Mining News: News Nuggets: Graphite Creek cited on Capitol Hill

Graphite One Resources Inc. May 19 noted that its Graphite Creek project near Nome, Alaska was one of two Alaska strategic mineral projects cited during a May 12 hearing before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Alaska Department of Natural Resources Deputy Commissioner Ed Fogels cited the graphite project during his testimony in support of “The American Mineral Security Act of 2015,” legislation aimed at fostering domestic production of strategic and critical minerals. “We are gratified that our project was cited during the Senate’s deliberations on a new national critical minerals policy,” said Graphite One President and CEO Anthony Huston. “We are focused on developing our deposit as a source of high-quality graphite to meet growing domestic and global demand.” According to the U. S. Geological Survey, graphite is one of 19 minerals for which the United States is 100 percent reliant on imports. Roughly 45 percent of graphite used in the U.S. since 2010 has been imported from China, most of the balance comes from Mexico, Canada and Brazil.

- Shane Lasley