Search Documents

By G. Richards Gwinn

THE mineral graphite has been known for hundreds of years and was first used commercially as a coloring agent. Its true identity, however, was not recognized until the end of the eighteenth century and its commercial development did not become extensive until near the close of the nineteenth century. The common names for this mineral are graphite, plumbago, and black lead; others less frequently used are potelot, crayon noir, carbo mineralis, and kish. Graphite was named by Johann Gottlieb Werner in 1789 from the Greek word graphein, to write, and this name was applied primarily to the large crystalline, flake variety. Plumbago is a trade term used primarily for massive graphite as found in Ceylon. Black lead is also a trade term and, like plumbago, is based upon the idea that prevailed throughout the Middle Ages that graphite was a form of lead, or at least contained that metal. Graphite is a soft, black, unctuous form of carbon that crystallizes in the hexagonal system with rhombohedra1 symmetry. It occurs occasionally in six-sided tabular crystals but usually is found in foliated masses, minute disseminated scales, or earthy lumps. It has perfect basal cleavage, is gray to black, has a metallic luster and a gray streak. The specific gravity is 2.1 and hardness is 1 to 2. It is opaque even in finest particles; extremely resistant to the action of acid or heat; and a good conductor of both heat and electricity. Graphite may be separated into three classes: ( ) natural, (2) manufactured (which is sometime called artificial), and (3) colloidal. Natural graphite is divided into two classes, "crystalline" and "amorphous." Crystalline graphite may occur as flake, lump, chip or dust. Amorphous graphite is a commercial term only, as all graphite is crystalline, but grades in which the individual grains cannot be distinguished are classified by the trade as amorphous. Natural mixtures of crystalline and amorphous occur in all proportions. The term "artificial graphite" is a misnomer; "manufactured graphite" is a better term, because it actually is pure crystalline graphite,

Jan 1, 1949

By George D. Graffin.

The first use of graphite is lost in the mists of time. It was used by primitive man to make drawings on the walls of caves and by the Egyptians to decorate pottery. As early as 1400 A.D. graphite crucibles were being made in the Haffnerzell district of Bavaria. Through the Middle Ages graphite was confused with other minerals, especially galena and molybdenite. Two common names that are still used for the mineral are "Plumbago," meaning leadlike, and "Black Lead." The latter name implied that graphite is either composed of lead or at least contains a large percentage of it. Gessner is credited with having recognized it as a separate mineral in 1565, but its composition was not determined until 1779, when Scheele demonstrated that graphite oxidized to carbon dioxide, thus proving its carbon constitution. In 1789, Werner named it "graphite" from the Greek word "graphein," meaning to write. The United States has long relied on foreign countries for its graphite supplies. This reliance has been due more to the lack of suitable domestic graphites than to any particular preference for buying minerals overseas. Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) graphites were imported as early as 1820, and Madagascar graphites have been imported since the properties on that island were opened up about a hundred years later. Mexico has long supplied the United States with most of its requirements for amorphous graphite. Physical Properties and Classification Graphite is found in laminated, flaky aggregates disseminated in schistose rocks. It also occurs in veins and exhibits a foliated or fibrous structure. Graphite is a black lustrous mineral that crystallizes in the hexagonal system, with rhombohedral symmetry. The crystals have tabular form and are six-sided; the faces are commonly striated. The flakes have perfect basal cleavage and are opaque. When well crystallized, the flakes have a black metallic luster while the amorphous material is black and earthy, with a microcrystalline compactness. The flakes feel greasy. Graphite is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It melts at approximately 3550°C at a triple point under 1250 psi. It sublimes between 3300-3500°C at 14.7 psi. At 3726°C a second triple point occurs at approximately 100,000 atmospheres. Thermal oxidation in the presence of oxygen begins at 300°C and the rate increases with temperature. The three forms of carbon (charcoal, graphite, and diamond) are distinguished by chemical and physical tests. The specific gravity of charcoal is 1.3 to 1.9, of graphite 2.266 g/ cm3 (crystal density), and of diamond 3.5. Graphite has a hardness of 1 to 2 (Mohs' scale). Natural graphite can be divided into three classes: disseminated flake, crystalline vein (fibrous or columnar), and amorphous. Flake graphite is a lamellar form found in metamorphic rocks, such as marble, gneiss, and schist. Each flake is separate, having crystallized as such in the rock. Crystalline vein graphite is found in the form of well defined veins or as pocket accumulations along the intrusive contacts of pegmatites with limestones. The graphite of such deposits is of two types, foliated and columnar. The important Sri Lanka (Ceylon) deposits are vein type. Amorphous graphite is commonly found as minute microcrystalline particles more or less uniformly distributed in feebly metamorphic rocks, such as slates and shales, or in beds consisting practically entirely of graphite. The latter usually are metamorphosed coal seams and carry as much as 80-85% graphitic carbon, while the former, being altered carbonaceous sediments, commonly range from 25 to 60%

