Graphano Reports High-Grade 8.61m Drill Results at Black Pearl Graphite Project

Graphano (Graphano Energy Ltd., TSXV: GEL; OTC: GELEF) has released encouraging initial assay results from its September 2025 drill program at the 100% owned Black Pearl graphite project in Quebec, Canada. The standout intersection, BP25-01: 11.33% graphitic carbon (Cg) over 8.61 metres, confirms near-surface, high-grade graphite mineralization. 

The program also recorded strong surface channel averages and wider channel highs, and Graphano plans further geophysics and assays across its 4,149-hectare land package.

Graphano: Overview of the Black Pearl Graphite Project

Location and scale

Black Pearl is a large, under-explored property of 84 claims covering 4,149 ha in Quebec. The project is situated near Graphano’s other assets and immediately east of its advanced-stage Standard Mine project, providing the company with strategic regional exposure to the Lac des Iles graphite trend. Initial prospecting, trenching, and channel sampling led to the first drill test this season.

Why Black Pearl matters for Graphano

The property’s size and proximity to known graphite deposits make Black Pearl a strategic target for Graphano. Near-surface mineralization, combined with high channel sample grades, suggests potential for a scalable operation that could feed battery-grade graphite demand for EVs and energy storage.

Why are these results important? They confirm high-grade, near-surface graphite on a large land package, which improves the project’s development potential.

Graphano: Details of the 8.61-Metre Drill Intersection

The key intersection and other drill highlights

The program drilled 620 metres across nine holes. Highlights include: BP25-01: 11.33% Cg over 8.61 m, starting at 18.64 m downhole. Surface channel sampling averaged 13.2% Cg from 42 samples, with surface channel highs including 15.1% Cg over 14 m and 17.9% Cg over 9 m. Another hole, ST25-02, returned 4.53% Cg over 5.50 m at 20.50 m, and 7.95% Cg over 3.75 m at 31.90 m. The drilling traced mineralization from surface to about 35 m vertical, and it remains open at depth.

Practical meaning of the numbers

Grades of 11.33% Cg over 8.61 m are considered high for primary graphite exploration and attractive for downstream processing. The combination of near-surface continuity and strong channel averages improves the project’s economics, because shallow deposits often allow lower cost strip or shallow open-pit extraction.

What makes Graphano’s intersection stand out? The grade, the shallow depth of the intersection, and the corroborating channel sample averages make this result notable for a first-ever drill program.

Graphano: Exploration Program and Next Steps

Program scope and follow-up plans

This initial drill campaign was designed to test conductive trends identified by ground geophysics. Graphano plans an airborne geophysical survey to expand targets across the property and to identify extensions to the discovery area. Additional assays from the program are pending and will refine the geological model.

Technical caveats and transparency

Graphano’s release notes that the program was limited in scale, with only 620 m drilled; reported widths are drill thicknesses, and true widths are unknown. Some holes returned narrower or lower-grade intervals, a normal outcome in early-stage programs. The company is clear about these limitations while pointing to the program’s success in validating the exploration model.

When will we see more results? Graphano will publish further assays as they come in, and the planned airborne geophysics should expand drill targets quickly.

Graphano: Market Implications and Industry Context

Why graphite grades and shallow continuity matter

Demand for battery-grade graphite is growing with EV and energy storage markets. High grades near the surface reduce mining and processing costs, which matters for supply chain viability. Graphano’s initial results place Black Pearl in a favourable light among Canadian graphite explorers for potential feedstock to manufacturing and battery supply chains.

Quebec and the critical mineral landscape

Quebec is a priority jurisdiction for Canada’s critical minerals strategy. Projects like Black Pearl, if advanced, can benefit from local infrastructure, skilled labour, and supportive provincial policy. Graphano’s discovery, therefore, aligns with broader national efforts to secure domestic battery materials.

Could Graphano become a major supplier? The results are promising, but scale, metallurgy, and further drilling will determine Graphano’s supplier potential.

Graphano: Leadership Comment and Investor Perspective

Company statement

“These initial drill results validate our exploration model and confirm the presence of strong graphite mineralization at Black Pearl,” said Luisa Moreno, Chief Executive Officer. “The grades and near-surface continuity are very encouraging, and we are confident this project has the potential to become a significant addition to Graphano’s portfolio of graphite assets in Quebec.”

The release frames the drilling as a successful first pass and sets expectations for follow-up work.

Investor takeaways and risk points

Investors welcomed the headline numbers, but analysts and watchers will focus on follow-up assays, metallurgical results, and whether true widths support resource estimation. The company’s transparency about limits, including some lower-grade holes and the small program size, helps set realistic expectations.

Graphano: What Comes Next

Immediate milestones to watch

Key near-term items include the rest of the assay suite, airborne geophysics results, and the expansion of drill targets. If subsequent drill holes show consistent grades and thicknesses, Graphano may move toward a more extensive program to define resources.

Long-term outlook for Graphano and Black Pearl

Black Pearl’s size, combined with promising early results, positions Graphano to play a role in Quebec’s critical minerals sector. However, value creation will depend on continued exploration success, metallurgy, and permitting paths. For now, Graphano’s first drill campaign delivers a clear validation: there is high-grade, near-surface graphite at Black Pearl, and more work is underway.

Final thought: Graphano’s initial assays give the company a credible early lead in Quebec graphite exploration, but the next round of data and geophysics will be decisive.

Disclaimer

The above information is based on current market data, which is subject to change, and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your research.