THUNDER BAY – Sama Resources Inc. have announced that the first metallurgical test performed at Activation Laboratories Ltd., in Thunder Bay, Canada (“ActLab”) has returned high quality Graphite concentrate with up to 96% graphite recovery. This metallurgical test is the first of a series of proposed laboratory tests in order to define the grade and recovery of the final graphite concentrate.
The Graphite Project is located near the town of Lola in eastern Guinea and within 50 km from the border with Côte d’Ivoire. The testing of the samples in Thunder Bay is a demonstration of the increasing importance and global reach of Thunder Bay in the mining world. It also highlights the importance of the digital economy coupled with the city being a transportation hub with the Thunder Bay International Airport.
The maiden test was performed on the two prominent mineralised facies of the deposit: the oxide material (first 20 meters (“m”) from surface of totally to partially weathered material (saprolite)) and the underlying non-oxide material (below 20m).
The maiden metallurgical batch test on the oxide material returned a recovery to rougher concentrate of 96% of graphite flakes, producing a final table graphite concentrate having 60% of jumbo and large size flakes showing 92.9% and 90% graphite content respectively. Table 1 summarizes the findings.
Furthermore, the obtained concentrate was analysed for a series of elements to check for any possible contaminants, the assay data in Table 2 shows that the concentrates contained very low levels of minor elements.
“We are pleased with these impressive results from the initial test. It is a clear indication of the very high potential of the Lola Graphite mineralization,” commented Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO of Sama. “A series of additional tests are planned in order to refine and further improve the already excellent recovery and grade of the graphite concentrate,” Dr. Audet added.
Sama will continue to define and develop the Lola Graphite project on its own, however it is currently pursuing discussions for a partnership with known graphite developers and producers in order to accelerate the path to production.
Sama has launched a 4,000m drilling program designed to establish the mineral resources within the oxide material with its two 100% owned Jacro drill rigs.
Table 1: Metallurgical results of the maiden test
at ActLab on the oxide and non-oxide mineralised material
at the Lola Graphite deposit.
Oxide material
——————– —————————————–
Flake Size Distribution % Graphite Content, %Cg
——————– —————- ———————–
+50 mesh (jumbo) 29.2% 92.9%
——————– —————- ———————–
+80 mesh (large) 30.8% 90.0%
——————– —————- ———————–
+150 mesh 17.9% 80.4%
——————– —————- ———————–
-150 mesh 22.2% 71.0%
——————– —————- ———————–
Non-Oxide material
——————– —————————————–
Flake Size Distribution % Graphite Content %Cg
——————– —————- ———————–
+50 mesh (jumbo) 20.4% 89.4%
——————– —————- ———————–
+80 mesh (large) 25.6% 84.7%
——————– —————- ———————–
+150 mesh 22.7% 76.0%
——————– —————- ———————–
-150 mesh 31.3% 73.9%
——————– —————- ———————–
Table 2: Trace element analysis of the produced table
graphite concentrate: ppm: part per million
Element
Material/ Chromium Cobalt Copper Lead Molybdenum Nickel Vanadium Zinc
Fraction ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm
———- ——– —— —— —- ———- —— ——– —-
Oxide
material
———-
+50 mesh
(Jumbo) 20 6.4 52 2.54 1.63 10.5 2.7 11
+80 mesh
(large) 32 9.8 81 4 2.97 17.9 1.6 17
+150 mesh 49 12.3 118 6.24 4.33 32.4 8 24
-150 mesh 62 13.8 140 7.25 6.05 40.4 1.3 27
Non-oxide
material
———-
+50 mesh
(Jumbo) 69 5.28 77 9.11 16.6 55.2 46.2 74
+80 mesh
(large) 85 15.2 125 8.64 44 88.5 4.9 114
+150 mesh 76 19.3 218 17.7 126 106 22.4 127
-150 mesh 60 21 596 22.9 198 122 11 153
The Graphite Project is 100% owned by Sama Resources Guinea SARL, a fully owned subsidiary of the Company. The Graphite Project is located near the town of Lola in eastern Guinea and within 50 km from the border with Côte d’Ivoire.
The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, P.Geo and President and CEO of Sama and by Dr. Phillip Mackey, P.Eng., a metallurgical consultant, both acting as qualified persons as defined by NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
