Lomiko announces excellent results from the La Loutre graphite half-cell coin battery testing with Polaris Battery Labs, LLC, USA, and suitability as Battery Anode Material
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Lomiko announces excellent results from the La Loutre graphite half-cell coin
battery testing with Polaris Battery Labs, LLC, USA, and suitability as
Battery Anode Material
Montreal, Quebec – January 10, 2024 - Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX.V: LMR) (“Lomiko Metals”
or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has successfully completed half-cell coin battery
testing of its La Loutre graphite material with Polaris Battery Labs, LLC (“Polaris”). Polaris
prepared La Loutre’s coated spherical purified graphite (cSPG) material from flotation concentrate
samples and subjected it to half-cell coin testing to determine its basic material electrochemical
performance metrics. The total mass of cSPG provided was approximately 160g and originated
from coated purified samples generated by the Corem Innovation Centre in Quebec, Canada. These
samples were micronized and spheronized by ProGraphite in Germany. The samples are deemed
representative of the La Loutre deposit. Polaris will continue the test program in 2024.
Belinda Labatte, CEO and Interim Chair of the Board stated: “These initial results from half-cell
battery testing (“the Polaris Study”) confirm excellent graphite properties as detailed below, thus
providing conditions for Lomiko to progress into Phase 2 project activities to produce and test
single-layer pouch cells; these are full cells using our graphite anode material tested against an
industry relevant cathode material. The Polaris studies are another step we are taking as a part of
an approach to assessing the suitability of our graphite anode materials in a full-cell format. As the
Company grows in its journey as a partner and developer of choice in Quebec, it will further review
the applications for its graphite in North America and the energy transition."
Lomiko is completing the entire ‘rock-to-battery’ testing cycle as part of its Pre-Feasibility Study
(“PFS”). The half-cell battery testing is now complete with exceptional results, and it is continuing
with the graphite anode pouch cell construction and testing in Phase 2 with Polaris.
Concurrent with these studies, Lomiko is also working on the “NRC Study” announced on July
27, 2023, which aims to advance pre-feasibility level battery trials with its La Loutre natural flake
graphite concentrate.”
Background and Summary of Lomiko Metallurgical Tests
The testing cycle started in the summer of 2022 with 640 kg of drill core provided from the existing
core storage. These core samples originated from both the Battery and EV zones of the La Loutre
deposit and are considered representative.
The first study (“The ProGraphite Characterization Study”) was performed on flotation
concentrate that was produced at SGS Lakefield from the 640kg core samples. Various pre -
feasibility (“PFS”) level metallurgical tests and a study were completed, including optimization of
the flotation circuit, resulting in achieving 94.7% recovery and reconciled LCT (Locked Cycle
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Testing) testing grades at 99.1%Cg. For detailed results, please see the press release dated February
6, 2023. The work was directed by Metpro Management Inc.
In the second study, “ The ProGraphite SPG Study”, testing was completed on a 10.5 kg bulk
flotation sample prepared by SGS Canada Inc. ProGraphite , Germany, used this sample for
micronization, spheroidization, and purification testing to produce spheroidized and purified
graphite (SPG), which is the material required for the anode in Electric Vehicles (EVs). All
physical characterization tests produced very good results, such as narrow particle size distribution
range and high tap density and met the target values for Electric Vehicle and other lithium -ion
based battery applications. Two purification methods were investigated on the La Loutre SPG,
namely alkaline and acid purification. A total of 100 g of the SPG20 spherical graphite was
subjected to intensive alkaline purification. For detailed results, please see the press release dated
May 3, 2023.
The micronized and spheronized graphite was then purified and carbon coated by Corem to
produce 160g each of coated spherical graphite cSPG16 & cSPG20 for the Polaris Study.
The Polaris Coin Cell Study
In "The Polaris Coin Cell Study”, cSPG batches were sent to Polaris in Oregon, USA, for battery
testing, including half-cell coin and pouch battery testing. At this point, Lomiko is reporting only
on the half -cell test results . Pictures of the half -cells made with Lomiko cSPG are pictured in
Figure 1.
