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MODERN MINING
November 2015
MINING News
Next Graphite, Inc, a graphite exploration/
development stage company operating
in Namibia, says it has prepared a 1 000 kg
sample from one of the lower adits on
its Aukam property in the south of the
country. This most recent round of test
ing and grading has been funded by the
company’s joint venture with Caribou King
Resources.
The test samples were taken as part of a
25 Mt bulk sampling programme from the
lower adit at the Aukam project. According
Funding secured for phosphate project studies
Montero Mining and Exploration’s funding
partner, Ovation Capital, has committed to
expenditures of approximately C$2,7 mil
lion (before VAT) to acquire a 10 % interest
in Montero’s Duyker Eiland phosphate proj
ect, located 30 km north of Saldanha Bay.
On March 2, 2015, Montero – listed on
the TSX-V – entered into an agreement
whereby Ovation could earn a 10 % interest
in the project at asset level by complet
ing a Pre-Feasibility Study and a further
20 % interest by completing a Bankable
Feasibility Study.
Comments Dr Tony Harwood, President
and CEO of Montero: “Ovation is providing
approximately C$2,7 million in funding to
advance Montero’s Duyker Eiland phos
phate project. DRA, Outotec and the Sebata
Group have been retained to complete Pre-
feasibility, Opportunity and Environment
studies with a view to establishing the
costs of developing a rock phosphate mine
and fertiliser operation. Ovation is also
committed to funding other phosphate
opportunities identified by Montero in the
region.”
The Opportunity Study Report to be
undertaken by Outotec will examine inte
grated Sulphuric acid, Phosphoric acid and
Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)/Mono
Ammonium Phosphate (MAP) fertiliser
plants, inclusive of associated utilities, infra
structure and off-sites. Further to this, the
possibility of producing second phase Lime
Ammonium Nitrate (LAN), urea and other
downstream products will be assessed
depending on market study results and nat
ural gas feed possibilities. Outotec will work
with the leading French fertiliser consulting
company, Sofreco, on the study.
Transaction agreements have been signed
for the black-owned Masimong Group
– which is led by SA Chamber of Mines
President Mike Teke – to acquire a 51 %
interest in the Liviero Group, South Africa’s
largest privately owned construction, civil
engineering and contract mining business,
for an undisclosed sum.
Teke, who is Chairman of the Masimong
Group, says the deal remains conditional
on the receipt of Competition Commission
approval only. Commenting on Masi
mong’s rationale for this transaction, he
states: “Our acquisition of a controlling
share in Liviero gives us direct exposure
to a well-established business that has the
size and scale to play a key role in critical
growth sectors of the South African econ
omy. It also supports our strategic goal to
become a major black industrial player in
South Africa.”
Liviero Group CEO Neil Cloete says the
agreement represents the beginning of an
Masimong Group to acquire majority stake in Liviero
Liviero Group Chairman Luca Liviero (left) and Mike Teke,
Chairman of the Masimong Group, which is to acquire
a controlling interest in multi-disciplinary contractor
Liviero.
exciting new era for the 31-year-old Liviero
Group. “With Masimong’s acquisition of a
majority stake in Liviero, the company will
become the country’s largest black-con
trolled multi-disciplinary contractor,” he
states. “Masimong brings varied expertise,
energy, opportunities and a compelling
shared vision to take the Liviero Group
to the next level. Along with enhanced
opportunities to contribute to crucial
infrastructure development projects, and
the achievement of South Africa’s eco
nomic and social development goals, we
will enjoy a stronger and more sustainable
position in the market, for the benefit of all
of our stakeholders, including our employ
ees, clients, suppliers and unions.”
to Next Graphite, these samples are
believed to be representative of the prod
uct found throughout the underground
adit. Samples will be delivered to Lilhof
Enterprises, formerly Gecko Laboratories
of Swakopmund, Namibia, for testing and
grading.
The specific methods used by Lilhof
to test the samples include: crushing and
grinding to 218 microns; dual flotation;
and drying and particle size analysis.
The lab will prepare 80 kg of processed
graphite which Next Graphite and Caribou
King Resources will distribute to cus
tomers for their testing of the graphitic
product and validation for use in their
manufacturing applications. Results from
this customer review process are expected
to provide details of additional processing
required, if any, specific to their manufac
turing requirements.
Additional tests will also be conducted
on 84 subsamples to provide an accurate
assessment of the purity and grade of
graphite from the lower adit, one of three
existing adits on Next Graphite’s Aukam
property. The property’s adits were mined
periodically between 1940 and 1974
and produced a recorded total of 26 740
tonnes of lump graphite. The high-quality,
vein-type graphite (also known as lump
graphite) is hosted within a shear zone
in which underground mine workings
show well mineralised structures that are
believed to continue down-dip.
Sample extracted from graphite mine