MRL Corporation: The Battery, page-2

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MRL Corporation test work proves graphite suitable for lithium batteries

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 by Proactive Investors

http://www.*.com.au/companies/news/...ite-suitable-for-lithium-batteries-60218.html

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MRL Corporation's (ASX:MRF) flake graphite from its Aluketiya project in Sri Lanka has undergone metallurgical test work that showed its graphite exceeds the grades required for use in lithium batteries.

Sri Lanka is famed for being the only commercial producer of crystalline vein graphite and is among the highest quality of naturally occurring material in the world.

Testing conducted at the Wuhan University of Technology found graphite from MRL’s Aluketiya project in Sri Lanka contained 99.98% Total Graphitic Carbon (TGC).

The test work results are likely even more impressive given it was carried out on low grade unprocessed bulk sample material from Aluketiya using an acid leaching process.

This should provide an impetus to project development at Aluketiya and place firmly on the road to becoming a graphite producer.

Typical high-grade Sri Lankan graphite achieves a greater recovery rate than most disseminated flake graphite deposits due to its reduced physical processing requirement and much higher starting TGC purity.

The graphite used had an initial grade of 93.1% TGC. The expected average grade of vein graphite to be mined by MRL is more than 95% TGC.


Aluketiya Project

The Aluketiya is located in Meegahatenna within the Walallawita District, which is considered one of the richest graphite-bearing areas in the country.

The project has the potential for graphite veins extending over large distances.

Extensive veins of high-grade graphite are visible from surface but the area has not been subjected to any modern exploration techniques.


Further test work

Additional test work will be conducted to refine the process flow sheet and provide more detail on the suitability of MRL’s graphite for premium-end product use.

Testing is ongoing with a view to simplifying the metallurgical flow sheet and achieving grade of at least 99.95% TGC though acid leaching techniques.

MRL is aiming to develop an underground mining operation to extract high-grade, crystalline vein graphite, which is unique to Sri Lanka.

The Company holds exclusive rights to exploration licenses covering approximately 6,300 hectares in area, with historical workings located within nearly all license grids.


Analysis

Aluketiya produced high-grade graphite for several decades until the operation was stopped in the 1960s.

Today's results are a fillip for MRF as it aims to develop an underground mining operation to extract high-grade, crystalline vein graphite.

Vein (crystalline) graphite is the purest form of graphite with TGC grades typically >90% TGC.

MRL may look to issue samples to major battery manufacturers with the objective of securing offtake agreements.

Its strategy is to fast-track the start of production and generate early cash flow underpinned by Aluketiya already covered by a mining licence.

With a focus on just mining the high grade vein, this drastically lowers capex and opex, and has the potential for MRL Corporation to sell run of mine.

Production could start in 2015/16.

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Batteries and SL Vein Graphite and MRL Corporation and MR Grigor is a match made in heaven.

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