Titan Mining Validates Kilbourne Graphite Concentrator Flowsheet and Achieves Battery-Grade Purity
MWN-AI** Summary
Titan Mining Corporation recently announced major advancements in the Kilbourne Graphite Project, achieving significant results throughout its graphite processing chain, confirming the design parameters laid out in its Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The company's concentrator achieved a remarkable 95.9% C(t) graphite concentration with a recovery rate of 91.4%, surpassing the PEA expectations of 95% concentration and 90% recovery.
The findings also validated the preferred purification process used in the Feasibility Study, consistently yielding battery-grade purified graphite with over 99.90% fixed carbon content. Notably, Titan’s conversion efficiency, with about 66% of concentrate transformed into spherical graphite, significantly exceeds the typical industry average of 50%. This high yield enhances the project's financial viability.
Titan is making notable progress in engineering as it works toward establishing the first integrated U.S. graphite supply chain in over seven decades. Key phases include the engineering for both the concentrator and the Secondary Transformation Plant, with ongoing production aimed at customer qualification and commercial-scale production. The company’s demonstration plant, designed for a capacity of 1,200 tons per annum, is supporting these efforts as it generates Kilbourne concentrate for testing.
President and CEO Rita Adiani emphasized that these favorable results de-risk the project from extraction to end-product. With ongoing metallurgical optimization and a comprehensive approach to engineering and customer engagement, Titan Mining is poised to advance toward the construction phase, reinforcing its commitment to developing a secure domestic supply chain for critical minerals, particularly as demand for lithium-ion battery components continues to grow.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent announcement from Titan Mining Corporation regarding the successful validation of the Kilbourne Graphite Concentrator flowsheet is a significant moment for the company and the broader graphite market. With Titan achieving a 95.9% graphite concentrate at a recovery rate of 91.4%, both metrics exceeded the assumptions outlined in their Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). This not only reinforces the company’s operational viability but also enhances confidence among investors regarding its technical capabilities and future prospects.
The achievement of battery-grade purity—above 99.90% fixed carbon—is particularly noteworthy given the escalating demand for high-quality graphite in the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector. By converting approximately 66% of its concentrate into spherical graphite products, Titan stands to outperform market averages, thereby improving the overall economic attractiveness of its project. As the global market for graphite continues to expand—driven largely by the booming EV sector—Titan’s earlier-than-expected validation of its processing capabilities positions it favorably against competitors.
Investors should maintain a close watch on the advancements in Titan's Feasibility Study and subsequent plans for commercial operations. The company’s forward-looking emphasis on completing customer qualifications is promising, suggesting a proactive approach toward securing contracts which could lead to revenue stability.
Given the heightened interest in securing domestic sources of critical minerals, supported by government initiatives to boost domestic production, Titan appears well-aligned with market trends and policy directions. However, potential investors should remain cautious of inherent risks in the mining sector, including supply chain vulnerabilities and regulatory hurdles.
In conclusion, Titan Mining Corporation represents a compelling investment opportunity, underpinned by strong technical performance and market conditions favoring U.S.-based production of critical minerals. Consider incorporating TII into a diversified portfolio as the market for battery-grade graphite continues to grow.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
GOUVERNEUR, N.Y., July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Titan Mining Corporation (NYSE-A:TII, TSX:TI), (“Titan” or the “Company”), a U.S.-focused critical minerals producer and developer, today announced positive results across its full graphite processing chain for the Kilbourne Graphite Project, from ore concentration through to battery-grade spherical graphite. The results confirm the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) design assumptions at the concentrator and demonstrate battery-grade purity and above-average yields at the downstream pilot stage, supporting the ongoing Feasibility Study and Titan's plan to build the first fully integrated U.S. graphite supply chain in over 70 years.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Concentrator flowsheet validated: Locked-cycle testing produced a 95.9% C(t) graphite concentrate at 91.4% recovery, exceeding the PEA design basis of 95% concentrate grade and 90% recovery.
- Preferred commercial purification process confirmed: Metallurgical test work selected for the preferred purification flowsheet for the Feasibility Study, consistently producing battery-grade purified graphite (?99.90% Fixed Carbon).
- Industry-leading spherical graphite yield: Approximately 66% of concentrate converted into spherical graphite products, exceeding the industry average of approximately 50%.
- Engineering progressing across the value chain: Engineering of both the concentrator and Secondary Transformation Plant continues to advance as part of the Feasibility Study.
