Overview
Stage | Permitting |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
|
Mine Life | 15 years (as of Jan 1, 2016) |
The Nachu Project represents one of the largest Mineral Resources of large flake graphite in the world. |
Source:
p. 13,15
The Nachu Graphite Project is shovel ready with a Special Mining Licence (SML) SML 550/2015 on the project granted by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of Tanzania in September 2015. The SML was granted to Uranex Tanzania Limited (UTZ), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Magnis.
Summary:
The Nachu project is situated in graphitic schist with associated dolomites and gneisses.
The majority of EM modelling and geological intercepts indicate open folded anticlines with various dips to fold limbs in each resource Block.
The graphite mineralization is mostly associated with the schist, and is metamorphic (meta- sedimentary) in origin.
The Nachu deposit comprises five mineralized areas, being Blocks B, D, F, F South Limb, and J.
These deposit cover a combined strike length of 5.5 km and an average plan width of up to 300 m for B,D,J, F South and 800 m for F (often comprising multiple mineralized horizons separated by barren or low grade horizons), to depths between 150 m and 250 m below surface.
The mineralization occurs at or near surface.
Summary:
Mine design, optimisation and mine production scheduling was undertaken by Orelogy Consulting Pty Ltd, specialist mining consultants based in Perth, Western Australia. The life-of-mine strip ratio is estimated at 1.5:1. Mining is set to be undertaken by the relatively conventional open pit mining method of drill, blast, shovel and truck. Base mine planning involves the use of 90 tonne excavators and 40 tonne articulated trucks. However ramp construction design parameters allow for the use of larger 90 tonne trucks.
Designs and cutbacks have been designed to suit 100t excavators and 91t payload rigid dump trucks.
- A minimum mining width of 20m.
- Two way ramp width of 24m.
- One way ramp width of 14m
- Ramp gradient of 10%.
Contract mining is assumed and rates were sourced from a number of suitably qualified and experienced contracting groups. It was stipulated that all supporting infrastructure will be supplied and mobilised by the selected contractor.
Source:
Summary:
The concentrator plant utilises crushing, grinding and flotation technology to produce 240 ktpa of concentrate at a grade of 98%Cg, at a maximum plant feed rate of 5Mtpa The concentrate will be transported via public roads to the port of Mtwara.
Metallurgical testing for the BFS centred on taking advantage of the size and quality of the graphite from the Nachu Project to generate high purity products using low cost milling and flotation operations. The metallurgical process that forms the basis of the processing plant design in the BFS consists of 1 rougher flotation step and 3 cleaner flotation stages with associated milling at each stage.
The absence of any chemical or thermal purification operations in generating high purity products will ensure products from Nachu will be competitive in the market place.
Three different high purity products are set to be produced at the Nachu Project site and these are targeted towards high growth downstream appli ........

Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | Avg. LOM |
Graphite
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 92 |
Graphite
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| 98 |
Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | Avg. Annual |
Graphite
|
kt
| 220 |
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Stripping / waste ratio
| 1.5 * |
Waste tonnes, LOM
| 115.5 Mt * |
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| 76.3 Mt * |
Total tonnes mined, LOM
| 191.7 Mt * |
Annual production capacity
| 240 kt of graphite concentrate * |
Annual milling rate
| 5 Mt * |
Annual ore mining rate
| 5 Mt * |
* According to 2016 study.
Reserves at March 31, 2016:
Mineral Resource Cut-off of 3% graphitic carbon.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Graphite |
Proven
|
50.5 Mt
|
Graphite
|
4.6 %
|
|
Probable
|
25.7 Mt
|
Graphite
|
5.1 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
76.3 Mt
|
Graphite
|
4.8 %
|
3.6 Mt
|
Measured
|
63.5 Mt
|
Graphite
|
4.7 %
|
|
Indicated
|
61 Mt
|
Graphite
|
6 %
|
|
Inferred
|
49.6 Mt
|
Graphite
|
5.55 %
|
|
Total Resource
|
174 Mt
|
Graphite
|
5.4 %
|
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | Average |
Cash costs
|
Graphite
|
USD
|
559 / t *
|
Assumed price
|
Graphite
|
USD
|
2,350 / t *
|
* According to 2016 study / presentation.
Operating Costs:
| Units | 2016 |
OP mining costs ($/t milled)
|
USD
| 9.86 * |
Processing costs ($/t milled)
|
USD
| ......  |
G&A ($/t milled)
|
USD
| ......  |
Total operating costs ($/t milled)
|
USD
| ......  |
* According to 2016 study.
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2016 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :
Metrics | Units | LOM Total |
Pre-Production capital costs
|
$M USD
|
......
|
Sustaining CapEx
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax NPV @ 10%
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax IRR, %
|
|
......
|
After-tax payback period, years
|
|
......
|
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Proposed Heavy Mobile Equipment as of March 31, 2016:
HME Type | Size | Quantity |
Excavator
|
90 t
|
1
|
.......................
|
.......................
|
|
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Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
.......................
|
.......................
|
|
Jan 6, 2021
|
- Subscription is required.
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
- Subscription is required.
- Subscription is required.