Graphite and Rare Earth: mining the new essentials
Recently global mining sectors for graphite and rare earth elements have experienced significant development, mainly influenced by geopolitical dynamics, new discoveries, and shifts in production capacities. These critical materials are essential for various high-tech industries, including amongst others: communication, electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies, and defense systems.
Graphite Production
China – China is the undisputed leader in graphite production, accounting for over 65% of the world’s natural graphite supply. The country not only mines large volumes of graphite but also dominates the processing of both natural and synthetic graphite. Its advanced refining capabilities make it a critical player in producing anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
Mozambique – Mozambique has also emerged as a significant supplier of natural graphite, with the Balama mine being one of the largest graphite projects outside China. The country is increasingly viewed as a strategic alternative to the Chinese supply, particularly for Western nations looking to diversify sources of battery materials.
Madagascar – Madagascar is another African country making notable contributions to the global graphite supply. Its high-quality, large-flake graphite is highly valued for battery and industrial applications. Efforts are underway to scale up production and improve infrastructure to meet a growing international demand.
Brazil and Canada – Brazil has long been a steady producer of graphite, supplying both domestic and international markets.
Canada – Canada with its rich mineral resources and stable political environment, is investing in developing its graphite mining and processing capabilities, aiming to become a major supplier to the U.S. and European battery markets.
Rare Earth Production
China – China also leads global production of rare earth elements, accounting for over 60% of global output and even higher percentages in processing and refining capacity. The Bayan Obo mine in Inner Mongolia is one of the largest rare earth deposits in the world. China reflects about 90% of the world’s supply, including elements: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium.
United States – Currently the United States is actively working to revive its rare earth industry. The Mountain Pass mine in California is the only rare earth mine currently operating in the country. While the U.S. has reserves, much of its rare earth concentrates are still shipped to China for processing, highlighting the need for domestic refining capabilities.
Australia – Australia has become a key player in rare earth production, particularly through Lynas Rare Earths, the only major producer outside China with its own integrated supply chain. The company operates the Mt Weld mine and a processing facility in Malaysia, providing critical materials to global markets, including Japan and the U.S.
Other countries – amongst several which have significant supplies and ongoing developments are: Myanmar, India, Kazakhstan and Russia. China’s overwhelming dominance in both graphite and rare earth supply chains is prompting a global push for fresh ventures and production.
Key uses of graphite
Lithium-ion Batteries - The largest and fastest-growing use of graphite is in lithium-ion batteries, particularly in electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and energy storage systems. Graphite serves as the anode material, which allows lithium ions to be stored during charging and released during discharging. Each electric vehicle battery can contain up to 70–100 kg of graphite, making it a key driver of demand.
Steelmaking and Foundries - Graphite is widely used in metallurgical applications, especially in steelmaking. It acts as a liner in ladles and crucibles and is a component in carbon electrodes used in electric arc furnaces. Graphite’s high heat resistance and chemical inertness make it ideal for these processes.
Refractories - Graphite is a key ingredient in refractory materials such as bricks, moulds, and crucibles that can withstand high temperatures and corrosive environments. These are used in industries such as glassmaking, cement production, and metal casting.
Lubricants and Brake Linings - Thanks to its lubricating properties, graphite is used in dry lubricants for machinery and in brake linings for vehicles. It reduces friction and wear under extreme conditions, extending the lifespan of mechanical components.
Electronics and Graphene Production - Graphite is a precursor for graphene—a single layer of carbon atoms with extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties. Graphene has potential uses in sensors, semiconductors, and next-generation electronic devices.
Key uses of rare earth elements
·Rare earth elements, comprising a group of 17 chemically similar elements, are crucial to high-performance technologies. One of the most critical areas of production is that of high-strength permanent magnets which are essential for electric motors in electric vehicles, wind turbines, drones, and industrial robots, due to their strong magnetic properties and efficiency.
·Rare Earth is vital in manufacturing smartphones, tablets, LED screens, and fibre optics. Elements like europium and terbium are used for colour displays and phosphors, while yttrium is used in LEDs and lasers.
·In wind turbines, rare earth magnets help increase efficiency and reduce maintenance by eliminating the need for gearboxes. This makes them ideal for offshore wind installations where reliability is crucial.
·Rare Earth Elements are used in various defense and aerospace technologies, including missile guidance systems, jet engines, radar systems, and satellite communication devices. Their strategic importance makes them a focal point for national security concerns.
These are just some of the crucially important uses of both graphite and rare earth. The ongoing expansion of mining operations represents steps toward reducing global dependence on a limited number of suppliers. However, currently complexities in the global market remain challenging.
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