RE:RE:lets discuss some critcisms of ALP !Great response and due diligence "micromanager" ! it is indeed a pleasure to discuss facts.
regarding the metallurgical tests done on Coosa desposite's graphite, read this release please : https://alabamagraphite.com/news/alabama-graphite-reports-25-28-large-flake-from-initial-metallurgy-at-its-coosa-project-in-alabama-usa/
"Vancouver, BC / TNW-Accesswire / June 5, 2014 – Alabama Graphite Corp. (the “Company”) (TSXV: ALP) (OTCQB: ABGPF) (FRANKFURT: 1AG WKN: A1J35M) (ISIN# CA0102931080) is pleased to announce that it has received initial Metallurgical Scoping Level Evaluation of Graphite Composites from SGS Canada in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. Results from two drill core samples taken from the drill grid area and the northern fence yielded mass recoveries of 25% and 28% into the large (coarse) flake size category of greater than +80 mesh. In addition, initial simple flotation tests used to produce these initial concentrates had purities up to 93% C(t). A full process development study including grinding and flotation optimization is expected to yield noticeably higher purities, thus reducing the operating cost of a downstream mining process.
The Company is confident, from the results of this analysis, that as the project is advanced, a concentration of 95%+ C(t) purity will be achievable by means of simple flotation only without the use of environmentally damaging chemical processes. The majority of premium-priced graphite concentrates equal or exceed this 95% threshold in the larger flake sizes and presently is used to make spherical graphite for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries.
In addition, head grades of 3.21 % and 4.4 % C(g) were determined for these composite samples."
I am very concerned about this 93% purity figure. As you said one of the main problems of Flinders resources low price graphite is that they were competing with abundant cheap medium flakes 94% purity chinese graphite.
The chinese cost structure is unbeatable at 600$ per tonne (or maybe even lower). This means that even at depressed 700$ per tonne prices, they are still making profits. Compare that to the cost structure of flinders (700$ per tonne + at full production capacity) and you see the full picture. FDR was loosing money for each tonne they sold.
If by simple flotation ALP is only able to achieve 93% and by advancing the project (i guess multiple flotation circuits ?) they could achieve up to 95% I find this problematic, and I wish we get final transparent figures for purity levels at standard flotation circuits.
I wish ALP could clarify this issue or publish new metallurgical test results.
By comparison, look at Bama deposite's graphite impressive purity levels and flake distribution :<br /> <br />
https://alabamagraphite.com/news/alabama-graphite-reports-54-7-large-and-jumbo-flake-graphite-with-purities-ranging-from-96-3-to-98-5-at-its-bama-property-in-chilton-county-alabama-usa/<br /> <br /> "<br /> <br /> <br />
Vancouver, BC / TNW-Accesswire / September 24, 2014 – Alabama Graphite Corp. (“Alabama Graphite” or the “Company”) (TSXV:ALP) (OTCQX:ABGPF) (FRANKFURT: 1AG WKN: A1J35M) (ISIN# CA0102931080) is pleased to announce that it has received the first set of metallurgical results from SGS Laboratory in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada on sample material originating from the newly acquired Bama Property. Using only simple floatation (without chemical or thermal treatment) the Bama composite sample produced a graphite concentrate that contained an aggregate of 54.7% large flake (+80 mesh), of which 17.8% was in the jumbo flake (+48 mesh) category. For all size ranges coarser than +150 mesh the purity exceeded 96.3% with the jumbo flake fraction having a purity of 98.5% in Scoping Level Evaluations. Another notable characteristic is the sample’s low sulphur content at 0.02%."