“All figures are believed to be the highest large flake yields reported from any worldwide graphite project,” the miner said in a media statement. “Few deposits contain any appreciable amounts of XXL flake material. As a result, the market is undersupplied and prices exceed $2,000/tonne. Currently, XL flake graphite sells for approximately $1,750/t, large flake for $1,020/t and small flake for only $600/tonne. The company expects that its concentrates will sell for a weighted average price of $1,600/t in the current market.”
Recent tests have averaged 22% +32 mesh (XXL) flake and 46% +48 mesh (XL) flake
In the brief, Northern Graphite explained that larger flake sizes are used in high-value, high-margin industrial markets including the manufacture of bipolar plates for fuel cells and vanadium redox batteries, as well as primary batteries, thermal management in consumer electronics, fire retardants, insulation products, ceramics, lubricants and many other applications.
The Bissett Creek mining leases and surrounding claims are located between the cities of Ottawa and North Bay.
Northern has said that it intends to develop the project in two phases. Phase 1 consists of an open-pit mine and a 3,000tpd processing plant with conventional crushing, grinding and flotation circuits producing over 20,000tpy of concentrate. Phase 2 consists of doubling production after three years of operation.
