Perth-based Comet Resources looks on track to carve itself a healthy-sized slice of the lucrative downstream graphite pie after inductively coupled plasma or “ICP” assay testing of its natural flake graphite from its Springdale deposit in WA coughed up element values that exceed those typically required for use in battery anode material. The company now appears confident its purification process can be used in the production of lithium-ion battery anodes.
The latest results completed at a specialist facility in Germany builds on previous test work where processing notched 99.96 per cent spherical graphite using hydrofluoric acid, or “HF” processing. Interestingly, the result was marginally above the previous figure of 99.96 per cent spherical graphite that was achieved using an intensive alkaline purification method.
Management says the HF purification worked well as evidenced by the low element values returned from the ICP analysis, where all elements, including those critically detrimental to the effectiveness of batteries, particularly iron, silicon, chromium and copper, measured at low levels following purification.
Comet is now progressing additional test work to optimise the processing of its Springdale natural flake graphite into a spherical graphite suitable for the production of lithium-ion batteries. The company says the test work will primarily be aimed at improving yield during the spheronisation process.
The company’s Springdale landholdings takes in approximately 198 square kilometres and hosts its namesake graphite deposit that currently lays claim to a maiden 15 million tonne resource going 6 per cent total graphitic carbon or “TGC” including a high-grade 2.6Mt at a noteworthy 17.5 per cent TGC.
According to Comet, deposits containing high-quality, fine graphite are few and far between, potentially positioning its Springdale graphite deposit, which offers both, amongst an elite group.
It now looks to be competing on a number of fronts having only last week scored an all-star cast of high-grade gold hits at its Santa Teresa Gold project in Mexico. Some of the better results from the eight-hole, 2,250 metre drilling program included 1.2m grading 63.2 grams per tonne gold from 124.8m with an inside hit of 0.7m hit going 27.5 g/t gold from 140.9m.
With the recent suite of results emphasising Springdale’s potential to host a battery grade graphite deposit, Comet looks to have set the table for an encouraging future in the graphite space. If it can now follow its recent results with similarly impressive ones moving forward, Comet could quickly find itself on a few radars as it continues to unravel the value of its Western Australian treasure trove.
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