Canada Carbon's Miller Graphite Meets International Purity Standard
of Equivalent Boron Content for Nuclear Graphite by Flotation
Concentration Alone
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jun 17, 2014) -
Canada Carbon Inc. (the "Company") (TSX-VENTURE:CCB) is pleased to
report the results of detailed elemental analysis (by
Glow-Discharge Mass-Spectrometry, "GD-MS") of its Miller
hydrothermal lump/vein graphite, which had previously assayed 100%
C(t) by SGS Canada Inc. Samples had been concentrated by means of
industry-standard flotation techniques by SGS, and had not been
exposed to either strong bases (used in caustic roasting) or strong
acids (used in acid-leach upgrading). Interpreted from the GD-MS
results, calculated purities of three different size fractions
ranged up to 99.90% C(t), on samples "as received" by the
laboratory. Following Rapid Thermal Upgrading, calculated purities
of the treated samples ranged up to 99.98% C(t). A total of six
separate GD-MS analyses were conducted and Equivalent Boron Content
("EBC") concentrations were determined for each, in accordance with
established methods (range 1.18-2.61 ppm). In every case, the EBC
values were well below the international standard for nuclear
graphite, set at 5 ppm. These results are summarized in the table
below.
Table 1: Summary Statistics Derived from GD-MS
SAMPLE |
PURITY C(t) %3 AS RECEIVED1 |
|
PURITY C(t) %3 AFTER RTU2 |
|
EBC(PPM)4 AS RECEIVED1 |
|
EBC(PPM)4 AFTER RTU2 |
+32 MESH |
99.78 |
|
99.83 |
|
2.18 |
|
2.61 |
+48 MESH |
99.75 |
|
99.90 |
|
1.72 |
|
1.63 |
+65 MESH |
99.90 |
|
99.98 |
|
1.18 |
|
1.35 |
- All samples had previously been reported by SGS to contain 100%
C(t), by Leco furnace, with IR detection. Samples were analyzed by
GD-MS "as received" by Evans Analytical Group, without further
processing.
- Following the initial GD-MS testing "as received", each sample
was exposed to Rapid Thermal Upgrading (RTU), (more fully described
below), before being reanalyzed by GD-MS.
- Purity C(t) % was calculated as "100% minus (sum of all
impurity concentrations (%))". In those instances in which the
GD-MS assay reported an element concentration as being below the
detection limit for this method, the detection limit concentration
was used in the calculation of total impurity content. For example,
in all assays, Cadmium was reported as "<1 ppm" concentration,
by weight. For the purposes of the purity calculation, Cadmium =
1ppm was used, as it is the most conservative approach to
interpreting the data. Therefore, the calculated graphite purity
values reported here are the minimum possible values which can be
derived from the data.
- Equivalent Boron Content (EBC), expressed as parts per million
(by weight) was calculated according to ASTM C1233-09. 'Nuclear
graphite' threshold is 5 ppm, by international agreement.
Rapid Thermal Upgrading, "RTU", had inconsistent effects on the
three graphite samples. This variability was primarily with respect
to Silicon, so the effect of RTU was calculated both including
Silicon, and excluding it. For each of the samples, the Silicon
concentration represented the majority of the total impurity burden
(range 150-2000 ppm, by weight; 0.015 to 0.20 %, by weight, of the
samples). As Silicon is commonly seen in hydrothermal systems as
its oxide, SiO2 (silica), it is possible that the graphite
particles were incompletely liberated from their hydrothermal
matrix by flotation concentration alone. Although chemically inert,
silica can be substantially removed using the caustic roast
process. There are therefore opportunities to further upgrade the
flotation concentrate without any requirement for acid leaching,
with its attendant environmental concerns. As shown in Table 2,
with Silicon excluded from consideration, the total impurity burden
for each sample was less than 100 ppm after RTU.
