The classification scheme most widely accepted for graphite deposits was introduced by Cameron (1960). It classifies known graphite deposits into five categories reflecting the different types of graphite. The five types of deposits are:
- Disseminated flake graphite in silica-rich meta-sediments;
- Disseminated flake graphite in marbles;
- Metamorphosed coal seams;
- Vein deposits; and,
- Contact metasomatic or hydrothermal deposits in metamorphosed calcareous sediments or marble.

The Bissett Creek Project would fall within the first category.

At Bissett Creek, the graphite mineralization is well characterized by homogeneously distributed graphite flakes (about 1 to 5 mm in size and 3 to 10% of volume) within biotite schists with variable content of amphibole, clinopyroxene, chlorite, carbonate and graphite. Ubiquitous trace minerals included sphene, apatite, garnet and zircon. Sulfides were reported as trace amounts, usually as pyrite and pyrrhotite. On the basis of the graphite content and variation of the gneissic facies, the graphitic gneiss can be divided into:
- Biotite rich quartzo-feldspathic and graphitic gneiss, paragneiss;
- Biotite rich quartzo-feldspathic and graphitic gneiss; and,
- Diopside-tremolite-biotite rich quartzo-feldspathic and graphitic gneiss.

Graphite flakes occur disseminated in the graphitic gneiss horizon and are in variable concentration in the transitional gneiss. The d ........

Northern Graphite worked together with Toromont to examine the proper fleet for the given production rates. This fleet was determined to be a combination of two front-end-loaders with standard 6.4 m3 rock buckets and four haul trucks with 71 tonne capacity. A Cat 336E backhoe will support the pit operations with water control and also final cleaning along the footwall and barren gneiss contacts to minimize dilution. It would pile the material for loading by the front end loaders rather than trying to direct load the trucks.

Supporting the mining fleet will be two Cat D7E class dozers and a Cat 14M grader. Northern Graphite currently has a grader of equivalent size on site. This would be replaced in year five with a new machine. A sanding truck for winter conditions is also included. Equipment replacement has been scheduled at every five years for the frontend loaders and graders, and seven years for the haul trucks and dozers. The support backhoe is replaced every ten years.

Mining will be done on three metre benches in the mill feed to minimize the dilution. Where possible the benches will be mined at six metres in waste and continuous mill feed sections. Final cleaning of the footwall will be completed under grade control supervision with the frontend loader when the slope will allow it or with the backhoe pulling the material into a windrow for the front end loader to load.

For the operating cost determination, mine haul profiles were deve ........

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