Overview
Stage | Permitting |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
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Mining Method |
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Production Start | ... |
Mine Life | 24.8 years (as of Jan 1, 2023) |
Molo Graphite Mine is one of the largest known and highest-quality graphite resources globally, and the only one with SuperFlake® graphite. The Mine has begun production, with Phase 1 mine operations currently undergoing ramp-up to reach its nameplate production capacity.
On December 12, 2023, was announced the results of the “Molo Graphite Mine Expansion Technical Feasibility Study Report, which considers an expansion to the Molo Mine’s current Phase 1 production capacity of 17,000 tonnes per annum through the construction of an additional and standalone processing plant that increases the steady-state production rate to 150,000 tpa of SuperFlake® graphite concentrate over the life of mine.
The Company has initiated the environmental permitting process for the expansion of the Molo mine. |
Latest News | NextSource Materials Provides Update on Molo Graphite Mine Commissioning February 5, 2024 |
Source:
p. 9
NextSource owns 100% of NextSource Materials (Mauritius) Ltd. (MATMAU), a Mauritius subsidiary.
MATMAU owns 100% of NextSource Graphite (Mauritius) Ltd (GRAMAU), a Mauritius subsidiary.
GRAMAU owns 100% of ERG Madagascar SARL (ERGMAD), a Madagascar subsidiary.
ERGMAD holds the Molo Graphite Project mining and exploration permits.
Contractors
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Summary:
Geologically, the Molo deposit is situated in the Bekily block, (Tolagnaro-Ampanihy high grade metamorphic province) of southern Madagascar. The Molo deposit is underlain predominantly by moderately to highly metamorphosed and sheared graphitic (biotite, chlorite and garnet-rich) quartzo-feldspathic schists and gneisses, which are variably mineralised. Near surface rocks are oxidised, and saprolitic to a depth, usually of less than 5m.
The Molo deposit occurs within the regional Ampanihy Shear Zone. The most conspicuous feature of rocks found within this shear zone is their well-developed northsouth foliation and vertical to sub-vertical nature. Martelat et al. (2000) state that this observed bulk strain pattern is clearly related to a transpressional regime during bulk horizontal shortening of heated crust, which resulted in the exhumation of lower crustal material.
The Project area is underlain by supracrustal and plutonic rocks of late Neoproterozoic age that were metamorphosed under upper amphibolite facies and deformed with upright north-northeast-trending structures. The supracrustal rocks involve migmatitic (± biotite, garnet) quartzo-feldspathic gneiss, marble, chert, quartzite, and amphibolite gneiss. The metaplutonic rocks include migmatitic (± hornblende / diopside, biotite, garnet), feldspathic gneiss of monzodioritic to syenitic composition, biotite granodiorite, and leucogranite.
Descriptions of the individual lithological units ........
Summary:
The expansion projects includes the mining expansion, increased processing facility and associated infrastructure capable of processing 2,640,000 tpa of ore producing approximately 150,000 tpa of graphite concentrate over the LoM.
The surficial, lateral expanse and the massive nature of the Molo deposit make it suitable for open pit mining methods. It is a typical pipe shaped and steeply dipping ore body, with an extended mineral outcrop along the strike (north-south direction) of the deposit.
The mine design, scheduling, and costing for the project was completed by independent specialists. During the development of Molo Phase 1, open pit mining was identified as the most appropriate and cost effective method of mining. The open pit mining method that is currently employed at Molo is proven to be adequate and, has been extended for the FS due to the surficial, lateral expanse and the massive nature of the Molo deposit.
Mining will be carried out by means of drilling and blasting 4.0m thick benches, and loading of the 4m benches will be done by means of FEL and Excavators. The current loading fleet consists of 3 FEL with 3m³ buckets and 2 diesel-powered hydraulic excavators equipped with 1.3m³ buckets, and will increase by an additional 2 diesel powered hydraulic excavators equipped with x 4.5m³ buckets to support full production. The hauling fleet of 37t rigid frame mining trucks will increase to 14, 37t rigid frame mining trucks to support f ........
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Summary:
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Reserves at September 1, 2023:
Assumes a reserve cut-off grade of 3% Cg has been applied, with all material below this cut-off grade treated as waste. “Low Grade” mineral reserves are classified as ore with a grade =3% Cg and =5% Cg.
The current Resource was constrained by a 2% Cg cut-off grade, to a depth of 350m below surface.
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Graphite |
Proven
|
21,334 kt
|
Graphite
|
6.25 %
|
1,333 kt
|
Probable
|
32,412 kt
|
Graphite
|
6.09 %
|
1,973 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
53,746 kt
|
Graphite
|
6.15 %
|
3,306 kt
|
Measured
|
23,622 kt
|
Graphite
|
6.32 %
|
1,493 kt
|
Indicated
|
76,746 kt
|
Graphite
|
6.25 %
|
4,796 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
100,367 kt
|
Graphite
|
6.27 %
|
6,289 kt
|
Inferred
|
40,915 kt
|
Graphite
|
5.78 %
|
2,366 kt
|
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