Industrially, natural graphite is classified into crystalline graphite and cryptocrystalline graphite according to the crystal form. The crystalline graphite is better crystallized, and the crystal plate diameter is >1 μm, which is mostly produced by a single crystal or a flaky crystal. Crystalline graphite is one of the 24 strategic minerals in the country. The exploration and development of graphite is listed in the National Mineral Resources Planning (2016-2020) for the first time. The importance of crystalline graphite is led by concepts such as new energy vehicles and graphene. A significant increase.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), as of the end of 2017, the world’s graphite reserves are about 270 million tons, mainly distributed in Turkey, China and Brazil, of which China is dominated by crystalline graphite and Turkey is cryptocrystalline graphite. The cryptocrystalline graphite has low value and limited development and utilization prospects, so crystalline graphite determines the global graphite pattern.
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China’s crystalline graphite accounts for more than 70% of the world’s total. Among them, Heilongjiang Province’s crystalline graphite resources can account for 60% of China and more than 40% of the world, which plays a decisive role. The world’s major producers of crystalline graphite are China, followed by India and Brazil.
Resource distribution
Geological background of crystalline graphite deposits in different regions of China
Scale characteristics of large crystalline graphite deposits in China and yield of large scales (>0.15mm)
Heilongjiang Province
Heilongjiang Province has a wide distribution of graphite, and it is still excellent in Hegang and Jixi. Its eastern region is the largest reservoir of crystalline graphite in the country, with famous large-scale and super-large graphite deposits such as Jixi Liumao, Luobei Yunshan and Muling Guangyi. Graphite mines have been found in 7 of the 13 cities in the province. The estimated reserves of resources are at least 400 million tons, and the potential resources are about 1 billion tons. Mudanjiang and Shuangyashan have major discoveries, but the quality of resources is considered comprehensively. High-quality graphite is still dominated by Hegang and Jixi. It is estimated that the recoverable reserves of graphite in the province can reach 1-150 million tons (mineral amount).
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
The reserves of crystalline graphite in Inner Mongolia are second only to Heilongjiang, mainly distributed in Inner Mongolia, Xinghe, Alashan and Baotou.
The fixed carbon grade of graphite ore in Xinghe area is generally between 3% and 5%. The scale of the scale is >0.3mm, accounting for about 30%, and the scale of the scale is >0.15mm, which can reach more than 55%. In the Alashan area, taking the Chahanmuhulu graphite deposit as an example, the average grade of ore fixed carbon is about 5.45%, and most of the graphite scales are >0.15 mm. The graphite mine in the Chaganwendu area of Damao Banner in Baotou area has an average fixed carbon grade of 5.61% and a scale diameter of most <0.15mm.
Sichuan Province
The crystalline graphite resources in Sichuan Province are mainly distributed in Panzhihua, Bazhong and Aba Prefectures. The average grade of fixed carbon in graphite ore in Panzhihua and Zhongba areas is 6.21%. The ore is mainly small scales, and the scale of the scale is not more than 0.15mm. The fixed carbon grade of crystalline graphite ore in Nanjiang area of Bazhong City is 5% to 7%, the highest is 13%, and the majority of graphite scales are >0.15 mm. The fixed carbon grade of graphite ore in Aba Prefecture is 5%~10%, and most graphite scales are <0.15mm.
Shanxi Province
Shanxi Province has found 8 sources of identified crystalline reserves of crystalline graphite minerals, mainly distributed in the Datong area. The average grade of fixed carbon in the deposit is mostly between 3% and 4%, and the majority of graphite scales are >0.15 mm. The ore dressing test shows that the corresponding large scale yield is about 38%, such as the graphite mine in Qili Village, Xinrong District, Datong.
Shandong Province
The crystalline graphite resources in Shandong Province are mainly distributed in Laixi, Pingdu and Laiyang. The average grade of fixed carbon in the southwestern villa of Lai is about 5.18%, and the diameter of most graphite sheets is between 0.1 and 0.4 mm. The average grade of fixed carbon in Liugezhuang graphite mine in Pingdu City is about 3.34%, and the scale diameter is mostly <0.5mm. Pingdu Yanxin Graphite Mine has an average grade of fixed carbon of 3.5%, and the scale of the scale is >0.30mm, accounting for 8% to 12%. In summary, the average grade of fixed carbon in graphite mines in Shandong is generally between 3% and 5%, and the proportion of scales >0.15 mm is 40% to 60%.
process status
China’s graphite deposits have good industrial grades, which are good for mining, and the crystalline graphite grade is not less than 3%. In the past 10 years, China’s annual output of graphite is between 60,000 and 800,000 tons, of which crystalline graphite production accounts for about 80%.
There are more than a thousand graphite processing enterprises in China, and the products are graphite mineral products such as medium and high carbon graphite, high purity graphite and fine powder graphite, as well as expanded graphite and carbon materials. The nature of the enterprise is mainly state-run, which is mainly distributed in Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Hubei, Heilongjiang, Zhejiang and other places. The state-owned graphite mining enterprise has a solid foundation and significant advantages in technology and resources.
Graphite is widely used in steel, metallurgy, foundry, mechanical equipment, chemical industry and other fields due to its excellent properties. With the advancement of science and technology, the application potential of new graphite materials in high-tech industries such as new energy, nuclear industry, electronic information, aerospace and defense is gradually being explored, and it is considered to be a strategic resource necessary for the development of emerging industries. At present, China’s graphite products are mainly used in refractory materials, castings, seals, special graphite and other fields, among which refractory materials and castings are used the most.
With the continuous development of the new energy industry, the demand for graphite in the future will continue to increase.
China’s graphite demand forecast in 2020
Post time: Nov-25-2019