July 2012 Updates To The TMR Advanced Graphite Projects Index

I recently updated the list of projects on the TMR Advanced Graphite Projects Index, to reflect three new graphite mineral-resource estimates that were announced recently. I also made some other updates. The effective date of the updates is July 25, 2012. The specifics:

• In May 2012 Lincoln Minerals Limited (ASX:LML) announced JORC-compliant mineral-resource estimates for its Kookaburra Gully and Koppio Graphite Mine projects in Australia. According to the associated update, 0.88 Mt of the Kookaburra Gully resource is at the Inferred level @ 11.5% Cgr; 57 kt of the Koppio Graphite Mine project is at the Inferred level @ 13.1% Cgr. Cut-off grades for either resource estimate are unknown.
• Mason Graphite Corp. announced an NI 43-101-compliant mineral-resource estimate for the NE GC Zone of its Lac Guéret project in Canada, on July 17, 2012. According to the associated press release, 0.30 Mt of the resource is at the Measured level @ 24.39% Cgr, 7.3 Mt is at the Indicated level @ 20.24% Cgr, and 7.6 Mt is at the Inferred level @ 20.40% Cgr (each with a cut-off grade of 4.0% Cgr). The press release indicated that the mineral-resource estimate complies with the CIM definitions used within NI 43-101, with the exception that “the information regarding metallurgy and market acceptability” has not yet been completed.

In addition to the new projects above, on July 25, 2012 Mega Graphite Inc. announced that the mineral-resource estimate for the Uley Main Road project in Australia has been converted to an NI 43-101-compliant estimate, without affecting resource size or grade. Mega Graphite is in the process of acquiring control of the project from Strategic Energy Resources Ltd. (ASX:SER).

One other important addition: I’ve reviewed the published information on flake-size distribution for these projects and included that information on the Index page. As I’ve noted on the page, however, characterizing a graphite deposit in terms of flake size is something of an arbitrary process. Graphite is categorized according to the mesh sieves through which material does or does not pass but there is no standard set of mesh size ranges in use. There is also no consistency from one company to another in the use of terms such as “large”, “medium” or “fine” to describe categories of flake size.

FYI, TMR is tracking a total 159 graphite projects under development associated with 82 different companies in 18 different countries.

You can access the updated details via the Index page.

Disclosure: at the time of writing, Gareth Hatch holds no shares or stock options in any of the companies mentioned in this article, or in any publicly traded graphite company, nor is he doing paid consulting for any such company.