Focus Metals (TSX:FMS)

[Pixel8r]

Focus Metals is a diversified junior with interests in Graphite, Rare Earth Elements, Copper, Gold, Silver and other precious metals. The most exciting part of this for me is their work on developing a commercial production technique for Graphene which is said to be the strongest material ever made with a multitude of potential uses.

I don't own any shares in this company yet but am considering them for a purchase at some point. Will use this thread to gather things I find of interest.

Here's link to their website - http://www.focusmetals.ca/english/

and here's a link to the article that first peaked my interest in them.

INTERVIEW: A graphite junior with a different focus

...Do you have a process developed?

We have a joint venture that we own 40% of, and we have a process that is in the middle of being patented right now. The process, which has a number of patents surrounding it, allows us to go directly to graphene from the ore we have at Lac Knife – without any other processing steps.

So we can use the raw ore, 17% C on average, to directly produce graphene in large volumes, economically. Our process is simple and because of the way the technique works, it also allows us to produce pure graphite at 99.99% for Li-ion applications, among others.
Our scientists are working towards finalising the patents...

[Ziknik]

This has been a fairly stable share through the recent turmoil and is just outside the ten best performers in my portfolio.

It bugs me a little that the company doubled up their gold production but their earnings actually went down and profit was down nearly 2/3.

Focus Minerals Ltd (ASX:FML), a leading Australian gold producer and explorer, is pleased to report a strong result for the half year ended 31 December 2011.

Highlights:

- Total 1H gold production more than doubles to 80,921oz(1*) (69,858oz attributable to Focus), up from 36,339oz in the previous corresponding period

- Consolidated Revenue for 1H 2012 of $104.5M, 113% up from $48.8m for 1H 2011

- Net Operating cash flow up 67% to $21.3M

- Consolidated 1H Net Profit After Tax of $5.9M excluding non-recurring costs Focus' operations on target for gold production of circa 175,000oz(2*) for full financial year

Significantly, gold production for the half year increased by 122% to 80,921oz (69,858oz attributable to Focus) and operating cash flow increased 132% to $29.5 million. This production increase was driven by the ramp-up of operations at Coolgardie and the addition of the Laverton Gold Project, driving a substantial increase in revenue, up 113% to $104.5 million.

Focus' consolidated net profit after tax for the half was $5.9 million, excluding non-recurring costs of $3.5 million. With the inclusion of these non-recurring costs, reported net profit after tax was $2.4 million

[Pixel8r]

Graphene: Key to Revolutionizing Telecommunications?

By Karan Kumar - Exclusive to Graphite Investing News - Tuesday June 5, 2012

...Graphene at $20,000 a pound

While graphene is touted as a material that could change our lives, the steep cost of producing it means its miracles are only being seen in laboratories. At a cost of $20,000 a pound, commercial use of graphene is currently prohibitive.

Grafoid, which is 40 percent owned by Focus Graphite (OTCQX:FCSMF,TSXV:FMS) and specializes in graphene research and development, said the “cost transformation” of graphene has already begun.

“Different industries that have found uses for graphene but were stymied by the high cost of graphene, or sacrificed performance by using reduced graphene oxides have been contacting Grafoid,” Dr. Gordon Chiu, vice president and co-founder of Grafoid said in an interview last month. He did not give an indication of how much the price of graphene has fallen...