GRAPHITE:

Composed exclusively of the element carbon, like diamond, graphite is a semimetal native element mineral and an allotrope of carbon. However, despite having the same chemical identity, graphite and diamond are physically different and are called polymorphs. Polymorphs are minerals with equivalent chemistry but different crystal structures. While diamonds are brilliant and transparent, graphite is opaque and metallic.

Graphite is considered the highest grade of coal, just above anthracite, and is also known as meta-anthracite. However, it is not commonly used as fuel because it is quite difficult to ignite. Under standard conditions, graphite is the most stable form of carbon. Therefore, it is used in thermochemistry as the standard state for defining the heat formation of carbon compounds.

GRAPHITE VARIETIES:

1. Crystalline flake graphite

2. Amorphous graphite

3. Lump graphite

NATURAL GRAPHITE USES:

The use of graphite dates back to the 4th millennium BC. During the Neolithic Age in southeastern Europe, the Marita culture used graphite in ceramic paint for decorating pottery. Natural graphite is consumed for several purposes, including:

1.Refractories

2.Batteries

3.Steelmaking

4.Expanded graphite

5.Brake linings

6.Foundry facings and

7.Lubricants

Graphene occurs naturally in graphite, and it is one of the strongest substances known, with unique physical properties. Prior to its functional usage in any industrial processes, it requires some technological development to separate it from graphite.

Other uses of graphite include zinc-carbon batteries and electric motor brushes. Historically, railroads would often mix powdered graphite with waste oil or linseed oil to create a heat-resistant protective coating for exposed portions of a steam locomotive's boiler, such as the smokebox or lower part of the firebox. This mixture was historically referred to as black lead or plumbago.

GRAPHITE MINING PROCESS:

Graphite is mainly extracted depending on two factors: the degree of weathering of the ore and the proximity of the ore to the surface. It is classified into microcrystalline graphite, macrocrystalline graphite, and lump graphite based on physical and chemical properties. Graphite is extracted using two techniques: the open-pit method and the underground method. The economic value of the ore will determine the type of mining used.

Open pit mining

Open pit mining is generally used where the ore is lying close to the earth and the layer of surface material covering the ore is thin. Microcrystalline or flake graphite and macro crystalline graphite are generally extracted by the open pit mining as they close to the earth. Quarrying is one of the methods of surface mining where the rocks are broken either by drilling or by using dynamite explosives to obtain the graphite. Drilling and blasting are used to break down the large and hard rocks. They also allow the compressed air or water to break the rocks. The graphite obtained from this process is crushed and ground before being subjected to flotation. The extracted graphite is then picked through the hand tools and carried out for further processing.

Underground mining

Underground mining is undertaken to access the deepest ores. Various methods, such as drift mining, hard rock mining, shaft mining, and slope mining, are employed for extracting the ore in underground mining. These methods are selected based on financial and economic considerations. Borehole mining, common to both open pit mining and underground mining, involves drilling into the ore to reach it. A slurry is then created using water through a tube, and the water and mineral mixture are pumped back to a storage tank for further processing.

Drift mining is a gravity-assisted extraction method where horizontal shafts are constructed below the mineral vein. It is typically conducted in mountainous regions to extract minerals.

Shaft mining is utilized when the ore is located at great depths. Miners and specialized equipment can be transported in and out through the shafts, while separate shafts are designated for transporting extracted ore. Additionally, a separate air shaft is provided specifically for ventilation.

Slope mining is employed when graphite ore runs parallel to the ground. Slanted shafts are constructed to minimize transportation efforts.

BENEFICIATION Of GRAPHITE:

Beneficiation is undertaken to enhance the economic value of the ore. In this process, gangue materials surrounding the ore are removed to yield a higher-grade product. Then, in milling, the incoming graphite products can be carefully processed to preserve their quality. The size distribution of the carbon content of the graphites is measured, and they are utilized accordingly. Nowadays, many mining companies are striving to introduce new and improved technologies to identify and extract graphite.

GRAPHITE PRODUCING COUNTRIES:

Country	Production(in metric tonnes)
China	650,000 MT
Mozambique	120,000 MT
Brazil	95,000 MT
Madagascar	47,000 MT
India	34,000 MT
Russia	24,000 MT
Ukraine	19,000 MT
Norway	15,000 MT
Pakistan	13,000 MT
Canada	10,000 MT