Editing Graphite (section)

==Mining, beneficiation, and milling==
[[File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - Museum - Exhibition Nature theatre 08 - Graphite, large stone.jpg|thumb|Large graphite specimen. [[Naturalis Biodiversity Center]], [[Leiden]], Netherlands.]]
[[Image:2005graphite.PNG|thumb|upright=1.5|Graphite output in 2005]]
[[File:World graphite reserves and mine production 2022.png|thumb|World graphite reserves and mine production in 2022]]
Graphite is mined by both [[open-pit mining|open pit]] and underground methods. Graphite usually needs [[beneficiation]]. This may be carried out by hand-picking the pieces of gangue (rock) and hand-screening the product or by crushing the rock and floating out the graphite. Beneficiation by flotation encounters the difficulty that graphite is very soft and "marks" (coats) the particles of [[gangue]]. This makes the "marked" gangue particles float off with the graphite, yielding impure concentrate. There are two ways of obtaining a commercial concentrate or product: repeated regrinding and floating (up to seven times) to purify the concentrate, or by acid leaching (dissolving) the gangue with [[hydrofluoric acid]] (for a silicate gangue) or [[hydrochloric acid]] (for a carbonate gangue).{{cn|date=March 2025}}
 
In milling, the incoming graphite products and concentrates can be ground before being classified (sized or screened), with the coarser flake size fractions (below 8 mesh, 8–20 mesh, 20–50 mesh) carefully preserved, and then the carbon contents are determined. Some standard blends can be prepared from the different fractions, each with a certain flake size distribution and carbon content. Custom blends can also be made for individual customers who want a certain flake size distribution and carbon content. If flake size is unimportant, the concentrate can be ground more freely. Typical end products include a fine powder for use as a slurry in [[oil drilling]] and coatings for [[foundry]] molds, carbon raiser in the [[steel]] industry (Synthetic graphite powder and powdered petroleum coke can also be used as carbon raiser). Environmental impacts from graphite mills consist of air pollution including fine particulate exposure of workers and also [[soil contamination]] from powder spillages leading to [[Heavy metals|heavy metal]] contamination of soil.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

According to the [[United States Geological Survey]] (USGS), [[World Productions|world production]] of natural graphite in 2016 was 1,200,000 [[tonne]]s, of which the following major exporters are: [[China]] (780,000&nbsp;t), [[India]] (170,000&nbsp;t), [[Brazil]] (80,000&nbsp;t), [[Turkey]] (32,000&nbsp;t) and [[North Korea]] (6,000&nbsp;t).<ref>{{Cite web|publisher = USGS|url=https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2017/mcs2017.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209215134/https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2017/mcs2017.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-09 |url-status=live |title=Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020|website=National Minerals Information Center}}</ref> Graphite is not currently mined in the [[United States]], but there are many historical mine sites including ones in Alabama, Montana, and in the [[Adirondacks]] of NY.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timbitsblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/wonder-5-graphite-mines-boom-town|title=Wonder 5: Graphite Mines – Boom Town|date=24 March 2015 }}</ref>  [[Westwater Resources]] is in the development stages of creating a pilot plant for their Coosa Graphite Mine near [[Sylacauga, Alabama]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sylacauganews.com/local/westwater-resources-acquires-alabama-graphite|title=Westwater Resources acquires Alabama Graphite|date=2018-05-16|author=Jeremy Law|access-date=2020-02-22|language=en-US}}</ref> U.S. production of synthetic graphite in 2010 was 134,000&nbsp;t valued at $1.07&nbsp;billion.<ref name="usgs">{{cite web|publisher=USGS|url=http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/graphite/|title=Graphite Statistics and Information|access-date=2009-09-09}}</ref>

=== Occupational safety ===

Potential [[health effect]]s include: 
*[[Inhalation]]: No inhalation hazard in manufactured and shipped state. Dust and fumes generated from the material can enter the body by inhalation. High concentrations of dust and fumes may irritate the throat and respiratory system and cause coughing. Frequent inhalation of fume/dust over a long period of time increases the risk of developing lung diseases. Prolonged and repeated overexposure to dust can lead to [[pneumoconiosis]]. Pre-existing pulmonary disorders, such as [[emphysema]], may possibly be aggravated by prolonged exposure to high concentrations of graphite dusts.
*Eye contact: Dust in the eyes will cause irritation. Exposed may experience eye tearing, redness, and discomfort.
*Skin contact: Under normal conditions of intended use, this material does not pose a risk to health. Dust may irritate skin.
*[[Ingestion]]: Not relevant, due to the form of the product in its manufactured and shipped state. However, ingestion of dusts generated during working operations may cause nausea and vomiting.
*Potential physical / chemical effects: Bulk material is non-combustible. The material may form dust and can accumulate electrostatic charges, which may cause an [[Electric spark|electrical spark]] (ignition source). High dust levels may create potential for explosion.

====United States====
The [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA) has set the legal limit ([[permissible exposure limit]]) for graphite exposure in the workplace as a time weighted average (TWA) of 15{{nbsp}}million particles per cubic foot (1.5&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup>) over an 8-hour workday. The [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] (NIOSH) has set a [[recommended exposure limit]] (REL) of TWA 2.5&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup> respirable dust over an 8-hour workday. At levels of 1250&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup>, graphite is [[IDLH|immediately dangerous to life and health]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = CDC – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards – Graphite (natural)|url = https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0306.html|website = www.cdc.gov|access-date = 2015-11-03}}</ref>