Graphite One plans to execute a 2021 Drilling Program at its Graphite Creek Property located near Nome, Alaska.
The drill program follows Graphite One’s Preliminary Feasibility Study (“PFS”), scheduled for completion in the 4th Quarter of 2021. Approximately 3,000 meters of HQ core drilling is planned for the program to in-fill and expand the Measured and Indicated resources of graphitic carbon for the Feasibility Study (“FS”).
Additional geotechnical drilling is planned for open pit mine design and to advance the understanding of ground conditions in proposed infrastructure sites. In addition to the proposed 2021 Drilling Program, site visits and field work by the engineering team will be completed, additional environmental baseline data will be collected, and community outreach activities will continue during the 2021 field season. The Drilling Program and other field work are expected to begin in July.
The United States remains 100% reliant on foreign supply of natural graphite, despite the U.S. Government listing the resource as one of the 35 critical minerals and metals vital to the United States’ security and economic prosperity1. Graphite One’s deposit in western Alaska remains the largest known source of natural graphite in the United States. According to the World Bank, global graphite demand for clean energy applications alone – primarily electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems — is expected to rise by 494% between now and 2050.