- Demonstration plant supporting commercialization: Ongoing production at plant with design capacity of 1,200 mt per annum, is generating representative Kilbourne concentrate for downstream pilot campaigns, customer qualification and commercial-scale engineering.
"These results confirm two things: our concentrator performs as designed in the PEA, and our downstream process turns that concentrate into battery-grade material at yields well above the industry average. Together, they de-risk the Kilbourne Feasibility Study from the mine face through to the finished product. We're now focused on completing customer qualification and advancing toward construction," said Rita Adiani, President and Chief Executive Officer of Titan.
As part of the ongoing Feasibility Study, Titan completed a metallurgical optimization program at SGS Lakefield to refine the concentrator design for the Kilbourne Graphite Project. The optimized flowsheet closely aligns with the PEA design, requiring only minor refinements to further improve performance.
Figure 1: Concentrator Design Flowsheet
Locked-cycle flotation testing produced a 95.9% C(t) graphite concentrate at 91.4% graphite recovery, exceeding the PEA design basis of 95% concentrate grade and 90% recovery. Flake size distribution also closely matched PEA assumptions, providing further confidence in the concentrator design. Variability testing across representative ore types is ongoing to support the final engineering design.
Engineering of the concentrator continues to advance, with vendor testing underway to finalize equipment sizing. In parallel, the Empire State Mine demonstration plant continues producing graphite concentrate to support downstream pilot campaigns and customer qualification activities.
Table 1: Locked Cycle Flotation Test Mass Balance
| Product | Weight | Assays, %, | Dist. % |
| % | C(t) | C(t) | |
| 11th Cleaner Concentrate | 2.81 | 95.9 | 91.4 |
| Combined Cleaner Tails | 22.0 | 0.56 | 4.15 |
| 9th Cleaner Tail | 0.14 | 5.22 | 0.25 |
| 6th Cleaner Tail | 0.57 | 12.6 | 2.42 |
| 3rd Cleaner Tail | 3.04 | 0.35 | 0.35 |
| 1st Cleaner Tail | 18.3 | 0.18 | 1.13 |
| Rougher Tail | 75.2 | 0.18 | 4.48 |
| Head | 100 | 2.96 | 100 |
Table 2: Size Fraction Analysis on Combined Concentrate
| Size Fraction | Weight | Assays, % | % Distr. |
| % | C(t) | C(t) | |
| +48 mesh | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| +80 mesh | 3.2 | 91.4 | 3.0 |
| +100 mesh | 3.6 | 94.0 | 3.5 |
| +200 mesh | 33.3 | 96.3 | 33.5 |
| +325 mesh | 30.5 | 97.0 | 30.8 |
| +400 mesh | 10.6 | 96.8 | 10.7 |
| -400 mesh | 19.0 | 91.5 | 18.4 |
| Total Concentrate | 100.0 | 95.9 | 100.0 |
The downstream engineering program continues to advance in parallel with the Kilbourne Feasibility Study.
Metallurgical test work has confirmed the preferred purification flowsheet for the Secondary Transformation Plant, consistently producing ?99.90% Fixed Carbon purified micronized graphite (PMG). A thermal pretreatment step combined with the selected purification process achieved 99.99% Fixed Carbon for spherical purified graphite (SPG), supporting its suitability for lithium-ion battery applications.
The program also demonstrated an approximate 66% conversion of graphite concentrate into spherical graphite products, significantly above the industry average of approximately 50%, further enhancing the project's economics.
Representative SPG products have been dispatched for specialist coating and electrochemical testing as part of ongoing customer qualification activities. In parallel, three tonnes of representative Kilbourne graphite concentrate are being prepared for shipment to Dorfner Anzaplan in Germany for the next pilot-scale production campaign. Engineering of the Secondary Transformation Plant and evaluation of its preferred site location continue as part of the Feasibility Study.
The Company also continues to progress the evaluation of the preferred site location for the Secondary Transformation Plant, as outlined in its June 25, 2026 news release.
Qualified Persons
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release (other than in respect of the secondary transformation site) has been reviewed and approved by Oliver Peters, P.Eng., M.Sc., MBA, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release related to the secondary transformation site has been reviewed and approved by Derick de Wit, FAusIMM, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
The Qualified Person has verified the metallurgical data disclosed in this news release, including sampling information, laboratory test procedures, analytical results, calculations, and interpretations underlying the technical information presented. Verification activities included a review of sample selection and compositing procedures, chain-of-custody records, laboratory certificates, test protocols, analytical methodologies, mass balance calculations, and the reported metallurgical results. The Qualified Person also reviewed the consistency of the reported results with the underlying laboratory data and confirmed that the conclusions presented are supported by the testwork completed.
