Higher recovery rates boost Sarytogan Graphite Kazakh graphite marketability
- Doug Bright
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Sarytogan Graphite (ASX: SGA) has obtained better than 90 per cent concentrate grade in early metallurgical variability testwork on samples from its Central graphite zone at the company’s Sarytogan graphite project in central Kazakhstan.
Sarytogan has previously reported flotation test recoveries on composite samples from the Northern and Central graphite zones, ranging from 81 per cent to 85 per cent total graphitic carbon (TGC).
Using the same test conditions from the 2023 bulk flotation test, concentrate grades in its initial variability testing ranged from 90.5 per cent to 91.3 per cent TGC at higher recoveries of 84.7 per cent to 86.8 per cent in the three Central zone samples.
This was significantly higher than the 87.2 per cent TGC at 84.5 per cent recovery from the project’s Northern zone.
Sarytogan says the finding will improve the marketability of its branded Micro80C concentrate.
Representative samples from a 2022 drilling program at the Central zone were available for balanced 50/50 composites of both tested zones and enabled appropriate comparisons.
The company knew when it completed its pre-feasibility study in 2024 that the mine schedule would optimally start with Central zone ore. It will continue to produce ore from the zone for at least the first 25 years of the mine plan.
The achievement of greater than 90% TGC in flotation concentrate from the CGZ is a great achievement. The higher grade is expected to open this product to a broader market and potentially higher prices. These improvements will be validated with further tests for integration into the definitive feasibility study underway.
Sarytogan Graphite Managing Director Sean Gregory
The company says results from the Northern and Central zone samples vary due to their different mineralogy.
Microphotographs of thin sections show the Central zone graphite also has significant haematite (iron oxide) alteration, attributed to a nearby granitic intrusive on its northern side. The intrusive area is believed to have contributed to a higher degree of “graphitisation” of the Central ore by the heat and fluids.
Sarytogan plans to continue its variability testing. Meanwhile, 700 kilograms of milled Central zone graphite is being prepared for flotation to generate samples for customer testing.
The company has two drill rigs engaged in reserves definition drilling on site to ensure its definitive feasibility study remains on track for completion by mid-2026.
A JORC 2012-compliant indicated and inferred mineral resource was delivered in 2023 by AMC Consultants totalling 229 million tonnes at a grade of 28.9 per cent TGC.
In 2024, the company delivered a JORC 2012-compliant estimated ore reserve of 8.6 million dry tonnes at a grade of 30.0 per cent TGC for a total contained TGC mass in concentrate of 2.16Mt.
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