MONTREAL, March 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sama Resources Inc. (TSXV:SME) (“SME” or the “Company”) today reports that SRG Graphite Inc. (“SRG”) has today announced progress in the development of its mineral processing flowsheet designed in conjunction with DRA Americas and SGS Canada. Additionally, SRG has received positive testwork results on the expandable properties of its graphite flakes from the Lola deposit. Sama holds a control position in SRG of 24,658,267 shares representing 43.93% of the issued and outstanding shares of SRG and is considered an insider for reporting purposes.
The key result highlights are as follows:
- Preliminary testwork suggests wet scrubbing as an alternative to traditional grinding is possible, which would reduce capital and operating costs while promoting flake size preservation.
- Ongoing testwork suggests the developed flowsheet would allow for 95%-98% Cg concentrate to be produced over all size fractions.
- Performed expandability testwork on +50mesh and +80mesh graphite concentrate obtained 350ml/g and 300ml/g, respectively, well over industry requirements.
Scrubbing Testwork
A first round of test work is ongoing at SGS Canada Lakefield, with focus on the grinding method, flotation and flowsheet development. SGS Canada conducted positive preliminary testwork, using rotary scrubbing for mineral size reduction and graphite liberation. These results support the hypothesis that, for SRG Graphite’s weathered mineralized material, wet scrubbing alone, instead of the conventional primary grinding, is sufficient to produce the particle size required and ensure graphite liberation for flotation. The wet scrubbing method promotes graphite flake size preservation during mineral size reduction.
“The Installation of rotary scrubbing circuit presents a great opportunity for the reduction in capital and operating cost, as rotary scrubbing equipment is typically less expensive and consumes less electric power compared to conventional (SAG, rod or ball mill) grinding circuit employed for the same feed rate and processing duty” said Volodymyr Liskovych, P.Eng. Senior Process Engineer, DRA.
Flowsheet Refinement
In addition to the ongoing testwork for SRG’s preliminary economic assessment, SGS processed a 120kg bulk sample of material from the Lola deposit using its latest flowsheet. The resulting grade concentrate is between 94.8% Cg and 97.9% Cg depending on the size fraction. Purity of 96.6% Cg was obtained for the -100mesh concentrate, and 97.9% Cg was obtained for the +50mesh. Jumbo flakes alone (+50mesh) accounted for 39% of the total concentrate produced.
“The ongoing testwork continues to demonstrate a simple flotation flowsheet applied to SRG Graphite’s ore produces high purity graphite concentrate with a significant amount of large and jumbo flake fractions” says Russell McCarley, Senior Metallurgist at SGS Canada.
Graphite Expandability Testing
In addition to flowsheet development, the SRG has tested its graphite flakes with specialized German graphite laboratory, ProGraphite, for expandability properties. ProGraphite performed expandability testwork on +50mesh and +80mesh graphite concentrate and obtained 350ml/g and 300ml/g respectively using an industry standard method for expandability. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) acted as acid and donor of the intercalation molecules, while potassium permanganate (KMnO4) acted as oxidizing media to start the intercalation.
“To our knowledge, graphite flakes treated with this method typically require ratios higher than 250ml/g and 200ml/g for the +50mesh and +80mesh respectively, to be suitable for expandable graphite markets. The coarse nature of SRG Graphite’s flakes along with the results obtained during testing, makes this market particularly interesting for the SRG” Christoph Frey, Managing Director at ProGraphite GmbH said.
The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Raphael Beaudoin, P.Eng, Director of Operations, SRG and a 'qualified person' as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
ABOUT SAMA
Sama is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with projects in West Africa.
On October 23, 2017, Sama announced that it had entered into a binding term sheet in view of forming a strategic partnership with HPX TechCo Inc., for the development of its Côte d’Ivoire Nickel-Copper and Cobalt project in Côte d’Ivoire, West-Africa. For more information about Sama, please visit Sama’s website at http://www.samaresources.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
SAMA RESOURCES INC./RESSOURCES SAMA INC.
Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO
Tel: (514) 726-4158
OR
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the statements made and information contained herein are "forward-looking statements" or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the availability of financing for activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of electrochemical characterization, drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration or development, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties.
In addition, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on various assumptions. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.