Low-Cost In Situ Technology Integrated into the Lac Tetepisca Geometallurgical Model, Supporting Upcoming MRE and Future Application at Lac Knife
Ottawa, Ontario -
Newsfile Corp. - January 13, 2026 -
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) ("
Focus" or the "
Company"), a leading developer of high-grade flake graphite deposits and advanced graphite materials for battery, defence, and industrial applications, is pleased to announce the successful development and validation of a novel, low-cost AI-enabled in situ graphite flake size characterization technology (the "
Technology") and its integration into the geometallurgical model of the Company's 100%-owned Lac Tetepisca Graphite Project (the "
Project") in Quebec.
Key Highlights- Developed and validated a low-cost, AI-enabled in situ graphite flake size characterization technology, integrated directly into the Lac Tetepisca geometallurgical model
- Enables high-resolution characterization of flake size distribution across the deposit without the need for extensive bulk metallurgical testing, supporting improved resource valuation and mine planning
- Preliminary results indicate an inverse relationship between graphite grade and flake size, supporting the potential for a lower cut-off grade and improved Project economics
- Results from this work are expected to be incorporated into the upcoming MOGC mineral resource estimate update, anticipated in late Q1 2026
- Methodology validated against bench-scale metallurgical testing and scanning electron microscopy analysis, with approximately 300 samples currently being processed
- Following validation at Lac Tetepisca, the Company intends to apply the technology to its Lac Knife Project, supporting efficient, scalable, and ESG-aligned mining strategies from the outset
The Technology enables high-resolution mapping of graphite flake size distribution directly from conventional drill core material, without the need for extensive bulk metallurgical testing. By materially improving visibility into the spatial distribution of flake sizes across the deposit, the Technology supports enhanced resource valuation, more selective mine planning, and value-driven production strategies. Results from this work are expected to be incorporated into the upcoming mineral resource estimate ("
MRE") update for the Manicouagan-Ouest Graphitic Corridor ("
MOGC") deposit, anticipated in late Q1 2026. The Technology was developed by the research and development team at IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. ("
IOS") of Saguenay, Quebec with partial funding provided through Quebec's
Programme quebecois de valorisation des mineraux critiques et strategiques ("
PQVMCS"), administered by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources ("
MERN"). Following successful validation at Lac Tetepisca, Focus intends to apply the same AI-enabled flake size characterization methodology to its Lac Knife Graphite Project, which is at a more advanced stage of development and nearing completion of permitting deliverables. The Company believes this approach supports efficient, scalable, and ESG-aligned mining strategies across its graphite portfolio.
Technology Overview and Key Findings Graphite pricing is strongly dependent on flake size, with market prices ranging from approximately US$300 per tonne for fine flakes (-200 mesh) to over US$1,400 per tonne for jumbo flakes (+48 mesh). Historically, graphite resource valuation has relied on basket pricing derived from limited bulk metallurgical composite samples, which may not adequately capture spatial variability in flake size distribution within a deposit. The newly developed AI-enabled methodology addresses this limitation by enabling low-cost, high-resolution characterization of flake size distribution across a deposit, down to individual geological domains or resource blocks. The Technology applies AI-based RGB image analysis to high-resolution optical microscopy images of graphite flakes recovered from coarse rejects generated during routine assaying, providing a scalable and repeatable approach to flake size characterization. The methodology has been benchmarked against bench-scale metallurgical testing on 30 composite samples and independently validated using automated particle analysis by scanning electron microscopy ("
SEM"). Approximately 300 samples are currently being processed to populate a geometallurgical model for the MOGC deposit. Preliminary results indicate an inverse relationship between graphite grade and flake size, with lower-grade zones hosting a significantly higher proportion of jumbo flakes. These findings suggest that a lower cut-off grade may be appropriate for the forthcoming MRE, with potential positive implications for mine life, operational flexibility, and Project economics. This level of spatial resolution provides a direct input into resource valuation, cut-off grade selection, and value-driven mine planning. Richard Pearce,...