Table 2: Effect of Rapid Thermal Upgrading on Total Impurity
Content
|
TOTAL IMPURITY CONTENT (PPM)1 INCLUDING SILICON |
TOTAL IMPURITY CONTENT (PPM)1 EXCLUDING SILICON |
SAMPLE |
BEFORE RTU3 |
AFTER RTU3 |
% LOSS2 |
BEFORE RTU3 |
AFTER RTU3 |
% LOSS2 |
+32 MESH |
2213 |
1745 |
21 |
413 |
45 |
89 |
+48 MESH |
2464 |
971 |
61 |
464 |
71 |
85 |
+65 MESH |
951 |
243 |
74 |
251 |
93 |
63 |
- Parts per million, by weight. Impurity values are the sum of
all assayed values, rounded to the nearest whole number. In those
instances in which the GD-MS assay reported an element
concentration as being below the detection limit for this method,
the detection limit concentration was used in the calculation of
total impurity content. For example, in all assays, Cadmium was
reported as "<1 ppm" concentration, by weight; Cadmium = 1ppm
was used, as it is the most conservative approach to interpreting
the data. Therefore, the total impurity values reported here are
the maximum possible values which can be derived from the
data.
- Values calculated as weight ratios, and rounded to the nearest
whole number.
- RTU is Rapid Thermal Upgrading, more fully described
below.
The samples being reported on here derive from a 50 kg composite
sample of Miller graphite, which was the subject of a flotation
concentration flow-sheet optimization program being conducted by
SGS Canada Inc. The sample was composed of material collected from
the VN3 showing, and material found in stockpiles which are
believed to date back to the historic Miller mine operations, in
roughly equal amounts. The surface distance between the two
sampling sites is approximately 460 metres. The crushing and
screening of the 50 kg composite resulted in thorough
homogenization of the graphitic material, prior to the flotation
tests.
SGS has identified an opportunity that may increase the carbon
content of the +48 mesh and +32 mesh size fractions further through
an adjustment of the flotation circuit and conditions. This test
work is scheduled to be completed later this week and analytical
results are expected to be available within the following two
weeks.
Canada Carbon's Executive Chairman and CEO, Mr. R. Bruce Duncan,
commented, "We are very pleased to learn that this composite sample
with a surface distance of 460 metres between sampling sites on the
Miller Mine graphite property meets the equivalent boron content
nuclear purity standard by flotation concentration alone. The
results we report today re-affirm that the Miller hydrothermal
lump/vein graphite is nuclear grade material, as we first reported
on October 15, 2013. But what sets these new results apart from
that earlier work is that the nuclear purity threshold was achieved
without hydrometallurgical processing of any sort. Today, six
different tests confirm the purity of the Miller graphite."
Laboratory
Procedures
Glow-Discharge
Mass-Spectrometry (GD-MS)
Three samples of this high-purity material were submitted to
Evans Analytical Group, Liverpool NY (EAG-NY), where they were
prepared for chemical survey analysis by GD-MS. In this method, the
sample (graphite) is mounted as the cathode in the glow discharge
cell and analyzed directly. Argon is generally used as the
discharge (plasma) gas, which atomizes the sample. Atomized species
diffuse into the discharge plasma, where they are ionized. Carbon
ions together with analyte ions (deemed impurities, here) are then
extracted from the cell and accelerated into the mass analyzer for
detection. The plasma atomization process continues until a
sufficient mass of the sample has been atomized, to ensure that the
acquired results are representative of the analyzed sample. The
mass spectrometer determines the ion beam ratios of analyte ions
versus carbon ions, thereby identifying the elements present in the
sample, and their mass fractions. Reference sample analysis is used
to determine the relative sensitivity factors for each element,
which then determines the limits of detection for each element.
For the assay results reported here, larger samples were
submitted so that the assay protocol could be optimized for fast
flow GD-MS measurements, resulting in higher instrumental
sensitivity. Approximately 5g samples of Miller graphite were
pressed into self-supporting wafers without a binder. These samples
were then assayed by FF-GDMS "as received", and also after Rapid
Thermal Upgrading.
