GUELPH, ON / ACCESS Newswire / October 6, 2025 / Zentek Ltd. ("Zentek" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:ZTEK)(TSXV:ZEN), an intellectual property technology development and commercialization company, is pleased to share an update from its wholly owned subsidiary, Albany Graphite Corp. ("AGC") on its Critical Minerals Innovation Fund ("CMIF") grant-funded activities, further to its release dated September 22, 2025. ...

 Vancouver, British Columbia – TheNewswire - October 6, 2025 – HAPPY CREEK MINERALS LTD. (TSX-V: HPY, OTC: HPYCF, FSE: 1HC) (“Happy Creek” or the “Company”), is providing an update to its shareholders regarding the impact of the strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers on the Company’s ability to comply with its obligations to deliver (i) its meeting materials to shareholders in connection with its upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held at 10:00 a.m. Vancouver time on Oc ...

A drill rig at Nova Minerals’ Estelle property in Alaska. Credit: Nova Minerals Nova Minerals (NASDAQ, ASX: NVA) has been awarded $43.4 million by the US Department of War (DoW) to support the production of antimony trisulfide at its Estelle project in Alaska. Shares of the Australian miner skyrocketed on the news.The DoW funding, provided under Defense Production Act Title III, will go towards Nova’s US-based subsidiary Alaska Range Resources, which holds an 85% interest in the Estelle project.Located 150 ...

