Graphite One (TSX-V:GPH) reveals its Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska as “generational” for technology applications, following independent testing confirming elevated magnet and heavy rare earth presence.
An independent analysis, performed by Activation Laboratory, confirms bulk rock geochemical analyses indicating that Graphite Creek hosts an increased proportion of magnet rare earths and heavy rare earths relative to light rare earths.
Garnet appears to be the reason for the relative abundance of heavy rare earths at the deposit. The company notes 85% of the rare earths in garnet material are magnet or heavy rare earths.
Graphite Creek reports that dysprosium in the garnets ranges from 32 to 63 parts per million (ppm), while yttrium in garnets ranges from 198 to 427ppm. Scandium in garnet ranges from 84 to 141ppm.
CEO Anthony Huston says while the results are preliminary they are considered “promising”.
“Few rare earth deposits have such a strong presence of magnet and heavy rare earths,” Huston says.
“With Graphite Creek already confirmed by the US Geological Survey as the nation’s largest natural graphite deposit ‘and among the largest in the world,’ the presence of 14 magnet or heavy rare earths at Graphite Creek further confirms that ours is a generational deposit for the tech applications transforming our world.”
Chief Geologist Kirsten Fristad notes that garnets – which are often as large as marbles – seem to be dominant hosts for heavy rare earths, which will guide ongoing test programs in 2026.
“These results indicate that if you were to separate one of our ore rocks into two piles, its garnet component and then everything else, the garnets have two- to six-times higher rare earth element concentration,” Fristad says.
Graphite One plans to work with a US national lab to develop a testing plan to determine the best method for extracting rare earths from the Graphite Creek garnets.
Rare earths are vital to technology, with neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and samarium forming essential building blocks of permanent magnets used in wind turbines, electric vehicles and advanced defense systems such as precision-guided munitions and radar.
In February 2024, China – the world’s largest producer of the full range of rare earths – imposed export restrictions on the magnet rare earths and tightened graphite exports in December 2024. These restrictions highlight the importance of the development of graphite mines.
Huston notes given the robust economics of the company’s complete graphite materials supply chain, the presence of rare earths at Graphite Creek suggests that recovery as a by-product to the graphite production will maximise the value of what is considered among the US’ “largest natural graphite deposit”.
Graphite One is a developer focused on becoming an American producer of high-grade anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Graphite One
