Aim-listed Total Graphite has provided an initial update on drilling results from the Madagascar optimisation programme initiated in July.

The company reports that initial drilling at the highly prospective Tarandava Block within the Vatomina mining licence has returned encouraging near-surface graphite mineralisation, including a peak individual assay of 18.62% total graphitic carbon (TGC).

The programme forms part of the company's wider Vatomina optimisation strategy, which is focused on improving geological confidence, strengthening near-term mine planning and progressively evaluating the wider mineral potential surrounding the company's existing mining and processing infrastructure.

The objective of the Vatomina drilling programme is to improve the company's confidence in the existing mineral resource, support near-term mine planning and progressively evaluate opportunities to expand the resource base.

While geological work on the design of the broader infill drilling programme has been ongoing, the company notes that it took the opportunity to undertake an initial programme at Tarandava, one of a number of prospective areas within the Vatomina mining licence.

A total of 587 m across 17 boreholes has now been completed at Tarandava.

Total Graphite says the results demonstrate the presence of graphite mineralisation within shallow saprolite and weathered material, with the majority of holes intersecting graphite-bearing horizons.

The company explains that the results from VAT-DD26-015 and VAT-DD26-009 are of particular significance.

Hole VAT-DD26-015 returned 6.5 m at 9.44% TGC from 15.5 m down hole, including 5 m at 11.30% TGC from 16 m and a peak individual 1 m assay of 18.62% TGC from 19 m.

Hole VAT-DD26-009 returned 5 m at 6.83% TGC from 6 m down hole, including 4 m at 7.89% TGC from 7 m and individual assays of up to 9.91% TGC.

"Tarandava is one of a number of highly prospective areas within the Vatomina mining licence that the company has been keen to test.

“These initial results, particularly the shallow higher-grade intersections encountered in Holes 9 and 15, are encouraging and provide us with important additional geological information,” says project director Uday Singh.

He notes that the company now intends to build on this work through further drilling at Tarandava while progressing infill drilling across the existing resource areas, noting that this will allow the company to progressively improve its geological model, support mine planning and evaluate the wider mineral potential of Vatomina.

Total Graphite executive chairperson Christian Dennis adds that this programme is about more than individual high-grade intersections.

“Our immediate priority is to build a much stronger geological understanding of Vatomina and use that information to underpin a more robust and data-led mine plan,” says Dennis.

NEXT PHASE

Following completion of this initial work at Tarandava, Total Graphite says the next phase of the programme is expected to focus on areas of known mineralisation at Old Mine, Old Mine Extension and BK6.

This phase is intended to increase geological confidence in areas relevant to the near-term mine plan and support the company's planned production restart and optimisation of Vatomina.

The company's second diamond drill rig is expected to be recommissioned during August to operate alongside the rig already in use.

The current optimisation drilling programme is expected to continue through the fourth quarter of this year.

Thereafter, the company says, it intends to maintain an ongoing drilling programme designed to progressively increase geological confidence and evaluate the wider resource potential at Vatomina and, subsequently, Sahamamy.

Total Graphite notes that the 2025 SRK competent person's report estimated an exploration target of about 18-million to 20-million tonnes at an average grade of about 4% TGC at Vatomina, in addition to the existing resource base of about  six-million tonnes at 3.8% TGC.

“With a second drill rig expected to be recommissioned and our new head of Madagascar operations planned to be on site alongside external geological support, we are putting the building blocks in place for a more systematic approach to Vatomina.

“We look forward to reporting further drilling results and providing shareholders with additional updates on the Vatomina optimisation programme over the coming weeks,” says Dennis.