Great Lakes Graphite Receives Metallurgical Test Results – Large Flake Particle – Size Distribution in Concentrate Produced from Bulk Sample

September 18, 2014 8:43 AM EDT | Source: Great Lakes Graphite Inc.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 18, 2014) - Great Lakes Graphite Inc. (TSXV: GLK) ("Great Lakes" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that preliminary metallurgical testing of graphite samples from the Company's Lochaber Graphite Project in southwestern Québec has demonstrated that a graphite concentrate containing over 57% large flakes (+70 mesh or >180 microns) can be produced from that material. In addition over 45% of the concentrate was classified as jumbo flake (+50 mesh or >300 microns). This represents an exceptional size distribution and the potential for a graphite product that typically attracts a premium price based on the size of the flake. These results confirm the outcome of previous testing carried out on diamond drill core samples by Rock Tech Lithium Inc. in 2013. This testing has also validated the performance of a new process flow sheet that can be incorporated into future economic and feasibility studies to be commissioned by the Company.

The Particle-Size Distribution Analysis was done by Process Research ORTECH Inc. ("PRO") of Mississauga, ON on composite material taken from a bulk sample acquired in August (see news release dated August 27, 2014). The material for this initial sample was visually selected from waste piles at the historical Plumbago Mine site, located on the Lochaber property, with the objective of retrieving high-grade material to be used for the initial metallurgical testing; this material is not intended to be broadly representative of the mineralization that is the target of the ongoing exploration work on the property. The test produced six final concentrates that showed a consistent flake-size distribution and a flake-size distribution of 57.6% greater than 70 mesh; this is the industry-standard premium product. A summary of the overall distribution of particle sizes is as follows:

 Graphite Class Mesh Microns Percentage
 Super Jumbo Flake / XXL +30 mesh >500 microns 1.44%
 Jumbo Flake / XL -30 to +50 mesh >300 microns 44.00%
 Large Flake -50 to +70 mesh >180 microns 12.20%
 Medium Flake -70 to +100 mesh >100 microns 13.60%
 Fine Flake -100 to +140 mesh >106 microns 7.70%
 Powder - 140 mesh <106 micron 21.10%
 Total Large, Jumbo and Super Jumbo     57.60%
       

John Carter, Great Lakes' Senior VP, commented: "Our ability to produce large-flake concentrates from flotation alone, without chemical or thermal treatment, is another factor that makes the Lochaber property potentially a commercially viable opportunity. Test results confirm that the Project will produce large-flake graphite at a very high percentage and could potentially be used to produce high-value spherical graphite for use in Li-ion batteries."

Test work at PRO has been ongoing for the last few months and will culminate in a pilot-plant program that will start in October. The pilot plant will be designed to further confirm the process flow sheet and will optimize its operating parameters. Further results including optical microscopy and SEM studies and geochemical analyses of the graphite concentrates are anticipated within five to six weeks.

Resource Estimate Update

Great Lakes is continuing to work toward the completion of a National Instrument (NI) 43-101-compliant resource estimate on the Lochaber Graphite Project as announced on August 5, 2014. Four target areas on the property have been recommended to the Company for diamond drilling to supplement the resource estimate in progress. The Company plans to initiate a program of 1,000 m of drilling in eight drill holes in these areas as part of this program. No further permitting is required and the drill program will commence immediately upon obtaining landowner consents.

John M. Siriunas, P.Eng, VP of Exploration for the Company and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.

About Great Lakes Graphite: Great Lakes Graphite Inc. is an industrial minerals company with the mandate to bring graphite projects to production through the acquisition and development of high quality graphite flake properties. Graphite has moved to the forefront of the Industrial Mineral World as a Critical Mineral required for industrial use and as a major component in the development of new technologies particularly with the advancement of battery storage, mobile battery systems and alternative energy infrastructure.

As there are currently no graphite mines producing in North America, Great Lakes Graphite has the ability to become one of the first producers to supply a growing regional customer base that requires high quality flake graphite, where pricing and demand continue to rise.

The Company, through strategic acquisitions and capable management intends to become a leader in the industrial minerals marketplace. The Company's graphite properties are located in the Buckingham and Lochaber Townships of southwestern Québec. The Company has also entered into option and joint venture agreements with Eloro Resources Inc. on the Summit-Gaber property located in the La Grande Greenstone Belt in the James Bay region of Québec. Further information regarding Great Lakes can be found on the Company's website at: www.GreatLakesGraphite.com.

Great Lakes Graphite trades with symbol GLK on the TSX Venture Exchange and currently has 60,764,819 shares outstanding (90,699,322 fully diluted).

For more information, please contact:

Paul A. Gorman, CEO First Canadian Capital Corp.
Great Lakes Graphite Inc. Tel: 416-742-5600
Tel: 416-768-6101 Toll-free: 1-866-580-8891
Email: pgorman@GreatLakesGraphite.com Email: info@FirstCanadianCapital.com
www.GreatLakesGraphite.com www.FirstCanadianCapital.com
   

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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