First Canadian Graphite Inc. has expanded its exploration program at the Lac Guéret South project in Québec, adding airborne geophysical coverage and initiating preliminary metallurgical testing at Corem on samples from the Zone 13 discovery.

Surface prospecting across the Zone 13 target has confirmed high-grade graphite mineralization over a strike length of approximately 3.3 kilometres, with 46 samples returning grades of up to 43.4% graphitic carbon. Because portions of the conductive system extend beyond the original airborne survey, the company has engaged Prospectair to fly supplementary coverage across the Boudrias-Esbec option and Zone 13 starting in late August or early September 2026.

To evaluate processing characteristics, four 20-kilogram samples have been delivered to Corem in Québec City for crushing, grinding, flotation concentration, flake classification, and mineralogical studies. Control samples from Zone 6 and the historical Esbec showing are included.

First Canadian Graphite has invested over $10 million in exploration at the property to date. Ground preparations are also underway, with Groupe Nipi contracted to re-establish access roads to support upcoming trenching and first-pass diamond drilling programs scheduled for fall 2026, pending receipt of an Authorization for Impact-Causing Exploration Work.

“The significance of Zone 13 is increasingly about the combination of grade and potential scale,” said John LaGourgue, President and CEO of FC graphite. “ We have confirmed high-grade graphite at surface along approximately 3.3 kilometres of strike, while portions of the conductive system extend beyond the limits of our original airborne survey. That gives us a compelling reason to expand the geophysical coverage and systematically determine how large this system may ultimately be.”

“At the same time, we are advancing metallurgy with COREM, restoring access with Groupe Nipi and preparing for trenching and first-pass diamond drilling. Our objective is to determine whether Zone 13, together with the historical resource and additional graphite-bearing targets across our more than 200-square-kilometre land position, has the potential to establish Lac Guéret South as a large-scale, high-grade North American graphite project.”

— John LaGourgue, President and CEO of FC graphite

Read the full announcement: First Canadian Graphite Advances Potential For Large-Scale, High-Grade North American Graphite System at Lac Guéret South