US cancellation of uranium supply contract renewals in late 1959 abruptly threatened Canada’s position as the world’s top uranium producer, just months after Elliot Lake opened a C$3-million, 116‑bed hospital built on the boom. With US military contracts due to expire in 1962–63 and domestic American uranium output rising, higher‑cost Canadian mines shut while stronger operators consolidated assets. Mining towns like Elliot Lake faced a rapid bust that lasted until civilian nuclear demand later in the 1960s stabilised the sector.

Focus Graphite’s Lac Tetepisca project in central Quebec now hosts 14.7 million tonnes of contained graphite at 10.2% Cg, an 86% increase over its 2022 resource, ranking fifth globally and second in North America by contained tonnes. The updated estimate, based on 26,095 metres of drilling in 150 holes, includes 12.3 million tonnes contained graphite in measured and indicated resources (120.1 million tonnes at 10.27% Cg) plus 2.3 million tonnes inferred (24.1 million tonnes at 9.88% Cg). Grades above 10% Cg, open-pit geometry with favourable strip ratios, low-cost Quebec hydropower and planned >99.9% purity processing underpin analyst views that Focus trades at an 81% discount to peers.

Freeport Indonesia has pushed back Grasberg’s full production restart to early 2028, after a September mudflow in the Grasberg Block Cave killed seven workers, halted underground mining and triggered force majeure on shipments. The complex, which previously supplied about 3% of global copper (1.7 billion lb/year) and 1.4 million oz/year of gold, is currently operating at roughly 40–50% capacity, with copper output for 2026 now guided at 700 million lb versus a prior 1‑billion‑lb target. Ramp-up targets have been reset to 65% capacity in H2 2026 and 80% by mid‑2027, as additional logistics and ore-handling infrastructure work proceeds.