Rapid Thermal Upgrading
(RTU)
Rapid thermal upgrading is a method for quickly eliminating
heat-labile impurities from a graphite sample. The self-supporting
graphite wafers, described above, were submitted to GD-MS "as
received". The wafers were then subjected to RTU, as follows, then
re-submitted for GD-MS assay. Thermal treatment conditions were the
following: flowing helium atmosphere (100 mL/min); temperature
2000-2200 C.; duration 10 minutes. The equipment used was supplied
by Thermo Fisher Scientific, Model Element GD.
About Nuclear
Graphite
Production, dissemination and use of Nuclear Grade Graphite is
governed by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
to which the Government of Canada is a signatory. The definition of
Nuclear Grade Graphite requires that it have a purity level better
(less) than 5 parts per million 'boron equivalent'. In Canada, the
production, use and dissemination of Nuclear Grade Graphite is
subject to the requirements of the Nuclear Safety Control Act, the
Defence Production Act, the Export and Import Permits Act and
related regulations including the Controlled Goods Regulations.
The impurity concentrations obtained by GDMS were used to
calculate the Equivalent Boron Content (EBC) of the graphite, as
defined in ASTM Method C1233-09, "Standard Practice for Determining
Equivalent Boron Contents of Nuclear Materials", in conjunction
with ASTM Standard D7219-08, "Standard Specification for Isotropic
and Near-isotropic Nuclear Graphites", which lists the 16 elements
of concern with respect to the EBC criterion. EBC is a means of
estimating the potential for the impurities contained in the
graphite to absorb neutrons when exposed to the controlled neutron
flux within a nuclear reactor. Any impurities absorbing neutrons
would adversely affect the rate and the control of the nuclear
chain reaction.
EBC is calculated as the sum of the EBC of each impurity, such
that EBC (impurity) is equal to(EBC factor for impurity) multiplied
by (concentration of impurity (ppm)). Each EBC factor was obtained
from Table 1 of ASTM Method C1233-09. A number of contaminants of
concern were below the detection limit of the GDMS assay procedure,
so the concentration associated with each respective detection
limit was submitted for the calculation of the EBC of those
contaminants.
Although it is a critical variable, the EBC is only one of many
criteria which might determine the suitability of any graphite for
nuclear applications.
Qualified
Person
Mr. Oliver Peters, M.Sc., P.Eng, MBA, (Consulting Metallurgist
for SGS and Principal Metallurgist of Metpro Management Inc.) is an
Independent Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, and
has reviewed and approved the technical information provided in
this news release.
About Evans Analytical
Group
Evans Analytical Group (EAG) is the world's leading, fully
integrated, independent laboratory network, providing high value
expert analytical and testing services to a wide range of
industries and end users, including surface analysis, microscopy
and materials analysis to support high technology industries.
About ASTM
ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a globally recognized leader in
the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus
standards. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the
world to improve product quality, enhance safety, facilitate market
access and trade, and build consumer confidence.
About SGS Canada Inc.
(Lakefield, Ontario)
SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS") is recognized as a world leader in the
development of concentrator flowsheet design and pilot plant
testing programs. SGS Metallurgical Services division was founded
over half a century ago. Its metallurgists, hydro-metallurgists and
chemical engineers are experienced in all the major physical and
chemical separation processes utilized in the recovery of metals
and minerals contained in resource properties around the world.
About Canada Carbon
Inc.
Canada Carbon Inc. is engaged in the acquisition, exploration
and evaluation of mineral properties. The Company holds a 100 %
interest in four graphite properties located in Ontario and Québec,
including two past-producing graphite mines, the Miller and the
Asbury.
CANADA CARBON INC.
R. Bruce Duncan, CEO and Director
"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release."
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains
forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future
performance and reflect management's current expectations and
assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's
current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and
information currently available to the Company. Investors are
cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither
promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause future results to differ materially from those
expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
hereof and, except as required under applicable securities
legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update
or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the
forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified
by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings
with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com).
Corporate Video: www.canadacarbon.com/miller-video(604)
638-0971(604) 638-0973info@canadacarbon.com
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