Jan 1, 1983

By J. F. Peterman, M. C. Roberts

The success of any industrial mineral project requires an accurate forecast of the demand fir the material as well as accurate projections of costs and prices. This paper develops a general method of predicting mineral requirements and applies it to the case of graphite. The basic method is to explain graphite consumption in each of its major uses by the output and manufacturing technology of the using industry. Once these underlying factors are determined, they can he projected to establish future requirements. This forecast is critical to the evaluation of a new source of supply, such as the graphite resources of Upper Michigan.

Jan 1, 1990

By M. C. Roberts

The success of any industrial mineral project requires an accurate forecast of the demand for the material. This paper develops a general method of evaluating these needs and applies it to the case of graphite. The basic method is to explain graphite consumption in each of its major uses by the output and manufacturing technology of the using industry. Once these underlying factors are determined, they can be projected to establish future requirements. This demand forecast is critical to the evaluation of a new source of supply, such as the graphite resources of upper Michigan.

Jan 1, 1989

By G. Richards Gwinn

GRAPHITE is one of the so-called minor nonmetals that have become of major importance during the present conflict. Requirements of the domestic industry for graphite are relatively small and uses have changed so greatly in the past 25 years that different types, with few exceptions, are more nearly interchangeable in use. However, the quality of the graphite required for crucibles is exacting and under present manufacturing practices only a small part of the world production can be utilized economically by this industry. Graphite, for the domestic crucible industry, was supplied almost entirely by imports from Madagascar and Ceylon before the present war. The quantity required has been increased by the war and the greatest demand is for Madagascar flake. The fall of France to Germany in 1941 and the Japanese expansion southward threatened our supply of crucible-grade graphite, therefore the domestic industry was revived to supplement imports and to act as insurance in the event of complete stoppage of imports. Two plants were constructed for the Government, one at Ashland, Alabama, called the Crucible Flake Graphite Co., operated by Haile Mines, Inc., and one near West Chester, Pennsylvania, operated by the Benjamin Franklin Flake Graphite Co. Loans were made by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to the Alabama Flake Graphite Co. at Ashland, the Ceylon Graphite Co., at Goodwater, Ala., and the Southwestern Graphite Co., at Burnet, Texas. However, by the end of 1943 the import situation had improved and it was no longer necessary to continue Government assistance to mine and stock-pile the high-cost domestic material. Graphite is found in virtually every country of the world. Most occurrences are of no economic importance because of their poor quality, prohibitive mining and milling costs, inaccessibility, and poor location with reference to the industrial centers where graphite is used. The principal commercial deposits are found in Ceylon, Madagascar, Chosen (Korea), United States, U. S. S. R., Canada, Germany, and Mexico. Graphite is a typical international mineral in that it is utilized mainly in countries noted for industrial activities, whereas the two islands, Ceylon and Madagascar, which produce the major part of the world's high-grade graphite, are virtually devoid of any manufacturing establishments requiring its use. The industry thus is violently disturbed by wars. TYPES of GRAPHITE USED IN CRUCIBLES Graphite of various kinds and from many countries has been used for making crucibles. Passau (Bohemian) flake was first used in Europe, but by the middle of the seventeenth century crucible formulas were established largely on Ceylon graphite and German Klingenberg clay. Ceylon graphite is granular and the grains are subdivided into more or less

