InVert delivers maiden 32.2Mt graphite resource at Kumba, grading 8.0% TGC from surface
InVert Graphite (ASX: IVG) has reported a maiden JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate for the Kumba Deposit at its 100%-owned Morogoro Graphite Project in Tanzania. The estimate stands at 32.2Mt at 8.0% Total Graphitic Carbon (TGC) for 2.56Mt of contained graphite.
The resource is classified entirely as Inferred, commences from surface, and remains open down dip. Notably, 97% of the resource sits within the top 75m, a shallow geometry with implications for future development.
A maiden resource marks a defining moment for any explorer. It converts an exploration narrative into a defined, quantified asset, providing the first hard foundation for a development pathway.
The milestone was delivered at pace. InVert achieved it within 14 months of its ASX relisting on 10 June 2025, and less than 12 months from the commencement of maiden drilling on 17 September 2025. The company stated the result was delivered under budget.
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Inside the maiden resource — what the numbers show
The MRE was reported at a 4% TGC cut-off, with a density of 2.8 (a value of 2.78t/m³ applied) and the full resource classified as Inferred. The grade-tonnage relationship is a useful lens for gauging the quality of the underlying system.
| TGC Cut-off (%) | Tonnes (Mt) | Grade (% TGC) | Contained Graphite (Mt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 32.2 | 7.96 | 2.56 |
| 6.0 | 31.8 | 7.99 | 2.54 |
| 7.0 | 27.1 | 8.21 | 2.23 |
| 8.0 | 14.1 | 8.88 | 1.25 |
| 9.0 | 5.4 | 9.62 | 0.52 |
| 10.0 | 1.1 | 10.38 | 0.11 |
The figures show grade holding up as the cut-off rises. This is a marker of a coherent, high-grade system rather than a marginal tonnage story, and it gives investors a clearer read on the deposit’s underlying quality.
A near-surface, high-grade system with room to grow
The deposit’s geometry is central to understanding its longer-term potential. The source states the following characteristics:
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The deposit begins from surface, with 97% of the resource within 75m of surface
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Proposed extraction is by open pit mining, an assumption stated in the announcement
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Shallow, dip-slope geometry is noted as giving potentially very low strip ratios
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The resource remains open down dip, beyond the extent of existing drilling
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Geological interpretation indicates a strike length exceeding 1,250m
Earlier surface and drilling work underpins the resource. Trenching returned 312m @ 8.8% TGC (TRUM23-001) and 212m @ 13.5% (TRUM23-002), while drill intercepts included 33m @ 9.99%, 45m @ 9.91% and 64m @ 8.31% TGC.
Near-surface mineralisation, an open-pit assumption and potentially low strip ratios are typically the ingredients that support low-cost development.
Andrew Lawson, Managing Director, InVert Graphite
“This Maiden Resource Estimate for Kumba is a standout result, delivering 32.2Mt at 8.0% TGC despite facing a short window for drilling post relisting last year, and doing so under budget, demonstrating the team’s ability to deliver as promised.
“With the majority of the Resource sitting at or near surface, and with plenty of upside, this result confirms Kumba as a substantial, high-grade graphite system providing an excellent foundation to build on.”
Graphite explained — why TGC and resource classification matter for investors
The JORC framework ranks resources by confidence. Inferred is the entry-level classification, reflecting geological and grade continuity that is implied but not yet verified. The pathway from here is to upgrade to Indicated and then Measured through additional infill drilling.
Early metallurgy offers a further data point. Sighter testwork from prior work returned 95.5% graphite recovery and a concentrate grade of over 98%, which the company indicates points to the potential for a simple flowsheet. These figures derive from early-stage sighter work and should be treated as preliminary.
Together, classification and metallurgy define the value-creation runway. A resource can grow in both size and confidence over time, lifting an asset’s development readiness.
From pit to market — the RapidGraphite integration strategy
The maiden resource connects to InVert’s broader vertical integration ambition. The company recently announced the planned 100% acquisition of RapidGraphite Pty Ltd and its proprietary RapidPulse™ Technology (ASX announcement 18 June 2026).
RapidPulse™ is described as a graphitisation process that has achieved graphitisation temperatures within seconds in laboratory testing, compared with up to 30 days in conventional Acheson furnace manufacturing. The company frames the acquisition as positioning it toward a fully vertically integrated, pit-to-market graphite supply chain.
The RapidPulse acquisition and funding details include a A$2.5 million placement, an Australian Government AEA Ignite grant of A$439,664, and early proof-of-concept results showing approximately 99% graphite purity achieved in seconds on Morogoro samples without acid purification.
The acquisition remains a planned transaction. Even so, the strategy pairs upstream resource development with downstream processing technology, the two ends of the value chain InVert is seeking to bridge.
What comes next — drilling to resume in September
InVert has outlined a clear forward programme built around near-term catalysts:
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Drilling is targeted to recommence in September 2026
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The focus will shift to a Resource category upgrade, moving material from Inferred toward higher confidence
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Samples will be collected for metallurgical testwork studies
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Morogoro will continue to be advanced toward development
Location remains a strategic advantage. The Morogoro Project sits around 200km west of Dar es Salaam, near existing rail, sealed roads and port infrastructure, and within a recognised Tanzanian graphite cluster.
For investors, the sequence provides defined milestones to track. A drilling restart, a resource upgrade and metallurgical results all offer measurable markers of progress as the project advances toward development.
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