Overview
Stage | Permitting |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Mine Life | 26 years (as of Jan 1, 2022) |
Black Rock Mining Limited has an 84% interest in the world-class Mahenge Graphite Project (Mahenge) located in Tanzania. In October 2018, the Company released a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for Mahenge. This was enhanced (eDFS) in July 2019. Black Rock has obtained all Environmental approvals, Mining Licences and its Resettlement Action Plan with clear title to the eDFS project area.
In December 2021, Black Rock signed a Framework Agreement with the Government of Tanzania confirming a 16% Free Carried Interest shareholding, agreed to consolidate its Mining Licenses into a Special Mining Licence (SML). The SML for Mahenge was issued in September 2022. The Company is now construction-ready subject to financing. Black Rock completed a FEED process in September 2022, re-estimating the capital and operating costs for Mahenge as part of the eDFS Update. The eDFS Update confirmed Mahenge as a robust project with attractive returns. |
Latest News | Black Rock receives loan approval from The Development Bank of Southern Africa November 2, 2023 |
Source:
p. 57
At the signing ceremony held on 13th December 2021, attended by the President of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Minister of Minerals Hon. Doto Biteko (MP) signed the Agreement with Black Rock, confirming the Government’s commitment to jointly develop the Mahenge Graphite Mine. Under the Agreement, the following structure has been agreed: • A Joint Venture (JV) Company, Faru Graphite Corporation (Faru), has been established to develop the Mahenge Graphite Mine. The Tanzanian Government will own a 16% undiluted free-carried interest shareholding in Faru, with 84% owned by Black Rock via its wholly owned UK subsidiary company, Mahenge Resources Limited; • A Special Mining Licence (SML) will be granted to unify existing Mining Licences ML 611/2019 and ML 612/2019 and a part of Prospecting Licence PL 13752/2019; • Existing approved Environmental Permits and Resettlement Action Plans granted to ML’s 611 and 612 will be grandfathered to the SML.
Contractors
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Summary:
The Project is located within the rocks of the Proterozoic Mozambique Orogenic Belt that extends throughout eastern Africa. It consists of high-grade mid-crustal rocks with a Neoproterozoic metamorphic overprint. The Mozambique Belt is divided into the Western Granulite and the Eastern Granulite. The two granulites are separated by flat-lying thrust zones and younger sedimentary basins of the Karoo.
The belt has undergone granulite phase metamorphism that has been subsequently retrograded to upper amphibolite facies. Structurally, the Mahenge region has undergone intense deformation forming a tight poly-phase sequence of marble, mafic and felsic gneisses and graphitic schists as part of the km-scale Mahenge Synform. The Mineral Resources are located on the western flank of the synform where the bedding and foliation dip between 60° and 80° towards the east. The units typically strike to the north and rotate to the northeast as they wrap around the fold nose.
The deposit type is described as schist hosted flaky graphite. The mineralisation is hosted within upper amphibolite facies gneiss of the Mozambique Mobile Belt.
Over 95% of the exposures within the tenement comprise 3 main rock types that include alternating sequences of:
• Graphitic schist – feldspar and quartz rich varieties.
• Marble and, • Biotite and hornblende granulites.
• Less common rock types include quartzite.
Dimensions
The modelled mineralize ........

Summary:
The Project will be an open pit mining operation based on mining the Ulanzi, Cascade and Epanko deposits using a conventional truck and shovel operation. Mining commences at Ulanzi in Year 0 followed by Cascade in Year 2. In the early periods, widely available 20-tonne (t) rear tipper trucks will be matched to 45 t class excavators for site establishment and pioneering works. After Year 1, once sufficient workspace is established, and pit development has matured, the mining fleet will be upgraded to a larger 50 t class articulated dump trucks and 90 t class excavators to increase mine productivity and attain economies of scale. In additional to mining, the mining fleet will be required to undertake mill residue handling and ore stockpile rehandling activities on a campaign and as required basis.
An owner operator mining approach including drill and blast and pit dewatering, is adopted for the LOM study. Blast consumables will be sourced from a reliable and reputable supplier. Mine assay samples will be sent to the onsite laboratory for analysis and enable a quick turnaround for results. This follows the outcome of a vendor capability and capacity study conducted for a range of equipment suppliers and service providers during the DFS.
Initial waste rock generated from pre-stripping and mining is to be used for constructing key infrastructure such as upgrading the haul road to the Ulanzi processing plant, run of mine (ROM) pad construction, causeway constr ........

Source:
Flow Sheet:
Summary:

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Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | Avg. Annual | LOM |
Graphite
|
kt
| 347 | 7,400 |
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Annual processing capacity
| ......  |
Stripping / waste ratio
| ......  |
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| ......  |
Tonnes processed, LOM
| ......  |
* According to 2022 study.
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Reserves at February 3, 2022:
Mineral Resources grade envelopes have been wireframed to an approximate 4 to 5% TGC cut-off allowing for continuity of the mineralised zones.
Ore Reserves: The mine plan adopted a processing plant feed grade of 8.75% Total Graphitic Carbon (TGC). To achieve this target, cut-off grades of 7.0% TGC were applied for Ulanzi and Epanko North and 3.8% TGC for Cascades.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Probable
|
70.5 Mt
|
Total Graphitic Carbon
|
8.5 %
|
6 Mt
|
Measured
|
31.8 Mt
|
Total Graphitic Carbon
|
8.6 %
|
2.7 Mt
|
Indicated
|
84.6 Mt
|
Total Graphitic Carbon
|
7.8 %
|
6.6 Mt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
116.4 Mt
|
Total Graphitic Carbon
|
8 %
|
9.3 Mt
|
Inferred
|
96.7 Mt
|
Total Graphitic Carbon
|
7.4 %
|
7.2 Mt
|
Total Resource
|
213.1 Mt
|
Total Graphitic Carbon
|
7.8 %
|
16.6 Mt
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | Average |
All-in sustaining costs (AISC)
|
Graphite
|
USD
|
......
|
C1 cash costs
|
Graphite
|
USD
|
......
|
Assumed price
|
Graphite
|
USD
|
......
|
* According to 2022 study / presentation.
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2022 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :
Metrics | Units | LOM Total |
Initial CapEx
|
$M USD
|
......
|
Net revenue (LOM)
|
$M USD
|
......
|
EBITDA (LOM)
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax NPV @ 10%
|
$M USD
|
......
|
After-tax IRR, %
|
|
......
|
After-tax payback period, years
|
|
......
|
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Source:

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Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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News:
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