Jan 1, 1945

By A. B. Kinzel

ALTHOUGH the iron-carbon diagram has undergone many changes in the last 20 years, the region below the eutectoid line and up to approxi-mately 1.7 per cent carbon has been little affected. This region is generally considered to consist of cementite and ferrite. Graphite has been noted occasionally in the hypereutectoid steel region, and the ready formation of graphite nodules in malleable cast iron is a phenomenon difficult to interpret in the light of cementite, supposedly stable at sub-eutectoid temperatures. In this case the graphite formation has been partly explained by the presence of silicon, and many have believed that silicon acts to change the stable state rather than to accelerate reactions so as to arrive at the stable state in a briefer period of time. Consider-ation of this phenomenon indicates that cementite is not the stable phase in the temperature composition zone referred to. In the course of examining a low-carbon steel tube taken from a petroleum cracking still, which had been in service for approximately three years at temperatures somewhat below the eutectoid temperature, observations were made that shed light on this entire subject. The tube in question analyzed:1 C, 0.15 per cent; Mn, 0.49; Si, 0.02; S, 0.023; P, 0.015. The microstructure of the tube after service is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. From these it is evident that cementite as such is absent, and that in its place nodular graphite has been formed. In order to check this observation further, samples taken from the tube were heated at 850° C. for varying periods of time. The small samples were put into a large hot furnace, and the total time is recorded. The structure of the

Jan 1, 1934

By Jin Liu

To improve value metals recovery, a new operating concept for the Inco flash furnace was investigated, in which the flash furnace coke addition practice would aim at establishing a reducing barrier on the surface of the molten bath. The descending partially oxidized sulfide mineral particles would reach the supernatant coke layer prior to the formation of slag. The key for success depends on the effectiveness of the coke layer to produce a sulfur deficient matte while maintaining furnace production capacity. The mechanism and rate of carbon reduction of the phases formed in the flash flame, i.e. sulfide (matte) and oxysulfide was investigated by means of crucible graphite reduction test work. The objective of these tests was to measure the rate of solid graphite reduction of matte, oxysulfide, slag, and matte+slag mixture at different temperatures. These tests were expected to permit understanding and explaining the reduction mechanism of each material by comparing the respective reaction rates, product reaction gas compositions, reduced material assays, and other relevant parameters. Direct visual inspection of the test crucibles would provide additional information.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jin Liu

The mechanism and rate of carbon reduction of each of the phases that are formed in the flash flame, i.e. sulfide (matte) and oxysulfide, was investigated. Graphite-slag reduction was conducted for comparison purposes. The objective of these tests was to measure the rate of solid graphite reduction of respectively matte, oxysulfide, slag, and matte+slag mixture at different temperatures. More in particular, these tests were expected to permit understanding and explaining the reduction mechanism of each material by comparing the respective reaction rates, product reaction gas compositions and CO/CO2 ratios, reduced material assays, activation energies, and other relevant parameters. Direct visual inspection of the test crucibles would provide additional information.

Jan 1, 2006

Develop a technology for producing high-quality hake graphite from the steelmaking waste known as kish. Approach Treat the waste kish as an ore and apply mineral processing techniques of physical beneficiation and chemical purification to produce a range of graphite products com¬petitive with the natural mineral. Background Graphite is a naturally occurring form of carbon with a unique combination of properties that make it indispensable in a very wide range of industrial and consumer applications. It has high electrical and thermal conductivity and remains stable to extremely high temperatures It has a low coefficient of friction and is nearly impervious to corrosion. The steel industry is dependent on graphite in clay-, magnesia-, and alumina-bonded refractories for crucibles, bricks, facings, and coatings. Electrical uses include graphite brushes in motors and generators, and electrodes in batteries. The transportation industry needs graphite for clutch and brake linings, and all industries depend on graphite in seals, gaskets, lubricants, and coatings. The consumer sees graphite in composite plastics and in the common pencil. As with all natural minerals, the availability of graphite is diminishing and costs are rising as quality decreases.

