Mining Intelligence and News
Namibia

Aukam Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeStockpile
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Graphite
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
SnapshotThe Aukam property covers a historical vein graphite mine that consists of five adits and an open pit, mined periodically between 1940 and 1974. Associated with the old workings are five surface stockpiles that still contain significant graphitic material.

On June 30, 2023, the Gratomic advised that commercial commissioning had begun at its Aukam graphite mine in Namibia.

As of November 2023:
* Existing onsite 7,200 tpa modular processing plant designed for expansion to 22,000 tpa of a high purity graphite concentrate.
* Gratomic has stockpiled year one production and is expected to be at 12,000 tonnes of production capacity by November 2024.
* 300 tonnes of graphite have been processed during the commercial commissioning phase, resulting in approx. 80t at 94% Cg.

Gratomic wishes to emphasize that no Preliminary Economic Analysis, Preliminary Feasibility Study or Feasibility Study has been completed to support any level of production.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Gratomic Inc. 100 % Indirect
The rights to explore and develop parts of the Aukam property, which are of primary interest, are owned by Gratomic Graphite Mining Namibia (Pty) Ltd.

Gratomic Inc. now hold a 100% interest in Gratomic Graphite Mining Namibia (Pty) Ltd.

The Aukam property is comprised of Mining License (ML) 215 (5,002 ha, in respect of base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals); and Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) 8746 (49,693 ha, in respect of base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals), which is pending an Environmental Clearance Certificate.

Deposit type

  • Vein / narrow vein
  • Hydrothermal

Summary:

The Aukam property is comprised of Mining License (ML) 215 (5,002 ha, in respect of base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals); and Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) 8746 (49,693 ha, in respect of base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals), which is pending an Environmental Clearance Certificate.

The Aukam graphite deposit has the characteristics of a vein-style graphite deposit. The graphite is predominantly concentrated in veins, with only minor disseminated graphite occurring in the host rock. It is believed that the graphite formed by precipitation from a CO2 – rich hydrothermal fluid channeled along the shear zone, and possibly related to an intrusion at depth.

The graphite in the Aukam area is hosted by altered Garub Sequence granite that is exposed in an erosional window in the Nama cover (Goldfields, 1987b). In the vicinity of the graphite occurrence, the granite is coarse grained, variably altered (see below) and generally shows a well-developed foliation with an easterly to south easterly trend and a south to southwest moderate to steep dip.

Schist and gneiss, both of which are quartz and biotite dominant, well foliated rocks, also occur in the vicinity of the graphite occurrence. The gneiss, which is distinctly banded, forms discrete positively weathered outcrops to the east and west of the main workings. Both lithologies appear to be intruded by the granite, primarily as narrow interfingering apophyses or dikes.

Late pegmatite veins, which are widespread in the area, cut the altered granite in places above the workings. Dolerite dikes also cross cut the granite in the vicinity of the graphite workings.

Alteration is most apparent in the granite and includes K-feldspar, sericite, epidote and kaolinite (de Kock, 1935, Goldfields 1987b). There appears to be a zonation of alteration of the granite from a general, widespread kaolinization over an area of at least 450m x 100m, within the shear zone, to intense epidotization in the immediate vicinity of the graphite veins and lenses. Hematite –limonite is also often found closely associated with the graphite mineralization, typically adjacent to the massive lenses as a halo and as stockwork type veins in places. Local concentrations of red/pink garnet also occur in the granite.

Mineralization
Graphite mineralization at Aukam occurs as massive lenses and veins, and as disseminated patches mostly associated with strong alteration. It is hosted by an east-west trending shear zone traceable on surface for about 400 metres along with mapping indicating the mineralization may extend for four kilometres.

Alteration and mineralized are believed to be caused by CO2-rich fluids channeled by the shear zone (Goldfields 1987b). De Kock (1935) speculates that the graphite was introduced into fissures and fractures by hydrothermal solutions subsequent to the intrusion of the granite since the granite is strongly altered in the presence of graphite. This suggests a hydrothermal fluid responsible for the alteration of the granite and the precipitation of graphite, possibly due to a redox reaction with iron oxides hematite and limonite that often accompany significant occurrences of graphite.

Goldfields (1987b) suggested that the hydrothermal fluids may be related to an intrusive at depth to the east of the deposit along the extension of the shear zone. The presence of a strong magnetic anomaly is given as evidence of the intrusive.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

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