Atlas Critical Minerals Consolidates 11-Kilometer Graphite Corridor in Brazil; Reports Record 19.4% Graphitic Carbon Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Atlas Critical Minerals (NASDAQ: ATCX) acquired an additional mineral right in northeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil, creating a contiguous Graphite Project of ~2,822 hectares (+124%) and an >11-kilometer mineralized corridor. Systematic chip sampling returned a peak 19.4% graphitic carbon and multiple samples above 10% Cgraph. Geophysics indicate low-resistivity anomalies to ~215 m depth; concentrate previously purified to 99.9995% carbon purity, meeting nuclear-grade standards. Atlas plans further geophysics, mapping and diamond drilling to advance toward an initial resource.

Positive

• Project area increased ~124% to 2,822 hectares
• Peak 19.4% Cgraph chip sample, highest reported by the company
• Multiple samples >10% Cgraph demonstrating deposit continuity
• Concentrate purified to 99.9995% carbon, qualifying for nuclear-grade use
• Geophysics show anomalies extending to ~215 meters depth

Negative

• No initial mineral resource estimate yet; follow-up diamond drilling is required

News Market Reaction – ATCX

+10.72%

8 alerts

+10.72% News Effect

+7.1% Peak Tracked

-2.5% Trough Tracked

+$4M Valuation Impact

$37M Market Cap

0.9x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, ATCX gained 10.72%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +7.1% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -2.5% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 8 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $4M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $37M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Peak grade: 19.4% Cgraph Prior best grade: 15.4% Cgraph High-grade samples: 15.49%, 15.41%, 13.82%, 13.22%, 12.23%, 11.68%, 10.51% Cgraph +5 more

8 metrics

Peak grade 19.4% Cgraph Systematic chip sampling result at Graphite Project

Prior best grade 15.4% Cgraph Previously reported best chip sample grade

High-grade samples 15.49%, 15.41%, 13.82%, 13.22%, 12.23%, 11.68%, 10.51% Cgraph Additional chip sampling across three tenements

Project area 2,822 hectares Total Graphite Project area after acquisition

Area increase 124% Approximate increase in total project area

Corridor length 11 kilometers Continuous mineralized graphite corridor in Minas Gerais

Purity level 99.9995% carbon Graphite concentrate purified at independent U.S. laboratory

Graphite market size USD 36.4 billion Projected global graphite market by 2030 (MarketsandMarkets)

Market Reality Check

Price: $6.46 Vol: Volume 48,330 vs 20-day a...

low vol

$6.46 Last Close

Volume Volume 48,330 vs 20-day average 69,712 suggests activity below typical levels ahead of this news. low

Technical Trading below 200-day MA, with price 6.6677 vs 200-day MA at 8.23.

Peers on Argus

No peer stocks were flagged in the momentum scanner, suggesting the 8.65% move w...

No peer stocks were flagged in the momentum scanner, suggesting the 8.65% move was company-specific rather than part of a broader sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 23 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 23	Management appointment	Positive	+7.4%	CTO appointment with 15+ years of process engineering experience.
Jan 26	Metallurgy update	Positive	-23.9%	High metallurgical recoveries and strong TREO grades at Alto do Paranaíba.
Jan 23	Nasdaq ceremony	Positive	+26.9%	Announcement of ringing the Nasdaq Opening Bell to mark listing milestone.
Jan 13	Nasdaq listing	Positive	-3.4%	Commencement of trading on Nasdaq and portfolio overview in Brazil.
Jan 12	Equity offering	Negative	-3.4%	Upsized public stock offering at <b>$8.00</b> per share for exploration funding.

Pattern Detected

Newsflow has been generally positive, with mixed price reactions that alternate between strong rallies and sharp selloffs.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Atlas Critical Minerals has highlighted several milestones, including Nasdaq listing and an upsized offering in January 2026, strong rare earths metallurgical recoveries, and the appointment of a seasoned CTO on February 23, 2026. Price reactions have varied, with both double‑digit gains and declines. Today’s corridor consolidation and record 19.4% Cgraph grades extend this sequence of technical and strategic updates in Brazil.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock surged +10.7% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with A...

Analysis

The stock surged +10.7% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Atlas’s pattern of sizable moves around technical milestones, such as prior Nasdaq-related news and metallurgy results. Record 19.4% Cgraph grades, a 2,822-hectare footprint, and an 11‑kilometer corridor add scale and quality to the story. Investors may weigh how quickly exploration steps like LiDAR, mapping, and core drilling translate into defined resources.