Jan 1, 1993

By G. P. Hand

Graphite usage in the United States during 1994 was fairly strong. The hearty showing of the domestic economy, along with sound performances from the major industries that use graphite, helped make 1994 a solid year for the graphite industry. Supply Virtually all natural graphite is imported into the United States, as there is no domestic production. The primary producers are Brazil, Canada, China, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Mozambique is a new producer. It is now supplying a high-carbon, large-crystallite flake in large quantities. Sri Lanka continues to experience problems with one of its two mines, closing operations in December 1994. The synthetic graphite used domestically was produced primarily in the United States as a byproduct of electrode production. Synthetic graphite was also imported from Switzerland for specialized applications. The purified graphites/carbons, such as Desulco and ThermoPURE materials, were also produced domestically. There was a sufficient supply of all types of graphite to meet domestic demand.

Jan 1, 1995

By R. S. Archer

THE PROPER representation of equilibria involving graphitic carbon in the constitutional diagram of the iron-carbon system is admittedly an unsolved problem. The complete solution of the problem will probably require the establishment of more experimental evidence than is at this time available. The object of this paper is to present the author's observations on some of the phenomena in question and his interpretation of this and other recorded evidence. The chief of the recently disputed questions upon which the author has experimental evidence concerns the occurrence of graphitization at temperatures below the A1 point. In a paper1 presented at the September, 1919, meeting of this Institute, the following is found: "the results given would seem to indicate that the graphite eutectoid lies at a smaller value of carbon content than has been previously supposed. At least this is true unless there is either a marked formation of graphite eutectoid at these rates of cooling, or a decomposition of pearlite into graphite, both rather unlikely suppositions, but not impossible ones." In a discussion of this paper, H. A. Schwartz2 takes the position that the possibility of graphitization occurring below the A 1 point is an open question, but that complete graphitization (to less than 0.10 per cent. combined carbon) commonly occurs above this temperature. Another opinion from the malleable castings industry is found in a recent paper3 by Touceda: "Also the carbide of iron can be broken up into its two soft constituents at the temperature referred to. This temperature is called the critical temperature, or critical range, and for air-furnace hard-iron castings it is in the vicinity of 1440° F. It is the

Jan 2, 1920

By P. D. Merica

IN connection with other investigations on the properties and characteristics of chilled iron car wheels, the question as to the best range of annealing temperatures was raised. Chilled-iron wheels are cast with a chill against the tread and the inside of the flange, the remainder being in sand. The composition of the metal is so chosen that under these conditions the tread and inside of the flange will show white iron to a depth of from 5/8 to 7/8 in. (15 to 22 mm.), the remainder of the wheel becoming graphitized or gray. In order to relieve the stresses set up during cooling under such drastic conditions, the wheels are stripped from the mold, while still red hot, piled in a soaking pit, and allowed to cool very slowly from their temperature at stripping. Obviously the most suitable temperature for this annealing is the highest at which no formation of graphite occurs within the white tread and at which the wheels can be stripped from the molds. Inasmuch as no direct determinations have been made of the temperatures at which the' formation, of graphite takes place in white iron of compositions used in car wheels upon annealing, it was considered worth while to determine these temperatures as a means of establishing the maximum temperatures at which the annealing of the wheels may be carried out. In the course of this work, some incidental observations were made which are of interest in connection with the theory of graphitization in white iron. The literature on the subject of the formation of graphite both during cooling at casting and upon annealing is very extensive and can be best studied by reference to a comprehensive discussion of the subject by Hatfield. 1 Perhaps the most important contributions of previous investigation are the following: 1. Whether a given mass of molten iron becomes white, mottled, or gray upon casting, depends on its composition and its rate of cooling through the temperature range of solidification and immediately below.

Jan 7, 1919

H. A. SCHWARTZ, ? Indianapolis, Inc. (written discussion§).-Re-ferring to the very interesting paper on the graphitization of white cast iron, the writer desires to present certain facts and conclusions, entirely, in harmony with those of the authors but which may he not without interest as furnishing additional evidence upon the same subject. The graphitization of white cast iron, being the basis of malleable