Figure 1. Lomiko graphite Half-cell batteries produced and tested by Polaris (SPG16 top, SPG20 bottom)
Highlights of this study:
Reversible delithiation capacity at C/10 of ~356 mAh/g and ~358mA/h respectively, which is
above the commercial reference graphite material testing at an average 34 5mA/h. C- rating
describes the current the battery will deliver over the specific period, with C/10 being 10 hours.
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All half-cell coin batteries were constructed using a batch of 20g of cSPG casted on a Cu current
collector and 304SS CR2032 coin cell can components.
Figure 2 and Figure 3 depict the charging (delithiation) performance of the cSPG20 and cSPG16
samples from La Loutre , respectively, at different char ge rates. The plots reveal the good
performance of the La Loutre SPG with superior charging capacity compared to commercial
graphite in the market today in North America.
Figure 2: comparison plot of sample SPG20 versus a commercial graphite reference
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Figure 3: comparison plot of sample SPG16 versus a commercial graphite reference
Both SPG16 and SPG20 outperform the commercial reference in achievable gravimetric capacity
which means that with the electrochemical performance results produced by Polaris, Lomiko has
now successfully demonstrated the full value chain from ore to battery anode material on
samples from the La Loutre project.
Next Steps
In Phase 2, cathode and prepared anodes will be combined into a single-layer pouch cell format to
undergo a basic testing regime with possible extended testing which will allow Lomiko to
demonstrate technical specifications to meet battery manufacturing requirements.
Qualified Persons
Mr. Oliver Peters, a Principal Metallurgist with Metpro Management Inc., is a Qualified Person
within the meaning of NI 43-101. Mr. Peters is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures
used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed,
approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling,
analytical and test data underlying the technical information.
About Lomiko Metals Inc.
The Company holds mineral interests in its La Loutre graphite development in southern Quebec.
The La Loutre project site is within the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (KZA) First Nation’s territory.
The KZA First Nation is part of the Algonquin Nation, and the KZA traditional territory is situated
within the Outaouais and Laurentides regions. Located 180 kilometers northwest of Montreal, the
property consists of one large, continuous block with 76 mineral claims totaling 4,528 hectares
(45.3 km2).
The Property is underlain by rocks from the Grenville Province of the Precambrian Canadian
Shield. The Grenville was formed under conditions that were very favorable for the development
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of coarse -grained, flake -type graphite mineralization from organic -rich material during high-
temperature metamorphism.
Lomiko Metals published April 13, 2023 Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) which
estimated 64.7 million tonnes of Indicated Mineral Resources averaging 4.59% Cg per tonne for
3.0 million tonnes of graphite, a tonnage increase of 184%. Indicated Mineral Resources increased
by 41.5 million tonnes as a result of the 2022 drilling campaign, from 17.5 million tonnes in 2021
MRE, with additional Mineral resources reported down-dip and within marble units resulted in the
addition of 17.5 million tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resources averaging 3.51% Cg per tonne for
0.65 million tonnes of contained graphite; and the additional 13,107 metres of infill drilling in 79
holes completed in 2022 combined with the refinement of the deposit and structural models
contributed to the addition of most of the Inferred Mineral Resources to the Indicated Mineral
Resource category, relative to the 2021 Mineral Resource Estimate. The MRE assumes a
US$1,098.07 per tonne graphite price and a cut-off grade of 1.50% Cg (graphitic carbon).
In addition to La Loutre, Lomiko has earned-in its 49% stake in the Bourier Project from Critical
Elements Lithium Corporation as per the option agreement announced on April 27 th, 2021. The
Bourier project site is located near Nemaska Lithium and Critical Elements south-east of the Eeyou
Istchee James Bay territory in Quebec, which consists of 203 claims for a total ground position of
10,252.20 hectares (102.52 km2), in Canada’s lithium triangle near the James Bay region of
Quebec that has historically housed lithium deposits and mineralization trends.
On behalf of the Board,
Belinda Labatte
CEO and Director, Lomiko Metals Inc.
For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at www.lomiko.com
Contact Gordana Slepcev at 647-781- 7344 or Belinda Labatte at 647-402- 8379 or at 1-833-456-
6456 or 1-833-4-LOMIKO
or email: [email protected].
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