RE:Grade?I came across some ballpark numbers recently, but can't recall the specifics and I don't want to toss around potentially inaccurate information. For what it's worth, my mental take-away echoes what Salty just wrote a few minutes ago.
I think the hydrometallurgical purification cost is also dependent upon the graphitic content after grinding and flotation ... but frankly I would appreciate a second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) opinion to confirm that I've interpreted the news releases correctly.
Assuming my interpretation is correct, the latter point is significant because CCB has issued at least two press releases regarding purification.
You've cited the July 23rd NR (hydrometallurgical purification):
https://web.tmxmoney.com/article.php?newsid=61560410&qm_symbol=CCB
There is also an August 20th NR that describes an optimized ("modified protocol") "pre-leach" floation process which yielded a significantly higher graphitic content.
https://web.tmxmoney.com/article.php?newsid=62169830&qm_symbol=CCB
Key except:
R. Bruce Duncan, CEO & Director of Canada Carbon stated, "We have demonstrated that Miller graphite is very amenable to purification by producing a pre-leach concentrate of very high quality. This should certainly have a positive impact on the economics of a purification circuit."
So if I am connecting the dots here ... I believe the second news release suggests that the cost of acid leaching may be significantly reduced.
Disclaimer: as stated above, this is just my interpretation. Do your own due diligence.