The screening operation has been tested and is ready for operation, the company said.

Graphite-bearing rock from the heaps will be screened from 15 July under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) currently being undertaken on the property.

The graphitic lump material and fines will be tested for purity and elements, sorted and will be then retained on site for future processing.

The setup is expected to screen and test 500 tons of material until 30 August.

Next Graphite CEO Cliff Bream said: "This begins the important stage of our Phase II testing we recently announced."

"While the initial results of our Phase 1 testing were encouraging, we will adhere to the highest standards in the market and continually evaluate the size and purity of the natural flake graphite on our property."