Demand for graphite, a major component of lithium-ion batteries, is expected to grow by 200% over the next four years, which should power up the graphite juniors on our list
SmallCapPower | December 6, 2016: In a recent Benchmark Mineral Intelligence article, it predicts that the graphite anode market, which is served by spherical graphite and a major component of the lithium-ion battery, will increase from 80,000 tons per annum (tpa) in 2015, to 250,000 tpa by the end of 2020. This demand increase is being driven by the expansion of the lithium-ion battery industry, as production facilities move from producing megawatts per year to gigawatts. As graphite’s importance seems to have been underestimated by the markets, the graphite juniors on our list will likely benefit once the gigafactories come online and a shortage of graphite is realized.
Mason Graphite Inc. (CVE:LLG) – $1.38
Specialty Mining & Metals
Mason Graphite Inc. is a Canada-based exploration-stage company engaged in exploration and evaluation of the Lac Gueret graphite property located in Quebec, Canada. The Company’s Lac Gueret graphite property consists of approximately 215 claims covering an area of approximately 11,630.34 hectares, located in the Cote-Nord region in northeastern Quebec. The Lac Gueret deposit is located approximately 285 kilometers north of Baie-Comeau and over 660 kilometers from Montreal.
- Market Cap: 157(mm)
- YTD Price PCT Change: 305.9%
- Cash and Short Term Investments (FQ0, Default, Millions): $28.09
Leading Edge Materials Corp. (CVE:LEM) – $0.48
Specialty Mining & Metals
Leading Edge Materials Corp, formerly Flinders Resources Ltd, is a junior exploration company engaged in the operation of its Woxna Graphite Mine located in central Sweden. The Woxna Project is located over eight kilometers west-north-west of the town of Edsbyn, northwest of the city of Gavle in Central Sweden. Woxna Graphite AB, a subsidiary of the Company, owns approximately four mining concessions over graphite deposits (the Kringelgruven graphite deposit, Gropabo graphite deposit, Mattsmyra graphite deposit and Mansberg graphite deposit-the Woxna Project) located along approximately 40 kilometers trend in central Sweden.
- Market Cap: 38(mm)
- YTD Price PCT Change: 220.0%
- Cash and Short Term Investments (FQ0, Default, Millions): $1.87
Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (CVE:ZEN) – $0.97
Specialty Mining & Metals
Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. is a junior mineral exploration company focused primarily on mineral deposits in Northern Ontario, Canada. The Company is engaged in exploring mining projects and holds an interest in exploration licenses on properties in the Arc of Fire area in Northern Ontario. The properties, located north of Lake Superior and west of James Bay in north-western Ontario, are unpatented, noncontiguous, and consist of approximately 10 blocks of claims (originally consisted of over 30 block claims), approximately 160 claims and over 2,360 claim units, totaling approximately 376.96 square kilometers and over 37,700 hectares (the Claims). It focuses on the exploration of the Claims and development of its Albany Graphite Deposit on claim block 4F.
- Market Cap: 59(mm)
- YTD Price PCT Change: 14.1%
- Cash and Short Term Investments (FQ0, Default, Millions): $2.41
Canada Carbon Inc. (CVE:CCB) – $0.29
Diversified Mining
Canada Carbon Inc. is a Canada-based mining company that owns interests in approximately three graphite properties located in Quebec, including two past producing graphite mines, the Miller and the Asbury. The Miller hydrothermal lump-vein graphite mine and surrounding property covers an area of approximately 100 square kilometers and is located over 80 kilometers west of Montreal in the Grenville Township. The Asbury open-pit mine and mill are located in the north of the Ottawa-Gatineau area. The Dun Raven graphite deposit is located in Thorne Township.
- Market Cap: 28(mm)
- YTD Price PCT Change: -18.3%
- Cash and Short Term Investments (FQ0, Default, Millions): $0.66
Energizer Resources Inc. (TSE:EGZ) – $0.07
Diversified Mining
Energizer Resources, Inc. is an exploration-stage company engaged in the business of acquisition, exploration and development of mineral resources. It is engaged in the advancement of the Molo Graphite Project, consisting of a commercially minable graphite deposit situated in the African country of Madagascar. It also has additional exploration-stage properties situated in Madagascar and in the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Company is pursuing negotiations in respect of off-take agreements with graphite end users and intermediaries with the intention of securing project financing alternatives, which may include debt, equity and derivative instruments.
- Market Cap: 30(mm)
- YTD Price PCT Change: -23.5%
- Cash and Short Term Investments (FQ0, Default, Millions): $6.09
