Like The "messenger of the sea" in Greek mythology Perth-based Triton Minerals is riding across the waves of the Indian Ocean to Mozambique, where the company has found a deposit worthy of the gods.

Triton has three Graphite projects, six granted exploration licenses and two applications covering a total area of about 1,150 sq.km in Mozambique, on Africa's southeast coast.

Its flagship Nicanda Hill graphite-vanadium deposit is within the Balama North project area, within the highly prospective Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique.

In just six months Nicanda Hill was drilled up and defined to a maiden JORC 2012 mineral resource of 1.457 billion tonnes at 10.7% total graphitic carbon and 0.27% vanadium pentoxide, containing 155.9 Mt of graphite and 3.93 Mt of V2O5.

Amazingly, just 50% of assays were used to get to this point, so expect more good news to come.

The hydrothermal Mutola zone averages nearly 12% TGC and the graphite mineralisation is open along strike and at depth with a 6.2km footprint.

The horizontal width of the graphite mineralisation at surface is 1100m and still remains open to the northwest.

What does this mean for Triton?

The former small gold explorer has taken center-stage in the world graphite scene.

"It is a pretty substantial achievement in a short period of time," CEO Brad Boyle said.

Already in discussions with a number of groups for potential off-take agreements with companies in Europe, North America, Japan and China, Triton is actively exploring all options and opportunities to secure to long-term value for all stakeholders in the graphite and carbon sectors.

"We are ideally located in East Africa, with established infrastructure and local community and government support," Boyle said.

"What is next for us is a scoping study and feasibility work in the next 12 months with production slated for early 2017."

Graphite is a wonder material, according to Boyle.

"It's uses are very diverse from industrial applications to green energy, it's going to be one of the key elements going forward," he said.

A form of carbon, graphite has very high electrical conductivity, is heat resistant to 3000 degrees centigrade and is highly valued in industrial applications for its self-lubricating and dry lubricating properties.

It is used in solar cells, electric car batteries, medical implants, high temperature reactors, fire seals, smart phones and even rocket engines and reentry shields for missile nose cones.

Importantly for Triton, the domestic mines in China, the world's major user of graphite, cannot keep up with demand.

In addition, demand continues to rise for graphene, pure carbon in the form of a very thin, nearly transparent sheet, just one atom thick.

It is remarkably strong for its very low weight (100 times stronger than steel) and it conducts heat and electricity with great efficiency.

As such, graphite prices are expected to rise as the supply-demand gradient shifts further.

One of the drawcards of the Nicanda Hill deposit is its purity.

Testwork has concentrated 97% purity using just a simple crushing and flotation circuit.

That means there is no need for an acid leach process to extract the minerals, so combined with open pit operations in very soft material, a much lower production cost is expected compared to other graphite producers around the world.

"We are looking at production costs of around $350 per tonne to $400t, give or take," Boyle said.

Nicanda Hill sits within Triton's Balama North project and is proving to have better tonnage and grade than other prospects within a few kilometres.

The project is right next door to the 1.15Bt Syrah Resources' world-class Balama project, due to begin mining early next year.

Likewise Boyle has an aggressive development program for Nicanda Hill as Triton aims to become a global and market leading low-cost high-grade graphite and vanadium producer.

"We have a very large holding with high grade material, and are looking at an initial mine life of 25-30 years, but that is likely to extend upwards of 200 years," he said.

With this in mind, Triton has already established a good relationship with the surrounding communities.

Five villages with a combined population of 25,000 surround the Nicanda Hill project and Boyle has personally met with local leaders.

"Before we arrived they had no running water or power," he said.

"We have fixed wells and installed new ones in each village and have begun a review of all facilities and services including medical, education and communication.

"Agriculture and sustainability are high on our agenda too."

Triton has already employed 120 locals over 18 months and prioritises the hiring of local staff, such as geologists, and for contract services including drilling, logistics, transportation and supplies.

"It is important we work with the local community because without them we can't mine," he said.

"But we are also sharing our high standards and modern methods."

Mozambique is a very poor country, but offers great government support for mining and shares similar bureaucratic processes to Australia.

"Mozambique is one of the best jurisdictions I've worked in," Boyle said.

"The government supports development and has implemented fantastic infrastructure."

The deepwater port of Pemba is within 200km of the Nicanda Hill project, on sealed roads.

Telecommunications are also in place and a small airport is nearby.

In conclusion, Triton is sitting on a veritable ‘gold mine', except it's not gold, it's graphite and vanadium, and it will secure Triton a firm place in supplying the world's growing demand.

*A version of this report, first published in the November/December 2014 edition of RESOURCESTOCKS magazine, was commissioned by Triton Minerals.