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I found this article very informative

https://snowdengroup.com/news/mineral-notes-graphite/

Mining and production

Global natural graphite production is approximately 1 to 1.2 million tonnes (Mt) per annum, of which flake graphite is estimated to be about 600-800 kt per year, amorphous graphite about 300 kt and vein graphite around 4 kt.


Amorphous graphite is produced mainly in China and Mexico. Sri Lanka is the sole producer of vein graphite



Flake graphite deposits occur as lens-like to tabular bodies and are generally mined opencast, though some high-grade flake graphite deposits are mined underground in Germany and Norway and until recently, in Zimbabwe. Most flake graphite deposits mined opencast contain between about 5% and 15% graphite, whereas underground mines have grades of around 20-30% graphite.


Some flake graphite deposits are deeply weathered and described as ‘free-dig’ given that explosives are not needed to extract the ore – examples include producing mines in Brazil and Madagascar and some exploration projects in Malawi and Australia.

Vein deposits have complex geometry, are narrow and are selectively mined underground in Sri Lanka. Amorphous graphite is mined underground, mainly in China, using methods similar to coal mining.

The most commonly used beneficiation method for flake graphite is flotation, while acids or alkalis may be used to leach out impurities from concentrates. Graphite ore is crushed and ground in rod mills, before flotation, followed by several regrind and cleaner flotation stages and final drying, screening and packaging. Vein graphite is often purified by hand-sorting.

Most spherical graphite for lithium-ion battery anodes is manufactured in China and then exported to Japan or Korea for final coating. The process involves micronising and spheronising the graphite flakes followed by purification (commonly acid, alkaline or heat treatment) before being coated and made into anodes. The conversion ratio for flake to spherical graphite is estimated to be around 30-40%.