Hydrogeological Assessment Concludes Multi-Year Environmental Program and Supports Upcoming ESIA Submission
Ottawa, Ontario -
Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2026 -
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) ("
Focus" or the "
Company") a Canadian developer of high-grade flake graphite deposits and advanced graphite materials for battery, defence, and industrial applications, is pleased to announce the completion of the Hydrogeological Assessment (the "
Assessment" or the "
Study") for its wholly-owned Lac Knife Graphite Project ("
Lac Knife" or the "
Project"), concluding a multi-year environmental program and completing the major technical work required to support the Company's Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("
ESIA") submission. Completed by Yves Leblanc, P.Geo., of Richelieu Hydrogeologie Inc. ("
Richelieu") under the supervision and management of IOS Geosciences Inc. ("
IOS"), the assessment evaluated existing groundwater conditions, regional hydraulic systems, natural geochemical characteristics, and the long-term environmental performance of the redesigned dry-stack tailings storage facility ("
TSF") introduced as part of the 2021 Feasibility Study ("
2021 Feasibility") update. Based on the monitoring of more than thirty (30) wells, the Assessment confirmed that naturally occurring groundwater conditions at Lac Knife are well understood. Groundwater in the immediate vicinity of the deposit exhibits slightly acidic and sulphate-rich characteristics associated with the natural oxidation of sulphide-bearing graphite mineralization but becomes progressively buffered as it migrates away from the deposit. The Study also established natural background concentrations for certain elements associated with the mineralization, creating a scientifically supported baseline for future groundwater monitoring and environmental modelling. The Study provides important technical validation of the Company's environmental management strategy and further de-risks the Project by confirming that natural hydrogeological conditions are well understood and that the engineered containment systems incorporated into the TSF design are expected to perform as intended over the long term. Importantly, the Assessment confirmed that regional groundwater flow is naturally diverted away from the deposit by the hydraulic gradient associated with the Pekan River valley. While portions of the deposit surface naturally drain toward Knife Lake, subsurface groundwater follows a separate flow regime toward the southwest, reducing the potential for interaction between groundwater and surrounding aquatic environments. The Study also evaluated the long-term performance of the redesigned dry-stack TSF. As contemplated in the 2021 Feasibility update prepared by NewFields Canada ("
NewFields"), the facility incorporates a combination of dry-stacked tailings and approximately 10% dolomitic lime to buffer acid generation from sulphide oxidation. The design further incorporates an engineered impermeable liner system, non-acid generating waste rock containment dykes, underlying drainage infrastructure, and water collection and treatment systems intended to recycle water back into the processing circuit. Using contaminant concentrations derived from 2021-2022 column leaching test work, the Assessment modelled a range of groundwater infiltration scenarios to evaluate the long-term behaviour of dissolved constituents. Under the engineered design assumptions, hydrogeological modelling indicates that dissolved constituents would be sufficiently diluted before reaching potential groundwater resurgence zones and are not forecast to exceed applicable environmental criteria established by Quebec's Ministry of the Environment ("
MELCCFP") over the long term. The Study also incorporated sensitivity analyses using infiltration scenarios from the tailings facility significantly beyond normal design expectations, including conditions that would require substantial degradation of the engineered liner and drainage systems. These analyses demonstrated the resilience of the TSF design while reinforcing the importance of the multiple engineered containment measures incorporated into the Project. In addition, climate change precipitation scenarios were evaluated and did not indicate material adverse impacts on the long-term environmental performance of the facility. The Assessment concludes with recommendations for future monitoring and mitigation measures that will be integrated into the Project's environmental management framework. Dean Hanisch, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Graphite, commented, "Completing the remaining environmental studies and required reports is a major milestone for Lac Knife and reflects years of disciplined technical work and significant capital investment. In advanced mining jurisdictions, environmental assessment is a rigorous, multi-year process that cannot be rushed, and mining companies should realistically expect it to...
