GLOBAL NEWS •
GAF has taken great care to ensure that the new platform , a webbased system , is easy to access and use , so that the detection of illegal ASM and the taking of relevant actions can be facilitated and accelerated . The system has now been validated and demonstrated in the tropical forests of the Guiana Shield in Venezuela , which are part of the largest mega biodiversity area in Amazonia .
The negative effects of uncontrolled ASM include harming the environment , polluting water resources , destroying the livelihood of local communities and causing social conflict . Most importantly , the frequent practise of using mercury or cyanide during gold processing poses a serious health threat .
The platform ’ s very-high-resolution ( VHR ) satellite imagery can show full details and thus allows verification and validation of the findings . This can serve as future legal evidence . The ASM Alert project started in July 2021 and will continue for 12 months .
The NGO IES – Institute of Environmental Security is a partner of GAF in the project and has assisted GAF with consolidating the user
requirements . The NGO S . O . S . Orinoco fights against “ ecocide ” and similar crimes and is involved in the evaluation of ASM Alert .
The project ASM Alert is now promoting the platform to key decision makers and institutions like the OECD , the Minamata Convention , the Organisation of the American States ( OAS ), the World Bank , the United Nations Environment Program ( UNEP ) and also the International Criminal Court .
Amazonia is home to several indigenous tribal communities , and hosts world heritage sites such as the Canaima Nature Reserve . Licenced and controlled , artisanal and small-scale mining ( ASM ) can offer job opportunities and help fight poverty . However , in this area Colombian guerrilla forces as well as parts of the Venezuelan military and police are drivers of uncontrolled and thus harmful ASM . They extort and attack local communities and gold smuggling is rife . Field work and verification is difficult and dangerous , so remote sensing is an excellent tool for collecting evidence and improving visibility .
ASM Alert can be accessed at : https :// asmalert . gaf . de / Source : GAF AG
NEW YORK
MECHANICAL PROCESSES CONTINUE TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL ANODE RESULTS
Early in May 2022 , Magnis Energy Technologies Ltd ( Magnis ), a vertically integrated lithium-ion battery technology and materials company , announced the latest results for its high quality , high performing green anode materials using only mechanical processes – no chemical , acid or thermal purification processes were required .
Recent results and performance of nachu CSPG anode The electrochemical battery performance of Nachu CSPG anode has been extensively tested , validated and qualified using commercial graded Lithium-ion battery cells . These full cells have had over 1000 cycles while retaining at least 90 % of the initial cell capacity which demonstrated an excellent lifespan of the Nachu CSPG anode material and its readiness for the next step of commercialisation .
Proprietary anode processing technology Magnis has demonstrated the production of this commercial graded Lithium-ion battery grade (> 99.95 %) CSPG anode with the help of its technology partner , Charge CCCV ( C4V ) LLC . C4V has developed and patented the graphite anode processing technology at its pilot facility located at the Binghamton University in New York in operation over the last six years .
C4V ’ s ‘ greener ’ processing technology employs a mechanical approach during the Micronisation , Purification and subsequent Spheronisation of high purity Nachu concentrate feedstock eliminating the toxic chemical and energyintensive thermal purification steps . Moreover , C4V ’ s innovative scalable processing technology has been able to obtain a much higher anode product yield (~ 70 %) at the pilot scale compared to the conventional graphite anode plant yield (~ 30-40 %)
Magnis has exclusivity with regards to C4V ’ s proprietary anode processing technology .
Ultra-high purity graphite feedstock Magnis has been able to produce an ultra-high purity (+ 99 %) natural flake graphite ( NFG ) concentrate feedstock from its wholly owned Nachu Graphite Project in Tanzania without a chemical purification process .
The inherent crystal structure and unique characteristics of Nachu NFG ore enables facile processing of high purity concentrate into an ultra-high purity (+ 99.95 %) CSPG anode product with a high yield .
Magnis chairman , Frank Poullas , commented , “ We are blessed with such an amazing resource . Being able to produce a high quality , high performing green anode product at + 99.95 % purity or above without any acid , chemicals or thermal purification while using mechanical processes only , is truly remarkable .” •
1 . Table 1 : Key specifications of Nachu CSPG anode product
2 . Figure 1 : Magnis ’ CSPG anode production process steps
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Images by Magnis Energy Technologies
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African Mining • July 2022 • 11 |