Macallum Group Limited (Macallum) is an Australian registered company, with an extensive background in international operating and investing environments. The Group’s primary objective is to add value by discovering, developing, and operating, energy and mineral resources. Macallum is a privately held entity incorporating a team of highly experienced corporate and technical personnel, all of whom are partners in the Company through their own personal investment.
Sri Lanka is the dominant historical producer of natural vein or lump graphite, the highest value natural graphite product globally. The current graphite price cycle appears to be bottoming. Mining takes place as narrow vein underground operations, and produces +90% carbon as graphite for niche markets. Macallum’s first Graphite exploration leases were granted in late 2012 and exploration commenced with ground electromagnetic (EM) geophysical surveys in early 2013. A drilling program took place from May 2013 to January 2014. Significant vein graphite intersections have been made.
In March 2014 the vein graphite sample for the analyses and processing tests, consisting of drill core sections, in an amount of in total approx 45 kg arrived at ANZAPLAN’s premises. A first testwork program for preliminary evaluation of the vein graphite ore sample was carried out. In several steps including flotation tests to characterize properties, advantages and disadvantages of graphite ore and final products have been evaluated.
The target of the present tests was to achieve highest possible carbon content in the final flotation concentrate and to find a suitable flotation process for producing consistent graphite products according to customers’ requirements. The majority of the graphite particles exhibit a flaky morphology. In addition more compact and elongated graphite particles termed “fish” or “slats” were identified. Beside the graphite particles minerals like quartz, mica, feldspar and hematite were detected.
We are pleased to support the Macallum Group in this interesting project. As the immediate next step ANZAPLAN suggests the chemical purification of graphite in order to evaluate maximum purity for high level specialty products (spherical / battery grade graphite).
For further information please click the following link: http://www.macallum.com.au/