Graphite One Confirms the Presence of Rare Earth Elements at its Graphite Creek Deposit

CEO: "The presence of two Defense Production Act Title III materials - graphite and REEs - in a single deposit further underscores Graphite Creek as a generational deposit."

Initial test work identifies all five of the principal permanent magnet REEs at Graphite Creek

G1's Rare Earths recovery plan will include independent testing and process development with a DOE National Lab

Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) ("Graphite One", "G1" or the "Company") announced today that it has identified the presence of Rare Earth Elements ("REEs") in its Graphite Creek deposit, north of Nome, Alaska. Geochemical analyses completed by Activation Laboratories Ltd ("ActLabs") found rare earths in drillcore samples of garnet-bearing ore rock within the anticipated pit outlined in G1's Feasibility Study ("FS"), completed in February 2025. Already recognized by the United States Geological Survey as the largest known natural graphite deposit in the U.S.¹, G1's FS resource estimate tripled previous projections. The FS pit and it's anticipated 20-year mine life comprises just 12% of the 15.3 km (9.5 mile) long graphite- and garnet-bearing mineralized zone.

"The presence of two Defense Production Act Title III materials - graphite and REEs - in a single deposit further underscores Graphite Creek's position as a truly generational deposit," said Anthony Huston, President of Graphite One. "Given the robust economics of our planned complete graphite materials supply chain, the presence of Rare Earths at Graphite Creek suggests that recovery as a by-product to our graphite production will maximize the value."

Rare Earth Elements are vital to 21^st Century technology, with neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, terbium and samarium forming essential building blocks of powerful permanent magnets used in wind turbines, electric vehicles and advanced defense systems such as precision-guided munitions and radar. REEs further enable high-performance fiber optics, lasers, catalysts, and phosphors in displays and lighting. Their distinct magnetic, optical and catalytic properties make them indispensable across military applications and commercial electronics, renewable energy, and telecommunications - underscoring their strategic importance to U.S industry and national security.

China, the world's largest producer of the full range of REEs, imposed export limits on the magnet REEs in February 2024 and tightened graphite exports in December 2024, highlighting the importance of the development of G1's Graphite Creek Mine. A recent UBS Evidence Labs report indicates that dependence on China for a select group of Critical Minerals is most severe for graphite and REE.

Test work on 21 representative samples from quartz-biotite-garnet-sillimanite schist units throughout the FS pit indicate elevated levels of the Heavy Rare Earths ("HREEs") and the presence of the five principle REE magnet elements - Neodymium, Praseodymium as well as HREEs Dysprosium and Terbium - in addition to Samarium, which is used in Samarium Cobalt ("SmCo") permanent magnets. Aside from the Lanthanide HREEs, the Graphite Creek garnet-bearing ore rock contains Scandium and elevated Yttrium. "Garnets are known for their ability to uptake Heavy Rare Earths and Yttrium into their mineral structure," said Dr. Kirsten Fristad, G1 Chief Geologist.

Building on the initial bulk rock analyses, additional test work is being completed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory and Activation Laboratories Ltd to quantify the REE inventory within the host mineralogy. G1 is in discussions with a Department of Energy National Lab to develop extraction methods and separation pathways for the individual REEs in the Graphite Creek ore.

The Graphite Creek Feasibility Study was completed more than 12 months ahead of schedule with the support from the Department of War (then DoD) via a $37.5 million Defense Production Act Title III grant. In September 2025, G1 received a non-binding Letter of Interest from the EXIM Bank for $570 million in funding for the Graphite Creek Mine, the second EXIM Letter of Interest G1 has received, after a $325 million letter for the development of the Company's Ohio advanced graphite materials facility. G1 is in ongoing discussions with senior officials at all relevant federal departments and agencies on the Company's complete supply chain strategy for advanced graphite products. "We will now be adding updates on our Rare Earth by-product potential," said Mr. Huston.

Graphite One's Domestic Supply Chain Strategy

With the United States currently 100% import-dependent for natural graphite, Graphite One is developing a complete U.S.-based, advanced graphite supply chain solution anchored by the Graphite Creek deposit, recognized by the US Geological Survey as the largest graphite deposit in the U.S. "and among the largest in the world." The Graphite One Project supply chain strategy involves transporting material to the lower 48 via the Port of Nome to an advanced graphite material and battery anode material manufacturing plant located in Warren, Ohio. The plan also includes a recycling facility to reclaim graphite and the other battery materials, to be co-located at the Ohio site, the third link in Graphite One's circular economy strategy.

Qualified Person

Mr. Rob Retherford, P. Geo, with Alaska Earth Sciences, Inc. provided oversite to the 2022-2024 drilling, sampling, and QA/QC programs. Mr. Retherford is a independent Qualified Person as defined under NI 43‐101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

About Graphite One Inc.

GRAPHITE ONE INC. continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the "Project"), with the goal of becoming an American producer of high grade anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource. The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine and process natural graphite and to manufacture artificial and natural graphite anode active materials primarily for the lithium‐ion electric vehicle battery and energy storage markets.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Anthony Huston" (signed)

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including those related to the quantity and quality of and ability to economically extract the rare earth elements from the deposit, timing and completion of permitting, future production, establishment of a processing plant and a graphite manufacturing plant, establishment of a battery materials recycling facility, and events or developments that the Company intends, expects, plans, or proposes are forward-looking statements Generally, forward‐looking information can be identified by the use of forward‐looking terminology such as "proposes", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "plans", "is planning", "intends", "assumes", "believes", "indicates", "to be" 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". The Company cautions that there is no certainty that rare earth elements will be extracted from the Project, that rare earth elements extracted will be economically feasible, , the tests of the Company's material will be successful or that such tests will result in the development of successful products. 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 market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, 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.sedarplus.ca.

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SOURCE Graphite One Inc.