Core Viewpoint - Vulcan Minerals Inc. announces that Atlas Salt Inc. has released results from an enhanced Updated Feasibility Study on the Great Atlantic Salt project in western Newfoundland [1] Group 1 - Atlas Salt Inc. is a related company to Vulcan Minerals Inc. [1] - The Updated Feasibility Study pertains to the Great Atlantic Salt project located in western Newfoundland [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal Year 2025 marked a transformative year for the company, moving from development to commercial readiness, with strong project economics validated [2] - The recently published pre-feasibility study (PFS) for phase one indicates a 39.5-year mine life, an after-tax NPV of $725 million, and a project IRR of 19% [3][4] - Estimated free cash flow over the mine's life is approximately $3.7 billion pre-tax, with an after-tax payback period of just under six years [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully qualified its high-purity boric acid with 14 customers across various industries, including specialty glass and chemicals [5] - Phase one targets production of 130,000 short tons of boric acid per year, with all-in sustaining costs estimated at $555 per ton [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - There is a growing demand for U.S.-based high-purity boron supply, with additional customers in advanced testing phases [5] - The company has entered long-term offtake discussions, indicating strong market interest and validation [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing towards a final investment decision (FID) by mid-2026, with early FEED engineering activities already commenced [8][9] - The company aims to build a resilient boric supply chain to support the U.S. industrial base for generations [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the need for a new market producer to reduce supply chain risks, especially in light of recent disruptions from major boric acid producers [10][11] - The company views 2025 as an inflection year for boron, with independent analysis indicating supply shortfalls beginning in 2026 [11] Other Important Information - The company received a non-binding letter of intent for a potential $285 million project debt facility, a significant step towards funding phase one construction [3] - The company submitted a formal response to the U.S. Geological Survey draft critical minerals list, advocating for boron to be included [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you review the comments about the disruption to the California boron mine? - Management noted that Rio Tinto announced a strategic review of their industrial minerals segment, which includes borates, following the appointment of a new CEO [15] Question: What is the process for getting boron on the U.S. Geological Survey critical minerals list? - Management explained that public comments are necessary for the review process, and they submitted their comments along with other groups [16][17]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal Year 2025 marked a transformative year for the company, moving from development to commercial readiness, with a robust after-tax NPV of $725 million and a 19% project IRR confirmed by the pre-feasibility study [2][3] - The after-tax NPV is approximately $469 million with a 16% project IRR, and free cash flow over the life of the mine is estimated at roughly $3.7 billion pre-tax [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully qualified its high-purity boric acid with 14 customers across various industries, including specialty glass, fiberglass, ceramics, and agriculture [5][6] - Phase one targets 130,000 short tons per year of boric acid, with all-in sustaining costs estimated at $555 per ton and initial capital at about $435 million [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company sees accelerating demand for a high-purity U.S.-based boron supply, with additional customers in advanced testing phases [5] - The U.S. boron market is characterized as an oligopoly, with a single point of failure, highlighting the need for new market producers to reduce supply chain risks [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on progressing towards a final investment decision (FID) by mid-2026, with early FEED engineering activities already commenced [8][9] - The company aims to build a strong and resilient boric supply chain that supports the U.S. industrial base for generations [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management believes 2025 is an inflection year for boron, with independent analysis indicating supply shortfalls beginning in 2026, reinforcing the need for a new market producer [11] - The company is committed to advancing full-scale testing with multiple specialty glass manufacturers and securing additional qualifications and initial offtake agreements [11] Other Important Information - The company received a non-binding LOI from USXM for a potential $285 million project debt facility, a significant step towards funding phase one construction [3] - The company submitted a formal response to the U.S. Geological Survey draft critical minerals list, advocating for boron to be included [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you review the comments you had about the disruption to the California boron mine? - Management noted that Rio Tinto announced a restructuring of their business segments, placing their industrial minerals, including borates, under strategic review [15] Question: To get boron on the U.S. Geological Survey critical minerals list, what needs to happen in terms of the review? - Management explained that the process involves submitting public comments, and they have already submitted their comments along with other groups [16][17]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal Year 2025 marked a transformative year for the company, moving from development to commercial readiness, with a robust after-tax NPV of $725 million and a 19% project IRR confirmed by the pre-feasibility study [2][3] - The after-tax NPV is approximately $469 million with a 16% project IRR, and free cash flow over the life of the mine is estimated at roughly $3.7 billion pre-tax [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully qualified its high-purity boric acid with 14 customers across various industries, indicating strong demand for U.S.-based boron supply [5][6] - Phase one targets 130,000 short tons per year of boric acid, with all-in sustaining costs estimated at $555 per ton and initial capital at about $435 million [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a significant supply chain risk in the boron market, particularly due to disruptions from major producers, which has created a clear opportunity for new market entrants [10][11] - The second largest boric acid producer in the U.S. has seen costs increase approximately 60% since 2017, highlighting the need for new production sources [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing towards a final investment decision (FID) by mid-2026, with early FEED engineering activities already commenced [8][9] - The company aims to build a strong and resilient boric supply chain to support the U.S. industrial base for generations [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management emphasized the fundamental need for a new market producer in the boron sector, especially in light of supply shortfalls expected to begin in 2026 [11] - The company is optimistic about progressing full-scale testing with multiple specialty glass manufacturers and securing additional qualifications and initial offtake agreements [11] Other Important Information - The company received a non-binding LOI from USXM for a potential $285 million project debt facility, which is a significant step towards funding phase one construction [3] - The company has submitted a formal response to the U.S. Geological Survey draft critical minerals list, advocating for boron to be included [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you review the comments you had about the disruption to the California boron mine? - Management explained that Rio Tinto has streamlined its business structure, placing its industrial minerals segment under strategic review, which includes borates [15] Question: To get boron on the U.S. Geological Survey critical minerals list, what needs to happen in terms of the review? - Management indicated that public comments are essential for the review process, and they submitted their comments along with other groups during the 30-day public comment window [16][17]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal Year 2025 marked a transformative year for the company, transitioning from development to commercial readiness, with a robust after-tax NPV of $725 million and a 19% project IRR confirmed in the pre-feasibility study [2][3] - The after-tax NPV is approximately $469 million with a 16% project IRR, and free cash flow over the life of the mine is estimated at roughly $3.7 billion pre-tax [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully qualified its high-purity boric acid with 14 customers across various industries, including specialty glass and ceramics, indicating strong demand for U.S.-based boron supply [5][6] - Phase one targets 130,000 short tons per year of boric acid, with all-in sustaining costs estimated at $555 per ton and initial capital at about $435 million [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company highlighted a significant supply chain risk in the U.S. boron market, with the second-largest boric acid producer experiencing a 60% cost increase since 2017 [10] - The market is characterized as an oligopoly, with the U.S. potentially transitioning from a net exporter to a net importer of boron without new investments [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing towards a final investment decision (FID) by mid-2026, with early FEED engineering activities already commenced [8][9] - The company aims to build a strong and resilient boric supply chain to support the U.S. industrial base for future generations [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the fundamental need for a new market producer due to anticipated supply shortfalls beginning in 2026 [11] - The company is actively engaging with the U.S. Geological Survey to advocate for boron to be added to the critical minerals list, which is seen as essential for addressing supply chain concerns [10][18] Other Important Information - The company received a non-binding LOI from USXM for a potential $285 million project debt facility, a significant step towards funding phase one construction [3] - The company is in long-term offtake discussions and has completed logistics trials with a tier one specialty glass manufacturer [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you review the comments you had about the disruption to the California boron mine? - Management noted that Rio Tinto announced a strategic review of their industrial minerals segment, which includes borates, following a restructuring [16] Question: What needs to happen to get boron on the U.S. Geological Survey critical minerals list? - Management explained that public comments were submitted during a 30-day window following the release of the draft list, with expectations for boron to be included [17][18]

