Cal Graphite prepares mill; Stewart Lake uncovers new zone

Two juniors exploring for graphite in Ontario report continued activity at their properties.

Cal Graphite (VSE) says its $1.1- million exploration program at Graphite Lake north of Huntsville is near completion. Work has begun on the building which will house the 5,000-ton-per-day mill; construction is scheduled for completion by late December, with equipment installation planned during the winter months. A start-up to the project could come as early as the spring.

While a 5,000-ton-per-day mill may seem like a large undertaking, President John Stirling told The Northern Miner his facility cannot be directly compared with a mill built for recovery of, say, gold. The Cal Graphite mill, for example, will have no cyanide circuits. The company describes the mill as having an uncomplicated recovery process incorporating autogenous rotary crushing and custom-designed vertical column flotation.

A summary of the most recent exploration results is being compiled; the company says proven and probable reserves are “virtually double” the drill-indicated 29.5 million tons averaging 2.42% graphitic carbon (fully diluted) reported in the October, 1986, feasibility study.

North of Kingston, in the eastern part of the province, Stewart Lake Resources (TSE) recently announced the discovery at its Kirkham property of a new zone which is located about 300 ft south of the main No 1 zone and accessible from existing underground workings.

One of the drill holes reported by the company intersected 33 ft of 9.4% graphitic carbon including 17.5 ft of 10.9%, while a second hole cut 20.5 ft of 11.5% including 10 ft of 13.7%.

The company says geophysical surveys indicate the discovery may be the faulted extension of the No 1 zone and that it persists for an additional 800-900 ft along strike. Drilling of the new and other zones continues with three rigs.