The metallurgical testwork program was conducted under a quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") program designed by SGS Lakefield to ensure the reliability of the results. Test procedures were developed and executed in accordance with industry-standard laboratory practices. Equipment calibration, procedural checks, duplicate analyses, and internal laboratory quality control measures were utilized, where appropriate, throughout the program. Sample preparation, handling, and testing were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, and all analytical results were reviewed for reasonableness and internal consistency.
The metallurgical samples utilized for testing were selected to be representative of the mineralization and material types under evaluation; however, metallurgical performance can vary throughout a deposit due to changes in mineralogy, grade, weathering, and other geological factors. As with all laboratory-scale testwork, the results reported herein may not be fully representative of future plant-scale performance. Factors that may materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the reported results include sample representativity, variability in feed characteristics, analytical precision, test conditions, scale-up assumptions, and process operating parameters.
The metallurgical testwork was conducted by SGS in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. The laboratory is independent of the Company. Testing was performed on a Master composite weighing approximately 200 kg. The test program included comminution testing and laboratory flotation testing. Analytical determinations were completed using industry-standard methods appropriate for the material and products under evaluation, including carbon analysis, sulphur analysis, ICP-OES, XRF, and particle size analysis. The Qualified Person considers the analytical and metallurgical procedures used in the program to be appropriate for the objectives of the testwork and the nature of the mineralization being evaluated.
About Titan Mining Corporation
Titan is an Augusta Group company which produces zinc concentrate at its 100%-owned Empire State Mine located in New York State. Titan is also the United States' first end-to-end producer of natural flake graphite in 70 years and is advancing graphite and germanium initiatives to strengthen domestic critical minerals supply chains. The Company has also received support from the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) under its Make More in America Initiative. Titan’s goal is to deliver shareholder value through operational excellence, development, and exploration. We have a strong commitment towards developing critical minerals assets which enhance the security of the domestic supply chain. For more information on the Company, please visit our website at www.titanminingcorp.com
Investor Relations Contact
Irina Kuznetsova
Director, Investor Relations
Phone: (778) 870-7735
Email: info@titanminingcorp.com
Media Relations Contact
KCSA Strategic Communications
Email: TitanMining@KCSA.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements and information contained in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements”, and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). These statements appear in a number of places in this news release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Titan's plan to build the first fully integrated U.S. graphite supply chain in over 70 years; that we're now focused on completing customer qualification and advancing toward construction; and future potential results of the Feasibility Study. When used in this news release, words such as “to be”, “believe”, “targeted”, “could”, “will”, “planned”, “expected”, “potential”, and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to vary materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including risks relating to cost increases for capital and operating costs; risks of shortages and fluctuating costs of equipment or supplies; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of zinc and graphite; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; potential effects on our operations of environmental regulations in New York State; risks due to legal proceedings; and risks related to operation of mining projects generally; risks that the new antidumping and countervailing duties do not receive final affirmative determination by the ITC; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including assumptions made with regard to our forecasts and expected cash flows; our projected capital and operating costs; our expectations regarding mining and metallurgical recoveries; mine life and production rates; that laws or regulations impacting mining activities will remain consistent; our approved business plans; our mineral resource estimates and results of the preliminary economic assessment; our experience with regulators; political and social support of the mining industry in New York State; our experience and knowledge of the New York State mining industry and our expectations of economic conditions and the price of zinc and graphite; demand for graphite; exploration results; the ability to secure adequate financing (as needed); the Company maintaining its current strategy and objectives; study results; permitting progress; and the Company’s ability to achieve its growth objectives. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If we update any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon these statements as of any other date. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b781b66e-2b45-4fad-bc9b-50232cc06fbd
FAQ**
How does the recent success of Titan Mining Corporation TI:CC in achieving a 95.9% graphite concentrate at 91.4% recovery impact the expected outcomes of the ongoing Feasibility Study?
What steps is Titan Mining Corporation TI:CC taking to advance customer qualification and commercial-scale engineering as it works towards constructing the integrated U.S. graphite supply chain?
How does Titan Mining Corporation TI:CC’s purification process, which achieves battery-grade graphite purity of ?99.90% Fixed Carbon, compare to industry standards and potential competitors?
Given the ongoing risks outlined in the forward-looking statements, how does Titan Mining Corporation TI:CC plan to mitigate factors that could affect the accuracy of projected capital and operating costs moving forward?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Titan Mining Corporation (NYSE: TII).
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