IMX Resources Ltd. Consistent coarse flake graphite at Chilalo
- Petrographic microscope work identifies extremely large graphite flakes in almost all core samples from throughout the Shimba deposit.
- Flakes measure +5mm (5000µm), with some reaching up to 1cm.
- Flakes are clean and free of contaminants.
- Results provide confidence that a consistently high quality coarse flake product can be produced from various zones of the Shimba deposit.
West Perth WA (FSCwire) - IMX Resources Limited (ASX: IXR, TSX: IXR, IXR.WT) (‘IMX’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to report that recent petrographic microscope work conducted on diamond drill core from the high-grade Shimba deposit at the Company’s flagship Chilalo Graphite Project in south-east Tanzania, has returned encouraging results, with extremely large graphite flakes observed in most core samples examined.
The work was carried out by prominent industrial minerals geologist Andrew Scogings, for the purpose of providing a detailed analysis of ore variability within the Shimba deposit and to enhance the Company’s geo-metallurgical understanding of the mineralisation. The findings demonstrate the presence of high-value large and jumbo sized graphite flakes throughout the Shimba deposit providing confidence that a consistently high-value product can be produced from all zones of the deposit.
These flakes measure +5mm (5000µm) in length, with some reaching up to 1cm (see Figure 1) and based on discussions with end users, will be in demand in the high-value expandable graphite market.
In addition, the petrographic work confirmed that the graphite flakes at Shimba are typically clean and free of contaminants, which is believed to be a key contributing factor to the very high concentrate grades of 96.8 – 97.4% achieved from recent metallurgical flotation testwork (see ASX Announcement 19 May 2015).
CEO Phil Hoskins said the results provide further encouragement for the Company’s plans to develop a graphite mining operation at Chilalo.
“Our ongoing work continues to confirm the consistency in the ore characteristics of the Shimba deposit and gives us a great deal of confidence about the ability to produce high quality concentrate with excellent flake size distribution from Shimba,” he said.
“We are not surprised by the extremely coarse flake identified from the petrographic work. The Shimba deposit is located adjacent to a large anorthositic intrusion and there is evidence from comparative deposits that metamorphism (heating) from nearby igneous intrusions can upgrade and coarsen graphite mineralisation.”
“These results form an important component of the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study (‘PFS’) for the Chilalo Project, which is focused on the development of a mining operation to produce 50,000 tonnes of graphite per year,” Mr Hoskins said.
The PFS is progressing to schedule, targeted for completion in October 2015. A revised Mineral Resource estimate for the Shimba deposit is expected to be finalised in September.
Figure 1: Giant graphite flakes (light grey) from the high-grade Shimba Deposit
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NRD14-067 31.1m - Graphite quartz schist
NRD14-067 31.1m - Graphite quartzite
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NRD14-141D 69.4m - Graphite sillimanite quartz schist
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NRD14-141D 69.4m - Graphite sillimanite quartz schist
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NRD14-141D 74.6m - Graphite sillimanite quartz schist
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PHIL HOSKINS
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact:
IMX Resources Limited
Phil Hoskins – Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +61 8 9388 7877
Media
Nicholas Read/Paul Armstrong – Read Corporate
Telephone: +61 8 9388 1474
E: info@readcorporate.com.au
Stuart McKenzie – General Manager Commercial and Company Secretary
Tel: +61 8 9388 7877
About IMX Resources Limited
IMX Resources is an Australian minerals exploration company that holds a 5,800 km2 tenement package at the Nachingwea Property in south-east Tanzania. The Nachingwea Property hosts the Chilalo Graphite Project, the Ntaka Hill Nickel Project and the Kishugu and Naujombo Gold Prospects. IMX’s primary focus is on high-grade, high quality graphite and it is rapidly advancing development of the Chilalo Graphite Project, where there is a high-grade JORC Inferred Resource of 7.4 million tonnes grading 10.7% Total Graphitic Carbon, for 792,000 tonnes of contained graphite. Chilalo is located approximately 220 km by road, from the deep water commercial Mtwara Port, the majority of which is a sealed main road. IMX aims to become a respected supplier of high quality graphite for the clean technology economy.
To find out more, please visit www.imxresources.com.au.