TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Toronto-based mineral exploration and development firm Energizer Resources on Friday announced the results of a pilot-scale plant at its flagship Molo graphite project, in Madagascar, saying the results confirmed the robustness of the proposed flow sheet and that the graphite flakes could be upgraded to high-grade graphite concentrate by means of simple flotation.

Energizer said the average grade of the extra-large flake (greater than +48 mesh) was 97.7% Ct with the average grade of the large flake (greater than +80 mesh) being 97.4% Ct. The +200 mesh fraction analysis of medium flake graphite averaged a grade of 96.7% Ct, with the majority of impurities falling in the -400 mesh small flake fractions.

The company said the pilot-scale plant was meant to confirm the laboratory-generated metallurgical flowsheet's effectiveness under continuous pilot-scale conditions, define design parameters for the current Molo full feasibility study and create large concentrate samples for offtake partners.

The average total carbon content of twelve pilot plant surveys was 93.7% Ct at an average carbon recovery of 90.3%.

“We are very pleased that the results of the pilot plant study confirm we have a high proportion of premium jumbo and large flake graphite in our Molo deposit. It should also be noted that these particular flake size fractions achieved purities in excess of 97% Ct by means of simple flotation,” Energizer CEO Richard Schler said.

He noted that this potentially gave the company a significant commercial advantage on two fronts, namely the fact that the jumbo and large flake products could be sold at a premium for the emerging graphite markets and that Energizer should see cost advantages in producing the required purities as well as for upgrading to battery grade material.

“Metallurgy results have already confirmed that 100% of the Molo graphite concentrate can be upgraded to greater than 99.9% purity,” he noted.

The company had earlier this month closed a $7.3-million private placement.