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration needs to secure multiple deals with U.S. miners to diversify the supply chain and reduce dependence on China for rare earth minerals and uranium [1][2]. Industry Insights - Rare earths are essential for both military applications, such as the F-35 warplane, and consumer products like electric vehicles and smartphones [3]. - The U.S. is heavily reliant on China, which accounted for 70% of rare earth imports in 2023 [3]. Market Dynamics - China has manipulated the rare earth market by suppressing prices to eliminate Western competition [4]. - The recent MP Materials deal indicates a shift in U.S. policy towards a more strategic approach to critical minerals, moving away from pure free market ideals [4][5]. Investment Opportunities - Energy Fuels' stock has increased nearly 200% since the MP deal on July 10, indicating investor speculation about potential government deals [6]. - Other companies like NioCorp Developments, Ramaco Resources, and USA Rare Earth have also seen significant stock price increases, suggesting a growing interest in the sector [6]. Future Developments - MP Materials will require more heavy rare earths for its second facility focused on magnet production, which is crucial for high-temperature applications in electric vehicles and defense [7].

Core Insights - The Trump administration's acquisition of up to a 10% equity stake in Lithium Americas Corp (LAC) aims to enhance domestic production of critical minerals, particularly lithium, by renegotiating a $2.26 billion Department of Energy loan for the Thacker Pass project in Nevada [1] Company Summaries - **Lithium Americas Corp (LAC)**: The company is at the center of a strategic investment by the Trump administration, which seeks to bolster domestic lithium production through a significant loan renegotiation [1] - **MP Materials Corp (MP)**: As the largest U.S. producer of rare earths, MP Materials operates the Mountain Pass mine in California and has secured a 15% equity stake from the Department of Defense, positioning it as a potential candidate for further government investment [3][4] - **USA Rare Earth Inc (USAR)**: The company is advancing the Round Top project in Texas, focusing on building a fully integrated U.S. rare earth supply chain. Its alignment with the administration's goals makes it a likely candidate for federal support [5] - **Ioneer Ltd (IONR)**: Developing the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, Ioneer has received a conditional commitment for a $700 million loan from the Department of Energy, indicating its strategic importance in securing domestic lithium sources [6] - **Perpetua Resources Corp (PPTA)**: The company is advancing the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho, which offers gold and significant antimony reserves. This aligns with national security objectives by enhancing domestic mineral production [7] Industry Implications - The Trump administration's strategic investments in critical minerals companies reflect a broader initiative to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign sources, indicating potential for increased valuations and strategic partnerships for these companies [8]