That being said, I remain relatively hesitant to take new speculative long positions but will re-enter into names I know, those that I believe offer a good value proposition. The overall volume on the $TSXV is in decline but we did start this rally on less. Again, ultimately I think 2012 will be a great year, but I would like to see a correction from the  post Xmas rally we have been seeing.

Here is where the $TSXV stands on the daily:

Here is the weekly view…. We need more volume flowing into this market to keep marching forward but this looks very promising for the rest of the year.

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