Natural graphite

Abstract

Natural graphite is a crystalline mineral of pure carbon which normally occurs in the form of platelet-shaped crystals. Graphite ore types are crystalline (flake and lump) or "amorphous' (cryptocrystalline). Refractory applications use the largest total amount of natural graphite. All graphite deposits being mined today are found in the following metamorphic environments: 1) contact metamorphosed coal generally is a source of amorphous graphite; 2) disseminated crystalline flake graphite comes from syngenetic metasediments; and 3) crystalline lump graphite is found in epigenetic veins in high-grade metamorphic regions. Graphite may also occur as a trace mineral in ultrabasic rocks and pegmatites, but these are economically insignificant. The world's identified economically exploitable resources of crystalline graphite in major deposits are estimated to be about 9.7 million metric tons of concentrate. In-place resources of amorphous graphite are about 11.5 million metric tons. from Authors