Key Terms

graphitic carbon, lithium-ion batteries, anode, cagr, +3 more

7 terms

graphitic carbon technical

"chip sampling returned a peak result of 19.4% graphitic carbon (Cgraph)"

Graphitic carbon is a form of carbon where atoms are arranged in flat, stacked sheets—think of many layers of paper piled neatly—giving it high electrical and thermal conductivity and stability. Investors should care because this material is a key ingredient in products like battery anodes, conductive coatings and high-performance composites; its availability, cost, and quality can directly affect manufacturing costs, product performance, supply-chain risk and environmental or regulatory costs for companies relying on advanced materials.

lithium-ion batteries technical

"Graphite is a must-have anode material in the lithium-ion batteries that power"

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are lightweight, high-energy storage cells that use lithium ions moving between electrodes to store and release electricity, like a refillable fuel tank for electronic devices and electric vehicles. Investors care because they power a wide range of products from phones to cars and grid systems, so improvements, costs, supply chain constraints, or safety issues can directly affect manufacturers’ profits, product demand, and capital expenditure plans.

anode technical

"in most EV battery chemistries ... the anode is predominantly graphite"

An anode is the electrode in a battery, electrochemical cell, or certain medical devices where chemical reactions release electrons that flow out into a circuit; think of it as the exit door for electrical charge. For investors, anode materials and design matter because they strongly influence a product’s efficiency, lifespan, safety and manufacturing cost—key factors that affect a company’s competitive position and future revenue in industries like energy storage and electronics.

cagr financial

"projected to reach USD 36.4 billion by 2030, growing at a 15.1% CAGR"

Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) measures the average yearly growth of an investment, revenue, or other metric over a multi-year period as if it had grown at a steady rate each year. Think of it like the constant speed that would take you from the starting value to the ending value over the same time—useful because it smooths out ups and downs and lets investors compare different assets or performance periods on an even footing.

lidar technical

"plans to advance ... including:Ground magnetometry and aerophotogrammetryLiDAR topographic"

Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a technology that uses laser beams to create detailed, three-dimensional maps of the environment. It works like a sophisticated eye that measures distances by bouncing light off objects, helping machines see and understand their surroundings. For investors, lidar is important because it enables advancements in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mapping, which can drive innovation and growth in related industries.

ground magnetometry technical

"plans to advance ... including:Ground magnetometry and aerophotogrammetryLiDAR"

Ground magnetometry is a field method that measures tiny variations in the Earth's magnetic field across a site using portable sensors to map differences in subsurface rock and structure. For investors, it is a cost-effective early-stage exploration tool—like using a metal detector to find likely spots—because it helps mineral and resource companies pinpoint promising targets, reduce unnecessary drilling, lower exploration costs, and sharpen project risk estimates.

diamond core drilling technical

"Follow-up diamond core drilling to advance toward initial resource definition"

Diamond core drilling is a method of mining exploration that cuts a cylindrical plug of rock using a diamond-lined drill bit, producing an intact core sample like taking a tissue biopsy from the earth. Investors care because those samples are tested to show the type, concentration and continuity of minerals, which directly affects how much a deposit might be worth, how risky development is, and how confidently companies can plan budgets and timelines.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Belo Horizonte, Brazil--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2026) - Atlas Critical Minerals Corporation (NASDAQ: ATCX) ("Atlas Critical Minerals" or "Company"), a company focused on critical minerals for energy, technology, and defense applications, announces the acquisition of an additional mineral right that links its two existing graphite areas tenements in northeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The combined three mineral rights now comprise the Company's Graphite Project, totaling approximately 2,822 hectares - an increase of approximately 124% - and establish a continuous mineralized corridor exceeding 11 kilometers (~7 miles).

Key Highlights

• Record High-Grade Results: Systematic chip sampling returned a peak result of 19.4% graphitic carbon (Cgraph), surpassing the Company's prior best of 15.4% Cgraph and ranking among the highest reported for natural flake graphite projects globally.
• Consistent Mineralization: Multiple additional samples returned consistently high grades across all three tenements, including 15.49%, 15.41%, 13.82%, 13.22%, 12.23%, 11.68%, and 10.51% Cgraph, supporting strong deposit continuity and the potential for extensive mineralized bodies.
• Acquisition More Than Doubles Project Area: The newly acquired mineral right connects the Company's two existing tenements, increasing total project area by approximately 124% to 2,822 hectares and creating a continuous 11-kilometer mineralized corridor.
• Geophysics Confirm Scale at Depth: Preliminary resistivity surveys at Area 1 corroborate graphite mineralization at depth, with low-resistivity anomalies demonstrating lateral continuity of ~230 meters and extending to depths of up to ~215 meters.
• Demonstrated Premium Specifications: Graphite concentrate from the Project was previously purified at an independent U.S. laboratory to 99.9995% carbon purity, qualifying the material for nuclear-reactor applications-the industry's most stringent standard, exceeding battery-grade requirements.
• Rapidly Growing Market: According to MarketsandMarkets, the global graphite market is projected to reach USD 36.4 billion by 2030, growing at a 15.1% CAGR, driven by surging EV battery and energy storage demand. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates that 97 new graphite mines will be needed by 2035 to meet projected demand.

