Graphite One Resources Comments on New US Geological Survey Recognizing Graphite as Critical to “National Economy and National Security” and President Trump’s Subsequent Executive Order
Graphite One Resources Comments on US Geological Survey Report final.docx
Graphite One Resources Comments on New US Geological Survey
Recognizing Graphite as Critical to “National Economy and National Security” and
President Trump’s Subsequent Executive Order
December 21, 2017 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Graphite One Resources Inc. (GPH: TSX‐V;
GPHOF: OTCQB) (“Graphite One” or the “Company”) commented today on the release of the US
Geological Survey’s report on the Critical Mineral Resources of the United States (the “Report”)
and President Trump’s order to develop a federal critical miner al’s strategy. The Report lists 23
metals and minerals that are critical to “the national economy and national security of the United
States.” Graphite is one of the 23 materials listed, and is one of just four metals and minerals on
the list for which the U.S. is 100% import dependent.
850‐page Report is first comprehensive update on US mineral resource landscape since
1973 Oil Crisis
Graphite is one of 23 metals and minerals recognized as critical to “national economy
and national security”
Graphite is one of 4 metals and minerals for which the U.S. is 100% import‐dependent
Report is followed by a Presidential Executive Order to develop a federal strategy to
reduce foreign dependence on critical minerals
Please click here for full US Geological Survey Report
https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1802/pp1802_entirebook.pdf
Graphite One’s Graphite Creek STAX Graphite Project is a large, high‐grade graphite resource
situated in Alaska, one of the most pro‐mining states in the United States.
As reported in February 2017, the Company signed a MOU with the Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority (“AIDEA”), a public corporation of the State of Alaska whose
purpose is to support and encourage the development of Alaska’s natural resources. AIDEA has
the authority to finance, develop, and own and operate facilities used in the extraction,
production, and transportation of minerals and materials.
“The Report and President Trump’s Executive Order track with the ongoing discussions our team
has been having with key U.S. officials at the federal level an d the State of Alaska, with interest
far more intense now than our initial discussions five years ag o,” said Anthony Huston, CEO of
GPH. “As a major graphite developer in the U.S., Graphite One is seeing a growing awareness
that graphite is critical to a full range of new applications ‐ from electric vehicle batteries and
energy storage systems to defense weapons platforms. The USGS report makes it clear that 100%
import dependence on graphite and other materials pose risks to the U.S. economy and national
security.”
The Report, formally titled “Critical Mineral Resources of the United States— Economic and
Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply,” (USGS Professional Report 1802),
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updates USGS Report 820, issued 44 years ago during the 1973 oil crisis. The Report represents
the U.S. Government’s most comprehensive assessment of the nation’s mineral resource
profile and potential, serving to inform federal mineral policy.
Secretary Ryan K. Zinke, of the Department of the Interior, whi ch oversees the USGS, stated on
the release of the report: "I commend the team of scientists at USGS for the extensive work put
into the report, but the findings are shocking. The fact that previous administrations allowed the
United States to become reliant on foreign nations, including o ur competitors and adversaries,
for minerals that are so strategically important to our securit y and economy is deeply troubling.
As both a former military commander and geologist, I know the very real national security risk of
relying on foreign nations for what the military needs to keep our soldiers and our homeland
safe."
The USGS study was followed by the signing of a new Executive O rder by President Trump, “A
Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals.” The Executive
Order directs the U.S. Secretaries of the Interior and Defense to prepare a list of critical minerals
w i t h i n 6 0 d a y s , a n d t o d e v e l o p a n d r e p o r t w i t h i n 6 m o n t h s a s t rategy for reducing foreign
dependence on those metals and minerals deemed critical. “This executive order will prioritize
reducing the Nation’s vulnerability to disruptions in our supply of critical minerals safely and
responsibility for the benefit of the American people,” said President Trump.
Graphite One is proposing the development of its Graphite Creek S T A X G r a p h i t e P r o j e c t n e a r
Nome, Alaska. The project’s Preliminary Economic Analysis, dat ed June 30, 2017, envisions an
integrated project producing about 50,000 tonnes per year of high‐value manufactured graphite
products over a 40‐year mine life.
ABOUT GRAPHITE ONE RESOURCES INC.
GRAPHITE ONE RESOURCES INC. (GPH: TSX‐V; GPHOF: OTCQB) continues to develop its Graphite
One Project (the “Project”), whereby the Company could potentia lly become an American
producer of high grade Coated Spherical Graphite (“CSG”) that is integrated with a domestic
graphite resource. The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine, process
and manufacture high grade CSG primarily for the lithium‐ion electric vehicle battery market. As
set forth in the Company’s Pre liminary Economic Assessment, pot ential graphite mineralization
mined from the Company’s Graphite C r e e k P r o p e r t y , i s e x p e c t e d to be processed into
concentrate at a graphite processing plant. The proposed proce ssing plant would be located on
the Graphite Creek Property situated on the Seward Peninsula about 60 kilometers north of
Nome, Alaska. CSG and other value‐added graphite products, would likely be manufactured from
the concentrate at the Company’s proposed graphite product manufacturing facility, the location
of which is the subject of further study and analysis. The Company intends to make a production
decision on the Project once a feasibility study is completed.
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ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Anthony Huston” (signed)
For more information on Graphite One Resources Inc. please visit the Company’s website,
www.GraphiteOneResources.com or contact:
Anthony Huston
CEO, President & Director
Tel: (604) 697‐2862
Email: [email protected]
Investor Relations Contact
1‐604‐684‐6730
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Pr ovider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilit y for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be forward‐looking statements.
All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward‐looking
statements.
Generally, forward‐looking information can be identified by the u s e o f f o r w a r d ‐ l o o k i n g
terminology such as “proposes”, “expects”, or “is expected”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “projects”,
“intends”, “assumes”, “believes”, “indicates” or variations of such words and phrases that state
that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur”
or “be achieved”.
Forward‐looking information in this release includes, but is no t limited to, statements regarding
the stage and progress of development of the Graphite Creek Project including the ability to
actually produce spherical graphite, ultimate further and final results of additional test‐work,
estimated capital and sustaining costs and the availability of equipment, labour and resources
required, the anticipated applications of graphite in high‐tech, clean tech, energy storage and
national security applications and all other anticipated applic ations, international demand and
ability to transport and enter into such markets, are all forwa rd‐looking statements. Although
the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward ‐looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and
actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward‐looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward‐
looking statements include: (i) the results of product development test work may not be indicative
of the advancement of the project as anticipated, or at all, (ii) market prices, (iii) exploitation and
exploration successes, (iv) continuity of mineralization, (v) u ncertainties related to the ability to
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obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, (vi) changes
in government policies regarding mining and natural resource ex ploration and exploitation, (vii)
competition faced in securing ex perienced personnel, access to adequate infrastructure to
support mining, processing, development and exploration activit ies and continued availability of
capital and financing, and (viii) general economic, market or b usiness conditions. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward‐looking i nformation, which is given as of
the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update
publicly or revise any forward‐looking information, except as required by applicable securities
laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous
disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com.