NGC Evilballs loves to compare us to NGC. Well, let's compare:
Here are some statements from their BFS and othe NRs:
Based on pilot-plant results, the FS assumes that production will consist of 18 per cent plus-32 mesh at 95.1 per cent C, 31 per cent plus-50 mesh at 95.1 per cent C, 28.2 per cent plus-80 mesh at 94.5 per cent C, 5 per cent plus-100 mesh at 97.3 per cent C, 7 per cent plus-150 mesh at 98 per cent C and 11 per cent minus-150 mesh at 92.7 per cent carbon.
So, depending on flake size, they are getting different grades. Ours has demonstrated that which ever part of our deposit you use, it all comes up with 99.97+.
The Northern samples were derived from flotation concentrate produced from the Bissett Creek project and they were micronized and rounded at commercial facilities in the United States and Japan. Northern has achieved spherical graphite yields of up to 70 per cent on rounding when starting with its large flake. Almost all non-synthetic spherical graphite is made from small minus-100 mesh flake in China, and yields are only about 30 per cent. Different size fractions were produced for testing and they were purified both by Northern's proprietary process and by a commercial industry process.
Mill recovery 94.7% (years 3 to 23)
The price of chasing spherical:
So, at this point, they are losing 5.3% right from the top. Then when using only their large flake product, from above 18+31+28.2=77.8%, they are losing another 22.2%. And then their best results yields 70% on rounding (lmao) so losing another 30% minimum.
So assuming everything goes right, their 100 tons of graphite will yield 100*0.947*0.778*0.3= 51.6tons a loss of half their graphite.
Now, how about their costs:
First, mining costs and purifying to 94.7%
per tonne of concentrate) 968 (mine life)
Mining costs ($ per tonne of
And then their cost to make this product spherical:
Almost all natural spherical graphite is currently produced in China and purified using strong acids which results in large volumes of acidic and toxic waste. Thermal purification at temperatures as high as 2,400 C can be used but it is expensive in terms of capital and operating costs. The proprietary purification technology developed by Northern and its metallurgical research partners is much more environmentally friendly than the Chinese approach and operates at significantly lower temperatures than traditional thermal methods. It also involves relatively low retention times in the furnace and will likely be a continuous rather than a batch process. As a result, costs should be significantly lower.
So no real numbers yet and cheaper then China so they say but still extra process and costs. Now, add this statement from NGC: NRC has recommended continued testing of two or three select samples, experimentation with different formulations, and, in particular, developing and testing a coating procedure that will likely improve performance.
So, apparently not all their graphite is suitable here and they have to have select samples.
So in the end, their quest for spherical proves that this is where the big money is. Why else would they go thru all this work! They are willing to sacrafice half their graphite and incure extra costs for the spherical market.
We have it right out of the ground. Our cost will be around $600, no extra processing to turn it into spherical as it already has those qualities. Our purification to higher grades is included and reliable as we do not depend on flake size which yields various purities.
Thanks Evilballs for getting me to look into this, just keeps confirming how great Zenyatta is!
Cheers!
Glorieux