Blencowe Resources has concluded the additional test work at its Orom-Cross project in Uganda and confirmed that the contained graphite concentrates are suitable for the manufacture of synthetic industrial diamonds.
The test work achieved a diamond conversion yield of 53.6wt% (weight percent), exceeding the typical industry benchmark of approximately 50%, the company said in a report, noting that this threshold is widely regarded as critical in determining whether synthetic diamond production can be undertaken economically outside China, given the highly competitive cost structure of the industry.
This makes it possible for Blencowe to pursue offtake agreements in the synthetic diamond production sector and presents a significant value-adding enhancement opportunity beyond sale of graphite as concentrates.
Diamonds produced from Orom-Cross graphite were mono-crystalline, possessing a higher-value structure than polycrystalline alternatives, and featured fine, compressible flake characteristics that proved highly conducive to diamond synthesis.
"This work highlights a fundamental characteristic of Orom-Cross graphite: its quality extends beyond battery applications into demanding industrial uses where conversion efficiency and cost competitiveness are critical. Achieving mono-crystalline diamond formation at conversion yields above industry benchmarks reflects the compressibility and structural integrity of our graphite, which continues to differentiate the project," said Blencowe’s executive chairman Cameron Pearce.
This optionality further differentiates Orom-Cross as a high-quality, non-China graphite source, aligned with increasing Western focus on secure supply chains, local processing and advanced manufacturing, the company said.
Theodor Lisovoy, Managing Editor, Rough&Polished
