Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In
Built byBoxcut Studio

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects

    GBM’s Kearney graphite mine restart: production scale and design notes for engineers

    May 6, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    GBM’s Kearney graphite mine restart: production scale and design notes for engineers

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Global Battery Materials plans to restart Ontario’s Kearney flake graphite mine within about 20 months, targeting initial output of 23,000 tonnes of carbon graphite per year from 2028, rising to 50,000 tonnes, backed by WSP’s update of a 2018 feasibility study. The former Ontario Graphite asset hosts 23 million tonnes of proven and probable reserves at 1.95% Cg, plus 61.8 million measured and indicated tonnes at 1.99% Cg, supporting a projected mine life of at least 20 years. GBM is also advancing site selection for a 50,000‑tonne‑per‑year anode materials plant in Ontario, Quebec or the US, with production targeted from late 2028.

    Technical Brief

    • Historic operations processed almost 1 million tonnes of ore before shutdown due to low graphite prices.
    • Resource base includes 59.2 Mt inferred at 1.88% Cg, in addition to reserves and M&I tonnages.
    • GBM has already shipped initial Kearney graphite samples to undisclosed US customers for qualification.
    • A new Mont‑Laurier, Quebec laboratory is configured to purify low‑grade ore to battery‑grade concentrate.
    • Planned anode plant is being sized at ~50,000 t/y capacity with provision for future expansion.
    • Funding options under review include private equity, IPO and potential equity participation from government entities.
    • Benchmark forecasts natural flake graphite demand reaching ~3 Mt by 2035, implying ~30 new mines globally.

    Our Take

    With China currently handling about 70% of natural graphite production and over 90% of battery-grade processing, a restart at the Kearney graphite mine in Ontario would give North American cell and anode makers a rare non-Chinese flake source within 300 km of Toronto’s industrial corridor, which is increasingly important in OEM localisation strategies.

    Measured, indicated and inferred resources at Kearney total well over 100 million tonnes at around 2% Cg, which in our database puts it among the larger undeveloped or suspended natural flake graphite assets in North America and supports the projected 20-year operating life from a resource-basis perspective.

    The projected need for roughly 30 new natural flake graphite mines by 2035, combined with synthetic anode supply deals such as Vianode’s recent LOI with JR Energy Solution, suggests that even if synthetic graphite expands, projects like Kearney and Quebec’s Matawinie mine will likely still be required to balance anode feedstock portfolios for EV and stationary storage producers.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    about 5 hours ago

    Bradken SmartRoller™ for excavators: reliability and maintenance insights for engineers

    Bradken has launched Bradken SmartRoller™, a digital system that continuously monitors excavator undercarriage roller temperature in real time via remote sensing. By tracking temperature trends as a proxy for wear progression and issuing early alerts, the system allows operators to schedule proactive roller replacement rather than waiting for failure. The approach targets higher excavator uptime, more stable undercarriage performance and lower lifecycle costs for high-hour fleets in abrasive conditions.

    MAV2205 shaft–hub locking devices: bending load insights for conveyor engineers
    Mining
    about 5 hours ago

    MAV2205 shaft–hub locking devices: bending load insights for conveyor engineers

    MAV2205 shaft–hub locking devices are being engineered specifically for mining conveyor pulleys where high belt tensions and heavily loaded drive or bend drums impose severe bending loads on the pulley shaft, not just torque. By clamping concentrically along the shaft–hub interface, the unit spreads bending stresses more evenly than traditional keyed or welded connections, reducing local stress concentrations that initiate fatigue cracks. For designers and maintenance teams, this supports longer pulley service life, fewer unplanned shutdowns and more predictable performance in high-tension conveyor duty.

    Regis wins McPhillamys court challenge: approvals reset and design notes for mine planners
    Mining
    about 5 hours ago

    Regis wins McPhillamys court challenge: approvals reset and design notes for mine planners

    Regis Resources has won a Federal Court challenge over its McPhillamys gold project in New South Wales, with the court declaring invalid a Commonwealth heritage protection declaration that had halted development. The 14 October ruling sends the project back to federal Environment Minister Murray Watt for redetermination, reopening the approvals pathway for the planned open-pit operation near Blayney. Geotechnical and mine planning teams can now resume work on pit design, waste rock emplacement and associated infrastructure, pending any new heritage conditions.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental