Source:
p. 26
Brasil Grafite S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of South Star, holds 100% interest in the Santa Cruz Graphite Project.
Summary:
The Project can be classified as sedimentary – metamorphic. During late Precambrian age, pelites and carbon were deposited at the same time. Later in early Cambrian age, orogenic movements transformed these sediments to high grade metamorphic rocks, and these movements transformed the carbon and the hosted rock to gneiss with graphite (this type of mineralization with the different metamorphic minerals is known as the Kinzigite Complex).
The mineralization was shifted by a regional fault, which dictated alignment of the host rock (gneisses and paragneisses) and coupled with the soft nature of the graphite, made the association of such strike and fold (anticlines) changes to host mineralized zones and thicker lenses. Several deposits, including the Santa Cruz Graphite Project, are hosted in this regional area that covers over 25,000km². The region is known to produce high-quality natural flake graphite, which occurs as flat, plate-like particles with either hexagonal or angular edges. The graphite is derived from carbon rich sediments and is generally disseminated throughout the mineralized zones, but often with periodic lens-shaped pockets of higher-grade materials.
Flake size has a strong impact on demand and as a result pricing, with larger flake sizes generally being higher in value. Natural flake graphite is generally classified in the industry by flake size as follows:
1.) Jumbo: +50 mesh (0.3 mm)
2.) Large: –50 mesh to +80 mesh (0.18mm)
3.) Medium: –80 mesh + 140 mesh (0.105 mm)
4.) Small: –140 mesh.
The Project is located within a region where mineralized deposits are hosted in paragneisses with higher degrees of metamorphism between amphibolite and granulite with intense anatexis. In general, the mineralization is structurally controlled by the shearing zone along the regional fault and the presence of softer materials.
The Project has disseminated mineralization that is easily identified visually with +65% of flake size +80 mesh (large flake) including ~35% +50 mesh (jumbo flake), important to note both numbers are for final concentrates, hence one can assume run of mine ore has an even bigger amount of +80# flakes. Moreover, the mineralization is present in massive stratus layers found in strong association with the main structure control.
Initially, the mineralization appeared to be quite simple, and was thought to be sedimentary in nature, but after further field investigations, drilling, mapping and literature review, it is now believed that the mineralization is structurally controlled and is hosted in the many folds, shearing zones and mylonitic gneisses.
In general, the larger flake size appears to be associated with the higher degrees of metamorphism, while large volumes of high-grade mineralized material are often concentrated in the many folds.
The mineralized zone in the main target areas of São Rubens and São Manual is in the friable upper layers close to surface. There is approximately 8 km long continuous strike with widths varying from 30 to 200 m, with some depositional areas much wider because of the presence of significant folds. Mineralization is oriented sub vertical to vertical with some holes having more than approximately 80 meters of mineralization. The ore body is open at depth and along strike. There is also the presence of disseminated mineralization in several of the channel samples taken from rock outcrops in the São Rubens target as well as in various road cuts throughout the region. São Manuel target shows foliated gneisses with Az 330°/ 90° to Az 350°/80° East strike. To the south, the bedding changes from being 90° to 65° East.
There are various secondary targets near the main target area that are also promising:
• Paula target is located to the east of property. It is characterized by banded and disseminated mineralization in the gneisses that strike Az 290°/ 90°. 49 rotary holes were drilled in this target intercepting a mineralized zone that is 490meters long and 20 meters wide with a general E-W strike. The samples display strong flakes with high carbon grade (but these samples have not been considered in the resource calculation because they presented a series of inconsistencies in their collection). This area was affected by post – mineralized faults.
• Luz target is located toward the west of Paula and is composed of graphitic gneisses with a N-S/60° E strike. This zone has been less explored.
• Altai target is located to the south west of Luz target and shows strong graphite mineralization with thick flakes. The zone has been less explored.
• Ida´s target is located towards the south of Altai and shows strong graphite mineralization and thick flakes striking N-S/90°. In this area 27 Rotary holes were drilled with 11 of them showing thick and medium flakes. These were not included in the resources because they were done during the earliest phase of exploration and were not subject to standardized sampling methods.
• Lucy target is located to the west of the San Manuel target. There are 47 Rotary Drilling holes in this area with three of them showing encouraging results: FTB-004 with 3.4 meters @ 4.67% Cg; FTB-005 with 6.2 meters @ 3.4% Cg and FTB-015 with 3 meters @ 3.42% Cg. These holes display thick to medium flakes. This target area is 900 meters long and 20 meters wide. It is located to the west of São Manuel.
• Gloria target is located between the San Manuel and the Lucy target with a 350°/90° strike. It appears to be part of the São Manuel´s antiform. The area is 280 m long by 25 m wide. The outcrops display thick flakes. The initial exploration results are encouraging but it is currently not part of the resource calculation.
• Other interesting targets are located towards the north of São Manuel and are hosted along the regional master fault. It is important to note that all these targets have positive exploratory holes with encouraging assay results demonstrating significant resource upside potential.
Summary:
The mining method selected for the Project is conventional open pit with excavator, dozer and haul trucks. Life of mine strip ratio is favorable at 1.27 tonnes of waste for each tonne of rock mined.
