Northern Graphite Upgrades Concentrate Purity
Northern Graphite Upgrades Concentrate Purity
Ottawa, Ontario – April 19, 2017: Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV:NGC, OTXQX:NGPHF)
(“Northern” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the results of additional metallurgical test work
designed to optimize the purity of concentrates that will be produced from the Bissett Creek deposit.
Testing was carried out by SGS Lakefield (“SGS”) and evaluated new approaches to graphite processing
that have been developed since the Company completed its Full Feasibility Study.
SGS evaluated the effect on the flake size distribution and carbon content of graphite concentrates from
using a stirred media mill instead of, or as a compliment to, the polishing mill. The stirred media mill
successfully increased the overall purity of an earlier pilot plant concentrate from 93.4 to 97.9 per cent
graphitic carbon (“Cg”). The increase was mainly attributable to the smaller size fractions which averaged
over 97 per cent Cg. High purity levels of 97 to 98 per cent had already been confirmed in the important
+32 mesh (XXL) and +50 mesh (XL) size fractions through locked cycle tests. Graphite concentrates are
typically sold with 80% meeting the required size standard. Smaller sizes can make up the balance as long
as the purity level is maintained which will be the case with Northern’s concentrates.
Gregory Bowes, CEO commented that: “Bissett Creek concentrates are already high quality and the
increased purity of the finer materials will further enhance their price and marketability. Only 10 per cent
of the Company’s production will be -‐150 mesh, which we believe is the lowest in the industry, and it can
easily be absorbed into larger size concentrates. Almost every graphite mine has a fines problem as they
must be sold into low growth, low value, competitive markets but this will not be an issue for Northern.“
Purification
The amount and nature of impurities in graphite concentrates affects their value, marketability and ability
to be upgraded for use in higher value applications. Ore from the Bissett Creek deposit fractures easily,
releasing the flakes, which are generally not interleaved with impurities. As a result, Bissett Creek ore
does not require fine grinding or multiple stages of polishing and cleaning to achieve required purity
levels. These steps increase costs and reduce the yield of large flakes. Concentrates also do not have a
high iron or carbonate content, which would make them unsuitable for the refractory market, or large
quartz grains which would make them unsuitable for other markets and which creates challenges in
upgrading them for high purity markets. Independent testing by NGS Naturgraphit GmbH did not detect
any limitations on potential uses for Bissett Creek concentrates (see March 2, 2015 Press Release).
The largest and most important high purity market is spherical graphite (“SPG”), the anode material used
in lithium ion batteries. The main impurity in the Northern’s concentrates is biotite which can easily be
removed using a cost competitive, environmentally sustainable, proprietary process. The Company is
currently testing its process on SPG from a number of other deposits and intends to conduct a pilot plant
test to confirm the ability to scale the process to higher volumes and to refine capital and operating costs.
About Northern Graphite
Northern Graphite is a Canadian company that has a 100% interest in the Bissett Creek graphite deposit
located in southern Canada and relatively close to all required infrastructure. Bissett Creek is an advanced
stage project that has a Feasibility Study and its major environmental permit. Subject to the completion of
operational and species at risk permitting, which are well advanced, Northern could commence
construction in 2017 pending financing. Northern believes that Bissett Creek has the best flake size
distribution, highest margin and lowest marketing risk of any new graphite project, and has the added
advantages of a low capital cost and realistic production target relative to the size of the market.
Gregory Bowes, B.Sc. MBA, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-‐101, has reviewed and is
responsible for the technical information in this news release.
This press release contains forward-‐looking statements, which can be identified by the use of statements that include
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