Overview
| Stage | Permitting |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Mine Life | 25 years (as of Jan 1, 2014) |
At approximately 15% graphitic carbon, Lac Knife is one of the highest-grade flake graphite deposits in the world. |
Source:
Focus Graphite Inc. holds 100% ownership of the Lac Knife crystalline flake graphite deposit located in the Côte Nord region of Québec.
Contractors
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Summary:
According to the British Colombia Ministry of Energy and Mines Mineral Deposit Classification, graphite deposits are within the metamorphic hosted group of deposits and can occur as:
• Microcrystalline Graphite (BC Deposit # P03);
• Crystalline Flake Graphite (BC Deposit # P04);
• Vein Graphite (BC Deposit # P05).
The mineralization at the Lac Knife project is consistent with the description of a crystalline flake graphite deposit. These types of deposits are described as being commonly hosted by porphyroblastic and granoblastic marbles, paragneisses and quartzites. The alumina-rich paragneisses and marbles in upper amphibolite or granulite grade metamorphic terrains are the most favourable host rocks. Minor feldspathic
intrusions, pegmatites, and iron formations also contain disseminated natural flake graphite.
The Lac Knife deposit corresponds to the higher grade type of mineralization associated with fold hinges. Simandl and Kenan stated that the grade and tonnage of producing mines and development projects can vary substantially. The median grade and size is quoted at 9.0% Cg and 2.4 million tonnes respectively meaning the resource grade and size of the Lac Knife project is above the median.
The mineralization has been categorized by Focus into 3 types: massive, semi-massive and low grade mineralization categories. All three types are intercalated within the mineralized envelope (repetition of several massive ho ........
Summary:
The mining method selected for the Project is a conventional open pit, truck and shovel, drill and blast operation. Vegetation, topsoil and overburden will be stripped and stockpiled for future reclamation use. The ore and waste rock will be mined with 10 m high benches, drilled, blasted and loaded into rigid frame haul trucks with hydraulic excavators.
A topsoil and overburden stockpile has been designed on the west side of the open pit to the south of the plant site. Material that will be placed in this stockpile will be used for future reclamation.
A waste rock pile has been designed between the plant site and the overburden stockpile. The waste rock pile will be built in 10 m high lifts and compacted by a dozer.
A mine plan was developed which supplies the required amount of ore to produce 44,300 tonnes of concentrate per year for the 25-year life of the open pit. Mining will begin in a starter pit which will supply the majority of the run of mine ore for the first five (5) years of the operation. The purpose of the starter pit is to maximize the feed grade and minimize the strip ratio during the early years of production. The total material mined per year during the 25-year life of the open pit ranges from 400 kt in Year 1 to a maximum of 1,317 kt in Year 8. The average annual grade varies from 14.0 % to 17.6 % Cg during the mine life.
The mining operations will be carried out by a contractor who will operate the mine seasonall ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Projected Production:
| Commodity | Units | Avg. Annual | LOM |
|
Graphite
|
kt
| 44 | 1,105 |
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.
Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | |
|
Daily processing rate
| 887 t * |
|
Daily processing capacity
| 954 t * |
|
Annual production capacity
| 44,300 t of graphite concentrate * |
|
Annual processing rate
| 323,673 t * |
|
Stripping / waste ratio
| 1.8 * |
|
Waste tonnes, LOM
| 13,903 kt * |
|
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| 7,857 kt * |
|
Total tonnes mined, LOM
| 21,760 kt * |
* According to 2014 study.
Reserves at August 8, 2014:
The Mineral Resource cut-off at 3.0% Cg.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Graphite |
|
Proven
|
429 kt
|
Graphite
|
23.61 %
|
|
|
Probable
|
7,428 kt
|
Graphite
|
14.64 %
|
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
7,857 kt
|
Graphite
|
15.13 %
|
|
|
Measured
|
432 kt
|
Graphite
|
23.66 %
|
102,000 t
|
|
Indicated
|
9,144 kt
|
Graphite
|
14.35 %
|
1,312,000 t
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
9,576 kt
|
Graphite
|
14.77 %
|
1,414,000 t
|
|
Inferred
|
3,102 kt
|
Graphite
|
13.25 %
|
411,000 t
|
Mine Management:
| Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
|
.......................
|
.......................
|
|
Oct 8, 2022
|
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Staff:
| Total Workforce | Year |
|
|
2014
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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