As development progresses, graphite concentrate to feed International Graphite’s downstream processing operations is expected to come from the company’s 100% owned Springdale Graphite Project, in Western Australia.
The high-grade, fine flake deposit has excellent metallurgical characteristics for battery anode material and is well suited for a shallow and long-life open pit mining operation. The Company expects mine construction to begin in 2024, subject to approvals. Springdale has outstanding prospectivity with an established Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 15.6 million tonnes @ 6% total graphitic content (TGC), including a high-grade Inferred Mineral Resource component of 2.6 million tonnes @ 17.5% TGC.
Springdale Graphite Mineral Resource Estimate Summary (JORC 2012)
| Domain | Tonnes (Mt) | Density (t/m³) | Graphite (TGC%) | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-grade | 2.6 | 2.1 | 17.5 | Inferred |
| Low grade | 13.0 | 2.2 | 3.7 | Inferred |
| Total | 15.6 | 2.2 | 6.0 | Inferred |
Location and Geology
The Springdale project currently comprises two exploration licences and a prospecting license covering approximately 180 square kilometres in the Shire of Ravensthorpe, on the southern coast of Western Australia. Located around 25km east of Hopetoun and 150km from the major export port of Esperance, the region is a strong mining hub, with established infrastructure and services, and home to major operations such as First Quantum Minerals’ Ravensthorpe nickel mine and Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin lithium mine. The Springdale project is in the Albany Frazer Belt, a resource-rich geological anomaly stretching several thousand kilometres north-east from Albany, and one of Australia’s most sought-after exploration regions.
Exploration and Drilling
An estimated 7,100m of reverse circulation and PQ/HQ diamond drilling commenced in June 2022 with initial results showing multiple graphite intersections with grades that are comparable or better than the existing resource.
Electromagnetic geophysical survey data has proven to be highly effective in identifying conductive zones and potential graphite mineralisation targets. Two new graphite deposits have been identified at Springdale Central and Springdale Far West. Springdale Central is the second of at least 7 high priority exploration targets within 2.5km of the main Springdale Mineral Resource.
Metallurgy and Processing
Metallurgical analysis in Germany has shown that concentrate from Springdale is suitable for the production of high value micronised and spherical graphite, as precursors to battery anode material. Flotation testwork studies have reported graphite purity of 95% with potential for the material to be purified to +99.95% graphite.
A simple crushing grinding and flotation process will be used to treat the graphite ore at the future Springdale minesite. This will produce a ~95% graphite concentrate that will then be trucked to the company’s Collie facility for value-added processing.
