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Highlights
- Graphite One has identified Rare Earth Elements (REEs) within the Graphite Creek deposit near Nome, Alaska.
- The REEs include five key magnet elements: praseodymium, dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, and samarium.
- The discovery was made within the Feasibility Study (FS) pit zone.
- Testing indicated elevated Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs) concentrations in garnet-bearing rock.
- Follow-up studies are underway with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Activation Laboratories.
Graphite One Inc. (TSX-V: GPH; OTCQX: GPHOF) has announced a major development at its Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska—already recognized by the United States Geological Survey as the largest natural graphite deposit in the United States. New geochemical testing conducted by Activation Laboratories Ltd. (ActLabs) has confirmed the presence of rare earth elements (REEs) within the deposit. The discovery comes at a critical time, as concerns intensify over America’s heavy reliance on foreign suppliers for minerals essential to clean energy, defense systems, and electric vehicles.
Details of REEs Identified in Feasibility Study Pit
The REEs were detected in drill core samples taken from garnet-bearing ore within the area modeled in Graphite One’s2025 Feasibility Study (FS). The FS pit represents just 12% of the 15.3-kilometer mineralized zone and supports a projected 20-year mine life.
The company highlighted that the test work on 21 representative samples revealed elevated levels of Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs), along with the presence of five principal magnet metals.
Data source: Company update
In addition to the lanthanide HREEs, the garnet-bearing ore at Graphite Creek contains scandium and elevated levels of yttrium.
These elements are essential for producing permanent magnets used in defense systems, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. Their specialized magnetic, optical, and catalytic properties make them crucial for defense, electronics, renewable energy, and telecom technologies, underscoring their strategic importance for U.S. industry and national security.
Discovery Comes Amid Rising Supply Chain Pressures
The timing of the discovery is significant. China, which dominates global REE and graphite production, imposed export restrictions on magnet REEs in February 2024 and tightened graphite export controls later in the year. A recent UBS Evidence Labs report identified graphite and REEs as the minerals for which U.S. dependence on China is most acute.
Commenting on the development, Graphite One President Anthony Huston said, “The presence of two Defense Production Act Title III materials – graphite and REEs – in a single deposit further underscores Graphite Creek’s position as a truly generational deposit. Given the robust economics of our planned complete graphite materials supply chain, the presence of Rare Earths at Graphite Creek suggests that recovery as a by-product to our graphite production will maximize the value.”
Advanced Testing Underway
Further analytical work is being conducted at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory and Activation Laboratories Ltd to quantify REE concentrations. The company is also in discussions with a Department of Energy national laboratory to develop separation technologies for individual REEs.
The Graphite Creek Feasibility Study was completed more than a year ahead of schedule, supported by a $37.5 million Defense Production Act Title III grant. Additional financing momentum followed in September 2025, when the company received a Letter of Interest from the EXIM Bank to potentially provide up to $570 million in loan financing for the development of the Graphite Creek Mine.
The company continues to work closely with senior officials across key federal departments and agencies to advance its full graphite supply chain strategy.
GPH shares traded at CAD 1.21 per share on 17 November 2025.
