Senior resource geologist Grant Louw will speak at The Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) one day lithium and graphite seminar on 15 August 2016 at Burswood on Swan in Perth, Western Australia on “Common Pitfalls in Graphite Mineral Resource Estimates”.
Abstract:
Common pitfalls include inadequate metallurgical knowledge, incorrect mineralisation domaining, inappropriate assay methodology, unreliable density measurements and these pitfalls result in inappropriate classification of graphite Mineral Resources under the requirements of the JORC code.
Knowledge of the likely product specifications from appropriate metallurgical testing is fundamental to the classification of an Industrial (graphite) Mineral Resource. For graphite Mineral Resource estimation one of the most common pitfalls is the lack of adequate consideration of the requirements of the JORC code, primarily Clause 49 which relates to product specifications.
Clause 49 states: “For minerals that are defined by a specification, the Mineral Resource or Ore Reserve estimation must be reported in terms of the mineral or minerals on which the project is based and must include the specification of those minerals.”
Mineralisation zone domaining based solely on grade, as is common for metals, is not appropriate for graphite. More typically, consideration of the in-situ flake qualities and liberation characteristics are also required for the correct domaining of the mineralisation.
Analysis for total graphitic carbon should be by the appropriate method to ensure that carbon in other forms such as organic carbon and carbonate minerals is not part of the total graphitic carbon grade estimate.
As for all Mineral Resources the density needs to be properly and representatively measured and assigned for all domains and oxidation states.
Classification of graphite Mineral Resources must be based on the quality of information and level of knowledge and understanding of the geological and quality (metallurgical) continuity
For more information on how to register, click here.
CSA Global is a proud sponsor of AIG’s Lithium & Graphite Seminar 2016.
About the presenter:
Grant Louw
BSc (Hons), MAIG, MGSSA
Grant is a senior resource geologist with more than 16 years’ experience in mining and resource geology. He has extensive experience in modelling and mineral resource estimation for graphite, gold, base metals and iron amongst other commodities. He has gained experience in underground mapping, grade control, borehole layouts, core logging, reserve calculations and development planning while working as a mine geologist. Grant is adept across Datamine, GeoAccess, Supervisor and Isatis applications and has completed mineral resource estimates for many projects. He has worked on projects in countries, including Australia, South Africa, Philippines and Guinea. Grant has previously co-presented with CSA Global colleagues on “Density, Neglected but Essential; The poor orphan in mineral resource estimation” for MEGWA. He has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Earth Sciences and is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Geological Society of South Africa.
