Updated February 2023
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Graphite properties and uses
Graphite is the hexagonal crystalline form of carbon that occurs naturally as disseminated crystal flakes in high-grade metamorphic rocks, as veins, and as microcrystalline 'amorphous' graphite associated with metamorphosed coal seams. Graphite can be produced synthetically, but at approximately twice the cost of extracting natural graphite, is not currently an economically viable alternative.
Graphite has a number of key properties that make it useful for a variety of applications. These include:
- high electrical conductivity
- high thermal resistance
- soft material.
Graphite is used as anodes in lithium-ion batteries, heat resistant linings for furnaces and casting equipment, coating foundry moulds, brake linings, carbon brushes and lubricants. The global demand for graphite is forecast to increase substantially due to the growing demand for batteries for use in Electric Vehicles (EV) and renewable energy storage.
Graphite in South Australia
South Australia contains 66% of Australia’s confirmed graphite resources (Department for Energy and Mining 2022). Statewide there are >60 recorded graphite occurrences, with the most significant region being the eastern Eyre Peninsula. Disseminated flake graphite is widely distributed in metamorphosed Paleoproterozoic Hutchison Group rocks. On eastern Eyre Peninsula, numerous occurrences have been recorded over a 200 km long zone extending from south of Port Lincoln to Kimba.
High graphite contents have been reported in schist units during gold and base metal exploration in the Olary district. The graphite is typically fine grained and has not been assessed for commercial uses.
Occurrences of minor graphite are known from Precambrian rocks of the Mount Lofty Ranges near Woodside, Williamstown and Truro.
Uley coarse flake graphite product (>300 micron).
Graphite statistics 2020
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | VOLUME/VALUE |
| Mine Production Volume | Nil |
| Mine Production Value | Nil |
| Selected Mine Production | Nil |
| Exploration Expenditure | Not available |
| Resources2 | 8.49 Mt TGC |
| Reserves2 | 0.4 Mt TGC |
| AUSTRALIA | VOLUME/VALUE |
| Mine Production | Nil, Uley (SA) |
| Exploration Expenditure | – |
| Resources2 | 7.97 Mt |
| Reserves2 | 4.8 Mt TGC |
| Selected Resources1 |
· Siviour (SA) 6.6 Mt · McIntosh (WA) 1.06 Mt TGC · Munglinup (WA) 0.975 Mt TGC · Uley (SA) 0.697 Mt TGC |
| WORLD | VOLUME/VALUE |
| Mine Production5 | 1.1 Mt – China 0.65 Mt; Mozambique 0.12 Mt; Brazil 0.095 Mt |
| Resources5 | World inferred resources exceed 800 Mt of recoverable graphite |
| Reserves5 | 320 Mt – Turkey 90 Mt; Brazil 72 Mt; China 55 Mt |
TGC= total graphitic carbon
2. Compiled from published company reports.
5. United States Geological Survey, (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries 2021.
Developing projects
Major developing graphite projects in South Australia include:
- Siviour (Renascor Resources (external site)) – Total resource of 93.5 Mt at 7.31% TGC. Mineral Lease Granted.
- Campoona (Archer Exploration (external site)) Total resource of 8.55 Mt at 9% TGC. Mineral Lease Granted.
- Kookaburra Gully (Lincoln Minerals (external site)) – Total resource of 2.2 Mt at 15.1% TGC. Mineral Lease Granted.
- Uley (Quantum Graphite Operations (external site)) – Total resource of 7.2 Mt at 10.5% TGC. Currently in Care and Maintenance.
- Oakdale (OAR Resources (external site)) – Total resource of 6.31 Mt at 4.7% TGC.
