FYI No UPDATE Sunday
Summary
A trio of noteworthy moves signals further realignment in the global critical-minerals space. Global Battery Materials, based in Canada and South Korea, announced the formation of a new company to build a China-free natural-graphite and active-anode materials supply chain, targeting battery-grade production outside of dominant Chinese influence. Newswire Meanwhile, Highland Critical Minerals Corp. entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire over 3,100 hectares of mining claims in the Yathkyed Lake Greenstone Belt of Nunavut — signalling fresh upstream ambition in Canada’s northern region. TradingView On the regulatory front, the U.S. revised its critical-minerals list to include additional elements — expanding the scope of what constitutes strategic supply-chain risk. Bloomberg+1
Key Points
Graphite supply chain diversification: Global Battery Materials announced a new entity to produce natural graphite and active anode materials from Canadian and Korean operations — explicitly positioned as free of Chinese-sourced feedstock and processing. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/global-battery-materials-forms-new-company-to-close-ex-china-graphite-critical-mineral-supply-gap-897620742.html
Nunavut mining claims acquisition: Highland Critical Minerals Corp. signed a letter of intent to acquire mining claims totalling ~3,139 hectares in the Yathkyed Lake Greenstone Belt, Nunavut — signalling a push into Arctic/remote-Canada upstream critical-minerals territory. https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com%2C2025-11-07%3Anewsml_NFC3lvLlJ%3A0-highland-critical-minerals-corp-enters-into-binding-letter-of-intent-to-acquire-mining-claims-located-in-the-territory-of-nunavut/
U.S. broadens critical-minerals list: The latest update by the U.S. Interior Department / USGS added minerals such as copper, silver, silicon and metallurgical coal among others — bringing the total number of critical minerals to 60 and expanding the remit of national-security, supply-chain and investment frameworks. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-06/trump-administration-adds-copper-coal-to-critical-minerals-list
Why It Matters
Supply-chain substitution in motion — Graphite, a key battery-material feedstock, has long been dominated by Chinese supply and processing; Global Battery Materials’ move suggests companies are actively building alternatives.
Upstream expansion in remote regions — The Nunavut acquisition indicates that exploration and claim-acquisition activity is picking up in far-north Canada, with implications for mining-access, permitting and infrastructure.
Regulatory scope widens — With the U.S. expanding its critical-minerals list, more minerals will fall under the national-security/investment umbrella — meaning more projects, funding, and regulatory attention will follow.
Watchlist Companies
Company / Entity | Context | Homepage / Link |
|---|---|---|
Global Battery Materials | New company building an ex-China natural-graphite/anode supply chain. | |
Highland Critical Minerals Corp. (HLND) | Entered LOI to acquire mining claims in Nunavut’s Yathkyed Lake region. | |
American Pacific Mining Corp. | Noted that copper (among others) was added to the USGS critical minerals list — improving project leverage. | |
Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (UCU) | A rare-earth processor focused company; upstream + downstream exposure in allied supply chains. |
Critical Minerals Spotlight
Graphite & active anode materials — While lithium, cobalt and nickel dominate headlines, graphite remains a key battery-chain vulnerability. Diversification efforts here are strategic.
Remote-region mining activity — Nunavut’s greenstone belts highlight that high-grade, remote northern jurisdictions are increasingly on the radar for critical-minerals sourcing.
Expanded regulatory classification — With more minerals newly designated as “critical”, the competition for investment, offtake, and processing capacity intensifies — across a broader materials base.
Action Points
Monitor announcements from Global Battery Materials regarding project timelines, offtake contracts and processing capacity for its new entity — early exposure may offer upside.
Track the specific terms of Highland’s Nunavut acquisition (tenure, exploration plan, permitting timeline) — remote jurisdictions often carry higher reward/risk.
For downstream manufacturers: assess how the U.S. critical-minerals list expansion could translate into funding support, offtake opportunities or preferential treatment for projects tied to newly-listed materials.
Suppliers and investors should widen their lens beyond the “usual suspects” of lithium and rare earths — materials like graphite, silicon, copper, silver are now firmly in the strategic-supply frame.
This briefing is for informational purposes only and is not legal, investment, or policy advice. Information is believed accurate at time of publication. Sources are publicly available.
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