27 September 2016
ASX:TLG
Phase 2 Graphene Plant Commissioning Complete
Talga Resources Ltd
ABN 32 138 405 419
1st Floor, 2 Richardson St, West Perth, WA 6005
T: +61 8 9481 6667
F: +61 8 9322 1935
www.talgaresources.com
Corporate Information
ASX Code TLG, TLGOA
Shares on issue 181.9m Options (listed) 44.9m Options (unlisted) 36.2m
Company Directors
Keith Coughlan
Non-Executive Chairman
Mark Thompson
Managing Director
Grant Mooney
Non-Executive Director
Stephen Lowe
Page 1
Non-Executive Director
• All stages of Phase 2 graphene pilot test plant successfully commissioned
• New recovery and upgrading circuits installed and successfully tested
• High quality graphene output confirmed
• Approximately 76% of graphite converted to graphene
• Capacity scale up continues and provides growing inventory for 'products' strategy
Advanced materials company, Talga Resources Ltd ("Talga" or "the Company")(ASX: TLG), is pleased to announce that commissioning of all stages of the Phase 2 German pilot test facility has successfully been completed.
As per Talga's previous processing update (ASX:TLG 6th April 2016), a combination of Phase 1 and 2 ore exfoliation cells, along with new recovery and upgrading equipment, have been undergoing performance testing. All Phase 2 circuit stages are now operating and evaluation of output confirms the high quality of graphene and micro graphite material. In particular, Talga's graphene is verified by multiple industry measures including Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy ("HRTEM") and atomic-force microscopy ("AFM") (Fig 1-3).
Talga has made significant advances with respect to recovery of saleable graphene products, particularly few layered graphene ("FLG") and graphene nanoplatelets ("GNP"). The recovery and upgrading circuits introduce novel technology for the continuous collection and concentration of the exfoliated graphene and graphite. In addition, the Company is utilising 100% of its ore (including non-carbon minerals) across a range of targeted products.
Figure 1 Sheets of Talga few layer graphene ("FLG") (left) and individual atom- thick layers visible along edge of graphene sheet (right). HRTEM data.
The pilot test plant is currently configured so that approximately 76% of the input graphitic carbon reports to graphene products (FLG and GNP) and the remaining carbon reports to Talga's building sector (micrographite) products. The final configuration will be subject to process optimisation during the Prefeasibility Study.
The Phase 2 plant capacity for ore treatment is approximately 30 tonnes per year from a single modular exfoliation platform consisting of several Phase 2 and 1 exfoliation cells. Further platform modules are being considered and construction of these could take place in parallel to the design and testing of larger equipment for a final Phase 3 plant.
Commissioning of Phase 2 supports Talga's recently announced ' products' strategy (ASX:TLG 19th July 2016) as the Company now has the ability to consistently manufacture graphene and micrographite (from various stages of the process circuit) for a range of targeted products. Inputs can be supplied as raw materials to end users (i.e. conductive additives), or used by Talga to prepare value added products such as metal pre-treatment coatings, conductive inks, cement additives, battery components and membranes.
Figure 2 Raman spectroscopy data showing Talga's high quality few layer graphene indicated by the very symmetrical 2D peak centred at 2692 cm-1 plus higher 2D peak intensity compared to the G peak.
Figure 3 Talga graphene AFM data. The physical profile measured matches few layer graphene.
Talga Resources Managing Director Mark Thompson says "The conclusion of Phase 2 commissioning represents a significant milestone for Talga and I congratulate all our employees who worked hard towards this outcome. In particular the large graphene yield and ability to use all parts of the ore in different products is a significant development, especially considering the scale of our JORC compliant resource1.
With commissioning behind us, the focus now is on optimisation and product development test work with our growing range of partners to enable further commercial agreements in the short term".
Background
Talga, through its wholly owned German subsidiary, Talga Advanced Materials GmbH, has built a pilot test work facility and a technical team in Rudolstadt Germany. Source material from trial graphite mining in Sweden is feeding scale up test work on what is a world's first processing technique for the bulk production of graphene and related advanced materials. Test work is providing the data to support successive plant scale up designs and also provides samples for distribution to partners for industrial validation leading to commercial agreements.
For further information, visit www.talgaresources.com or contact: Mark Thompson Jeremy McManus
Managing Director Commercial Manager
Talga Resources Ltd Talga Resources Ltd
T: + 61 (08) 9481 6667 T: + 61 (08) 9481 6667
Testwork and quality control work in Talga's lab at Rudolstadt, Germany.
Reference 1 - Nunasvaara JORC 2012 Mineral Resource (10% Cg low cut-off, May 2016).
|
Resource Category
|
Tonnes
|
Graphite (%Cg)
|
Contained Graphite (Tonnes)
|
|
Indicated
|
6,900,000
|
24.2
|
1,669,800
|
|
Inferred
|
2,900,000
|
28.1
|
814,900
|
|
Total
|
9,800,000
|
25.3
|
2,403,500
|
Competent Person's Statement
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results and Exploration Targets is based on information compiled and reviewed by Mr Simon Coxhell, a consultant to the Company and a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Mr Mark Thompson, who is an employee of the Company and a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Thompson and Mr Coxhell have sufficient experience which is relevant to the activity which is being undertaken to qualify as a "Competent Person" as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" ("JORC Code"). Mr Thompson and Mr Coxhell consent to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears.
The information in this report that relates to Resource Estimation is based on information compiled and reviewed by Mr Simon Coxhell. Mr Coxhell is a consultant to the Company and a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Coxhell has sufficient experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation and types of deposits which are covered in this document and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" ("JORC Code"). Mr Coxhell consents to the inclusion in this report of the Matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears.
About Talga
Talga Resources Ltd ("Talga") (ASX: TLG) is an advanced material minerals company developing graphene and micrographite products for the coatings, energy storage, construction products and composites markets. Talga products have significant potential advantages in performance, value and application owing to unique ore and patent pending process technology.
Talga sources graphite ore from its 100% owned deposits in Sweden, with pilot test processing at the Company's pilot test facility in Germany. Collaborative testing is underway with a range of corporations including industrial conglomerate Tata, Jena Batteries and UK listed Haydale.