Sugarloaf project funded by CRC grant

iTech Minerals (ASX:ITM) has received $1.1m in funding for the Sugarloaf battery anode material project in South Australia.

Of the grant, 46% will come from CRC-Projects and 54% will be funded by iTech and partners on an equal contribution basis.

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Projects Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community.

Initially, the grant will focus on the production of a high-grade graphite concentrate from Sugarloaf and then progress to purification and spheroidisation to produce uncoated purified spherical graphite.

iTech is also working with The Sustainable Minerals Processing Group at The Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia and metallurgical specialists, METS Engineering.

The Future Industries Institute will work towards developing an industry-focused solution to separation and concentration of fine microcrystalline while METS will collaborate with both parties to further develop the graphite concentration flowsheet at Sugarloaf and ensuring commercial viability.

This flowsheet will cover efficient recovery of microcrystalline flake graphite from ore, spheroidisation of the graphite for greater efficiency in battery use and purification to 99.95% graphite for lithium-ion batteries.

iTech managing director Mike Schwarz hopes the partnerships can unlock value for iTech and its projects.

“The simple flotation techniques for purifying the graphite at our nearby Campoona deposit has not been as effective at Sugarloaf due to the microcrystalline nature of the graphite flakes,” he said.

“iTech’s challenge is to refine this metallurgical process and produce a high-grade concentrate with good recoveries.

“We believe this new partnership with The Sustainable Minerals Processing Group at The Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia and metallurgical specialists at METS Engineering can crack the code and convert Sugarloaf graphite into the in-demand spherical graphite that is used in battery anodes, unlocking a significant amount of value for iTech’s shareholders.”