Zenyatta Ventures Ltd : Zenyatta's Graphene Enhanced Concrete Pilot Project Advances with Larisplast and Ben-Gurion Universit...
25 May 2017 - 10:00PM
THUNDER BAY, ON--(Marketwired - May 25, 2017)
- Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. ("Zenyatta" or
"Company") (TSX VENTURE: ZEN) (OTCQX: ZENYF) is pleased to
announce that the next phase to test a concrete admixture
containing graphene is progressing through their Collaboration
Agreement with Larisplast Ltd. ("Larisplast"), an Israeli business
that specializes in the field of concrete admixtures. The 10 kg
market sample of high-purity graphite that was sent to Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev in Israel ("BGU") will allow for the
testing and optimization of a much larger volume of concrete which
could be in a range between 5 and 10 tonnes. Zenyatta and
Larisplast have both received grant funding from the Canada-Israel
Industrial R&D Foundation under the Ontario-Israel
Collaboration.
The main objective of this pilot plant is to
further test a much larger volume of concrete utilizing an
admixture containing Albany derived graphene (See attached image).
The scientific and engineering data obtained will yield valuable
information for potentially designing a larger scale demonstration
plant. In 2016 BGU demonstrated that the addition of the Company's
graphene into concrete can achieve a faster curing time and a
superior mechanical performance that inhibits premature failure and
tolerates large forces like those produced during earthquakes or
explosions. Also, this new admixture has the potential to reduce
the amount of cement that will be used in construction, thereby
considerably cutting carbon dioxide emissions related to its
production.
Aubrey Eveleigh, President and CEO stated, "We are
pleased to be in the next stage of testing to demonstrate the
viability of this exciting technology to enhance concrete
properties with nano-graphite derived from Zenyatta's Albany
deposit. This initiative represents an important new and valuable
target market for Albany graphite as the potential market size for
a new concrete admixture with superior qualities is extremely
large."
In November 2016 Zenyatta delivered 10 kilograms
of high-purity Albany graphite to BGU that has now been converted
to graphene for optimization and testing. BGU will first test the
graphene and then the material will be supplied to Larisplast for
testing as a concrete admixture. The testwork will include the
following:
-
BGU will perform a variety of quality control
measurements;
-
BGU will run a series of dispersion experiments
on Zenyatta's graphene;
-
Larisplast and BGU will employ the optimized
procedure using scaled-up infrastructure;
-
The optimized graphene dispersion will then be
incorporated into concrete composites;
-
The produced graphene reinforced concrete will
be tested for both short and long term strength and compressive and
flexural stresses;
-
Larisplast will adjust and optimize the
scaled-up process.
About Larisplast
Larisplast is an industry leader in Israel
specializing in the field of concrete admixtures. The company
develops, produces, markets and distributes high-quality products
and materials for the Israel concrete industry according to strict
Israeli's standards. Larisplast operates on a nationwide basis in
Israel and is currently developing international markets and
distribution channels.
About Zenyatta
Zenyatta is developing the Albany Graphite Deposit
situated in northeastern Ontario, Canada. The deposit is a unique
type of igneous-hosted, fluid-derived graphite mineralization
contained in two large breccia pipes. The Company is seeking end
users for their graphite and graphene and is working with several
collaborative partners including the development of a graphene
enhanced concrete. Other potential markets for graphite include
Lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells and powder metallurgy. The
application for graphitic material is constantly evolving due to
its unique chemical, electrical and thermal properties. It
maintains its stability and strength under temperatures in excess
of 3,000°C and is very resistant to chemical corrosion. It is also
one of the lightest of all reinforcing elements and has high
natural lubricating abilities. The outlook for the global graphite
market is very promising with demand growing rapidly from new
applications. It is now considered one of the more strategic
elements by many leading industrial nations, particularly for its
growing importance in high technology manufacturing and in the
emerging "green" industries such as electric vehicle
components.
The Albany graphite deposit is situated 30 km
north of the Trans-Canada Highway, power line and natural gas
pipeline near the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and
Hearst. A rail line is located 70 km away with an all-weather road
approximately 10 km from the graphite deposit. The world trend is
to develop products for technological applications that need
extraordinary performance using ultra-high purity graphite powder
at an affordable cost. Albany graphite can be upgraded with very
good crystallinity without the use of aggressive acids
(hydrofluoric) or high temperature thermal treatment therefore
having an environmental advantage over other types of upgraded
high-purity graphite material.
Mr. Aubrey Eveleigh, P.Geo., Zenyatta's President
and CEO, is the "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National
Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed, prepared and supervised the
preparation of the technical information contained in this news
release.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: This analysis does not
represent a statistically large sample size. Furthermore, these
positive results do not mean that Zenyatta can extract and process
Albany graphite for graphite applications on an economic basis.
Without a formal independent feasibility study, there is no
assurance that the operation will be economic. Neither TSX Venture
Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This
news release may contain forward looking information and Zenyatta
cautions readers that forward looking information is based on
certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the expectations of Zenyatta
included in this news release. This news release includes certain
"forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be
identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates",
"expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan".
These statements are based on information currently available to
Zenyatta and Zenyatta provides no assurance that actual results
will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements
include estimates and statements with respect to Zenyatta's future
plans, objectives or goals, to the effect that Zenyatta or
management expects a stated condition or result to occur, including
the expected timing for release of a pre-feasibility study, the
expected uses for graphite in the future, and the future uses of
the graphite from Zenyatta's Albany deposit. Since forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions and address future events and
conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and
uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things,
results of metallurgical processing, ongoing exploration, project
development, reclamation and capital costs of Zenyatta's mineral
properties, and Zenyatta's financial condition and prospects, could
differ materially from those currently anticipated in such
statements for many reasons such as, but are not limited to:
failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the
preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the inability to
identify target markets and satisfy the product criteria for such
markets; the inability to complete a prefeasibility study; the
inability to enter into offtake agreements with qualified
purchasers; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required
governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political
risks; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of
financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets,
inflation, changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity
prices; delays in the development of projects; capital and
operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other
risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry;
and those risks set out in Zenyatta's public documents filed on
SEDAR. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect
any of Zenyatta's forward-looking statements. These and other
factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place
undue reliance on Zenyatta's forward-looking statements. Although
Zenyatta believes that the assumptions and factors used in
preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such
information, which only applies as of the date of this news
release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur
in the disclosed time frames or at all. Zenyatta disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Image
Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/5/25/11G139682/Images/albanygraphene-80e27399fe37b6a18f33a05d64ecfb25.jpg
CONTACT INFORMATION
For Further Information Please visit the Company's
website at: http://www.zenyatta.ca or contact:
Mara Strazdins, HB.Sc.
VP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Mobile: (416) 710-0646
Office (807) 346-1660
Email: mstrazdins@zenyatta.ca or info@zenyatta.ca
This
announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf
of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Zenyatta Ventures Ltd via Globenewswire
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