Mining Weekly

ASX-listed Triton Minerals announced in March that material testing conducted by an independent Asian facility confirmed that the graphite of the Triton Mozambique Graphite (TMG) deposits, in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, can be expanded by up to 1 000 times.

Triton MD and CEO Brad Boyle says that the company is pleased with the result, as expanded graphite enjoys strong market demand and a premium price is paid by end-users, highlighting that not all graphite is expandable.

“However, if the graphite possesses the required physical properties, the graphite is normally expanded by immersing the natural flake graphite concentrate, usually at a grade of 95% to 99% total graphitic carbon (TGC), in a bath of chromic acid and then in concentrated sulfuric acid, which forces apart the crystal lattice planes, thus expanding or increasing the flake graphite surface area 500 to 1 000 times in size.

“Subject to quality, the expanded graphite sells for up to $3 500/t,” he explains.

Boyle details that the type of graphite found at Triton’s Mozambique projects can be readily converted into a number of graphite products, including graphite paper and graphite foil that is subsequently used in either high temperature applications or as insulation for electronic devices.

These results confirm the high-quality nature, versatility and economic importance of the TMG projects. Company research has found, subject to the quality and thickness, the expanded graphite foil can sell for up to $50 000/t.

Projects Update
Further, Triton stated in February that, as a result of reconnaissance mapping and sampling done at its Ancuabe project, in Mozambique – which forms a part of TMG – the company had located further substantial graphitic mineralisation outcrops in a number of locations over a distance of up to 3.5 km in licence 5336.

The reconnaissance mapping and sampling on one priority prospect area also confirmed the presence of visible jumbo flake graphite and initial rock chip samples returned grades of up to 22.3%. TGC was also found.

Further findings include that Ancuabe had three new prospect areas defined by a versatile time domain electromagnetic survey.

Meanwhile, at Triton’s Nicanda Hill project, a 12 t bulk sample for pilot plant level studies was collected, and it was found that the bulk sample grade control assays averaged 17.2% tempered graphite.

“These latest metallurgical and drilling results continue to strengthen our understanding of the diverse range of features of the graphite material contained within the Nicanda Hill resource,” states Boyle.