Operations for the Life of Mine (LOM) have been divided into following two phases:
- Phase 1 Pilot Plant Operations (5,000 tpy of concentrate);
- Phase 2 Operations (25,000 tpy of concentrate).
Grade control will be coordinated through a full-time grade control crew of technicians that will use channel samples taken at the pit face to identify the ore zones. When required, the grade control crew will execute drill holes at the mining faces to determine grade control parameters.
Excavators will load conventional on-road 25 ton trucks that will transport the ore to the plant ore stockpile area and the waste to the waste storage facilities (WSF). The WSFs will have adequately prepared areas, and wasterock will be disposed in a controlled manner (compacted along with installation of surface drainage and revegetation, etc.) to guarantee the long-term physical and chemical stability of the deposit and facilities.
Flow Sheet:
Crusher / Mill Type | Model | Size | Power | Quantity |
Jaw crusher
|
|
|
|
1
|
Ball mill
|
|
|
|
5
|
Rod mill
|
|
|
|
1
|
Processing
- Filter press plant
- Dry Screening
- Flotation
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
Based on the investigations, alternatives analyses and extensive testwork performed to date, the Project`s flowsheet can be detailed as follow:
1. Following primary jaw crushing and screening circuit, ROM is placed on a vibrating feeder where material is disaggregated to 6.25mm;
2. Material is milled in a rod mill to –2.00mm;
3. A wet screen separates material into two different circuits: +50 mesh & – 50mesh;
4. The +50 mesh circuit follows:
- Four successive series of grinding (using ball, steel shot and pebbles) + flotation;
- After 4th series and final cleaning flotation, a screen separates +30 mesh and +50 mesh to be filtered, dried and packaged;
- The under after the 4th series are directed to tailings reprocess tank, to be mixed with –50 mesh final tailings and reprocessed in the –50 mesh circuit for optimal recovery.
5. The –50 mesh circuit follows:
- Primary flotation, then (4) four series of grinding ( ........

Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | Avg. LOM |
Graphite
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 81.8 |
Graphite
|
Head Grade, %
| 2.37 |
Graphite
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| 95 |
Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | Avg. Annual | LOM |
Graphite
|
kt
| 25 | 231 |
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Stripping / waste ratio
| ......  |
Waste tonnes, LOM
| ......  |
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| ......  |
Annual production capacity
| ......  |
Tonnes processed, LOM
| ......  |
Annual processing rate
| ......  |
* According to 2020 study.
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Reserves at June 30, 2019:
Mineral Reserves are based on Mineral Resources (Published on July 8th, 2019) estimated using ordinary kriging method and a three-dimensional block model using a cutoff grade of 0.75% and 1% Cg, depending on the modeled zones.
Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Graphite |
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
3,989,635 t
|
Graphite
|
2.49 %
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
8,318,796 t
|
Graphite
|
2.35 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
12,308,431 t
|
Graphite
|
2.4 %
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
3,947,550 t
|
Graphite
|
2.4 %
|
95 t
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
10,955,570 t
|
Graphite
|
2.25 %
|
247 t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
14,903,100 t
|
Graphite
|
2.29 %
|
341 t
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
7,911,450 t
|
Graphite
|
2.32 %
|
184 t
|
Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
.......................
|
.......................
|
|
Mar 8, 2022
|
- Subscription is required.
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
Document | Year |
...................................
|
2021
|
...................................
|
2020
|
...................................
|
2020
|
...................................
|
2020
|
...................................
|
2019
|
Preliminary Economic Assessment
|
2018
|
- Subscription is required.
News:
News | Date |
South Star Battery Metals Announces Groundbreaking Ceremony for Start of Phase 1 Construction of the Santa Cruz Graphite Mine
|
May 18, 2022
|
South Star Battery Metals Announces US$28 Million Streaming Agreement with Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp for the Santa Cruz Graphite Project in Brazil
|
April 5, 2022
|
South Star Battery Metals Announces Approval of Final Exploration Reports of Santa Cruz Mine by Brazilian Mining Authority & 2022 Outlook
|
February 9, 2022
|
South Star Mining Announces the Selection of Final Design and Phase 1 Engineering Construction Support Team for the Santa Cruz Graphite Project
|
April 13, 2021
|
South Star Mining Announces Environmental Permitting Update for 25,000 tpy Phase 2 Plant Operations for the Santa Cruz Graphite Project
|
March 29, 2021
|
South Star Mining Announces Approval of the Mining License for the Santa Cruz Graphite Project
|
January 6, 2021
|
South Star Mining Files Positive Pre-Feasibility Study Results and Maiden Reserve Estimate for Santa Cruz Graphite Project
|
March 18, 2020
|
South Star Mining Files Updated Mineral Resource Report on Its Santa Cruz Graphite Project
|
August 14, 2019
|
South Star Mining Announces Updated Mineral Resource At Its Santa Cruz Graphite Project
|
July 8, 2019
|
South Star Mining Provides Update on the Pre-feasibility Study for its Santa Cruz Graphite Project
|
April 17, 2019
|
South Star Mining Targets Trial Mining License in Brazil
|
July 12, 2018
|
- Subscription is required.