Alabama Graphite Reports Positive Pilot Plant Test Results for Coosa Graphite Project in Alabama, USA

Alabama Graphite (TSX:ALP,OTCQX:ABGPF,FWB:1AG) announced today that have received positive pilot plant test results for its flagship Coosa Graphite Project.
As quoted in the press release:

The primary objectives for running the pilot-scale plant were as follows:

	•	Confirm the performance of the primary processing metallurgical flow sheet;
	•	Develop an optimized process design criterion (for primary processing) for the forthcoming Coosa Graphite Project Feasibility Study;
	•	Achieve a high-carbon concentrate suitable for AGC’s proprietary secondary processing to produce specialty graphite products, namely CSPG for lithium-ion batteries; and
	•	Produce concentrate material for AGC’s secondary processing development and optimization, subsequent secondary processing pilot plant (in support of the forthcoming Feasibility Study), and for evaluation by potential offtake partners.

The release added:

AGC’s pilot plant has exceeded expectations in that a high carbon grade – averaging 96.7% Cg across all flake sizes – has been produced, meaning 100% of the concentrate to be produced via primary processing from the Coosa Graphite Project is expected to be suitable for secondary processing.
HIGHLIGHTS

•	The AGC pilot plant was able to produce a high carbon grade, averaging 96.7% across all flake sizes;
•	All size fractions greater than 325 mesh yielded between 96.2% and 97.2% total carbon; even -325 mesh material yielded 94.6% Cg;
•	Overall recovery was 88.2%, which management considers good given the inversely proportional relationship between high concentrate grade and recovery; opportunities for improvement were identified, as first-stage cleaner recoveries achieved 99.3%;
•	130 tons of graphitic material from the Coosa Graphite Project was processed in the pilot plant, netting the Company 3 tons of graphite concentrate;
•	Average head grade of 3.09% total carbon (ranging from a minimum of 2.54% total carbon to a maximum of 3.48% total carbon); and
•	AGC’s graphite concentrate is expected to be quite amenable to secondary processing.

The testing of the pilot plant has supported (at the scale of the pilot plant) the technical viability and operating performance of the process plant design for production of high-grade primary processed concentrate material, which, as outlined in AGC’s Preliminary Economic Assessment* for the Coosa Graphite Project (announced on November 30, 2015), would be diverted to secondary, specialty processing to produce CSPG for use in lithium-ion batteries, and purified micronized graphite (“PMG”) for use in polymer, plastic and rubber composites, powder metallurgy, energy materials, and friction materials, among other applications.

President and Chief Executive Officer Donald Baxter stated:

“The pilot plant results have demonstrated that the Coosa Graphite Project holds the potential to produce a high-carbon concentrate, across all flake sizes, from mechanical means – without chemical or thermal treatment. More importantly, however, is that the graphite concentrate produced is well suited for our secondary processing to produce specialty CSPG graphite.”
“Typically, when processing graphite, one expects to experience a significant drop off in grade with the smaller flake sizes. This is not the case with the Coosa material, with the -325 Mesh graphite concentrate grading 94.6% Cg,” stated Mr. Baxter. “Based on our graphite experience, we designed this circuit to maximize the grade of the fines and we are very pleased with this achievement. What I am most pleased with is that these pilot plant results support our business strategy in that all flake sizes appear to be suitable for our specialty secondary processing.”

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