Figure 1 - Graphite Project map showing the three mineral rights (Areas 1-3), mineralized trends, and representative chip sample results up to 19.4% Cgraph.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6728/287765_d97900c1049abaad_002full.jpg

Graphite is a must-have anode material in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles. In most EV battery chemistries-including LFP, NMC, and NCA-the anode is predominantly graphite, with a typical EV containing tens of kilograms of this critical mineral. High-grade natural graphite with suitable flake size and purity can be upgraded to active anode material, offering a strategic pathway to meet the rapidly growing global demand for graphite supply. Atlas believes the Project's high in-situ grades and demonstrated purification performance position its graphite as a strong contender for this market.

"The expansion of our 100%-owned Graphite Project, together with the exceptional exploration results reported to date, supports our view of the asset's quality and scale, especially in light of the fact that graphite is a key critical mineral," stated Marc Fogassa, Chairman and CEO of Atlas Critical Minerals. "A peak sample of 19.4% Cg, alongside the fact that the vast majority of prior samples exceed 11% Cg, indicates the presence of high-grade mineralization across multiple areas of the project's 11-kilometer graphite corridor. When considered with geophysical data that suggest mineralization may extend beyond 200 meters depth, and our previously reported ability to purify concentrate to nuclear-grade specifications - the pinnacle of global quality standard - we see a clear rationale to accelerate the development of our Graphite Project."

Next Steps

Consistent with the SGS-authored Technical Report Summary on the Graphite Project, Atlas Critical Minerals plans to advance a comprehensive exploration program across the expanded project area, including:

• Ground magnetometry and aerophotogrammetry
• LiDAR topographic surveying
• High-resolution geological mapping with additional sampling
• Follow-up diamond core drilling to advance toward initial resource definition

About Atlas Critical Minerals Corporation
Atlas Critical Minerals Corporation (NASDAQ: ATCX) is an exploration and development company focused on critical minerals, including rare earths, graphite, and uranium. The Company's focus is to build a diversified global supply chain for the strategic minerals essential for the artificial intelligence revolution, energy transformation, and defense uses. More information is available at www.atlascriticalminerals.com and in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current plans, estimates and projections of Atlas Critical Minerals and its subsidiaries and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Risks related to the Company and its subsidiaries are discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 20, 2026. Please also refer to the Company's other filings with the SEC, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company explicitly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Investor Relations
Brian W. Bernier
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 (833) 661-7900
brian.bernier@atlas-cm.com
https://www.atlascriticalminerals.com/
@Atlas_Crit_Min

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/287765

FAQ

What did Atlas Critical Minerals (ATCX) announce on March 10, 2026 about its Graphite Project?

Atlas announced an acquisition linking its tenements to create a ~2,822-hectare Graphite Project and an >11-kilometer corridor. According to the company, the expansion increased project area by ~124% and consolidated three mineral rights for continued exploration.

How significant is the reported 19.4% graphitic carbon result for ATCX's March 2026 news?

The 19.4% Cgraph is the company's highest sampled grade to date, indicating high in-situ graphite tenor. According to the company, many additional samples exceed 10% Cgraph, supporting continuity across the three tenements.

What technical work did Atlas (ATCX) report to support scale and depth of mineralization?

Atlas reported preliminary resistivity surveys showing low-resistivity anomalies with lateral continuity ~230 m and depths to ~215 m. According to the company, these geophysical results corroborate graphite mineralization at depth in Area 1.

Does Atlas Critical Minerals (ATCX) have material suitable for high-end applications?

Yes. Atlas previously had project concentrate purified to 99.9995% carbon purity, meeting nuclear-reactor standards. According to the company, this purification level exceeds typical battery-grade requirements and supports premium end-use potential.

What are Atlas's next steps for advancing the ATCX Graphite Project after the March 10, 2026 announcement?

Atlas plans ground magnetometry, LiDAR topography, high-resolution mapping with more sampling, and follow-up diamond core drilling toward initial resource definition. According to the company, the program is designed to expand and test continuity across the enlarged corridor.