Focus Graphite talks flake recovery at Lac Knife

Executive Summary

• Focus Graphite reported that a continuous pilot beneficiation run on the Lac Knife deposit increased large‑ and jumbo‑flake recovery from ~33 % to 47 %, materially improving project economics.
• The pilot processed >800 kg of ore, producing a concentrate meeting market specifications while preserving natural flake size across multiple mesh categories.
• Results support Focus’s strategy to serve both battery‑grade (negative‑100 mesh) and high‑margin specialty markets (defence, aerospace, fire‑suppressant foams), enhancing its position as a North American critical minerals supplier.

Key Details

• Pilot Program: Conducted by American Energy Technologies Company (AETC) using an 18‑unit upstream beneficiation circuit in a continuous locked‑cycle campaign.
• Feed & Throughput: >800 kg of Lac Knife graphite‑bearing rock processed; target TGC adjusted from 97.8 % to 95 % to boost coarse flake recovery.
• Flake Recovery Improvement: Large and jumbo flakes rose from ~33 % to 47 % of total concentrate.
• Concentrate Grade & Recovery: Achieved 95 % TGC with overall recovery comparable to prior feasibility assumptions (≈90 %).
• Product Specification Alignment: Concentrate meets market specs for:
• Jumbo flake (+30, +25, +20 mesh; ~5 % of total, up to 0.84 mm) – premium EMI shielding, aerospace gaskets, crucibles, radar‑absorbing composites, icephobic coatings, graphene precursors.
• Plus 50 mesh (~15 %) and plus 80 mesh (~24 %) – expandable/expanded graphite for fire‑suppressant foams (PFAS alternatives).
• Plus 100 mesh – aerospace, defence, semiconductor, advanced materials.
• Negative 100 mesh – battery‑grade anode material for EVs and stationary storage.
• Strategic Context: Coarse flake profile positions Focus to capture high‑margin specialty applications amid recent Chinese export restrictions on graphite (effective Dec 1 2023).
• Volatile Content: Lac Knife material exhibits exceptionally low volatile content, suitable for nuclear and defence uses.
• Future Plans: Company intends larger‑scale testing to validate pilot results across the full deposit variability.
• Qualified Person Review: Technical content approved by Rejean Girard, P.Geo., president of IOS Geosciences Inc.

Notable Quotes

“The results from this pilot program reinforce Lac Knife's unique position as one of the few graphite projects capable of delivering both defense‑grade and battery‑grade material at scale,” – Dean Hanisch, CEO, Focus Graphite.

Materiality Assessment: Material – Positive (significant operational advancement that materially enhances project economics and market positioning).