Jan 10, 1919

By B Mead, N D. Pascoe

The Grasberg block cave rail haulage system will be located in the Grasberg mining district on the island of Papua, Indonesia at an elevation of almost 3000 m above sea level. It will transport 160 000 t of ore per day from multiple chute galleries to the underground crushing systems. The design entails approximately 23 km of rail (ballasted and embedded track), over 120 ore chutes to deliver ore to the muck cars and three unloading stations to deliver ore to the crushers. The rail haulage system is a closed-loop system entirely within the underground mining complex.The GBC rail haulage project will be a substantial operation. Trains consist of 11–12 bottom-dump 20 m3 muck cars driven by a 40 t electric locomotive, about 400 t per trainload. Approximately 12 trains and one spare are required to maintain full production at 160 000 t/d. All rail installations will be 1435 mm (standard) gauge with AS60 steel.The rail system is designed to operate in full automated mode, including chute loading, hauling and dumping. The operation will be controlled from a surface control room.The rail haulage project has been divided into five stages, which will be brought online over the course of ten years. Current development and construction are focused on Stage 1 for initial production that will occur beginning in late 2017. This stage includes 24 chutes in three chute galleries, one unloading station, workshop areas and almost 7 km of track (3 km of embedded and 4 km of ballast).This paper describes the key components of the rail haulage system and reports on the current status of development and construction of the system. This paper also overviews the challenges, successes, issues and risks of this project in areas such as scheduling, development, construction and operation.CITATION:Pascoe, N D, Mead, B and Vega, H, 2016. Grasberg block cave haulage project – design and construction update, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 585–598 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By Robin J. Hickson

The Grasberg copper-gold deposit was discovered in the spring of 1988, one year before the planned closure of Freeport Indonesia's original Ertsberg openpit copper mine. In spite of Grasberg's remote location, 600 m (1968 ft) above the Ertsberg, atop a hitherto inaccessible mountain, Freeport-McMoRan brought its latest open-pit mine into production in the last week of 1989, less than two years after discovery. Freeport Indonesia's (FI) copper-gold mining operations are located in Irian Jaya, the easternmost province of Indonesia on the western side of the island of New Guinea. Fl's six ore deposits are all located within a 10- x 10-km' (3.9- x 3.9-sq mile) Contract of Work area. They are all between the elevations of 2900 and 4300 m (9515 and 14,100 ft) above sea level, some 96 km (60 miles) from the island's southern coast. A 118-km (74-mile) access route connects FT's port site of Amamapare on the Arafura Sea to the project area. The first section is an 18-km (11-mile) barge waterway. The final 100-km (63mile) is a two-lane gravel highway. The highway terminates 9 km (5.5 miles) beyond the FI townsite at the project's central mill, some 2850 m (9250 ft) above sea level. The mining areas are separated from the mill by a 780-m (2560-ft) sheer cliff face. The world's longest free span tramway system, with a total length of more than 1.6 km (1 mile), is the only means of access for men and materials between the mill and the surface mines. Weight restrictions for the tramway for equipment considered for the project are 15.4 t (17 st). The minimum clear width dimension of two tunnels along the portsite access road is 5.6 m (18.4 ft).

Jan 1, 1991

The Ertsberg (Gunung Bijih) Mining District is located in the core of the highlands of west New Guinea, an island long recognised as the product of a Cenozoic arccontinent collision. Geologic studies in the Central Ranges of the Papua Province of Indonesia (near Puncak Jaya, 4884 m) have revealed timing relationships, when combined with mechanical considerations, led to a refined model for the tectonomagmatic effects of collisional orogenesis and the formation of the spectacular Grasberg porphyry-type copper-gold (Cu-Au) deposit.   An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By T. M. Sukel

Engelhard Corporation is one of the leading producers of kaolin based products in the world, having acquired the assets of Freeport Kaolin company in 1985. Much of the production technology used in the kaolin industry was pioneered by Engelhard and Freeport, including Ultraflotation for improving product brightness, delamination to produce kaolin platelet products, calcination to produce ANSILEX® high opacity titanium dioxide pigment extender and pipeline slurry operations to economically transport kaolin from the mine to beneficiation facilities. Engelhard traces its roots back to 1870 when the Edgar family discovered kaolin behind their property in Bonhamtown, New Jersey. Today the company produces the broadest line of premium coating pigments with extensive sales throughout the world. The international scope of the company's business has led Engelhard to evaluate kaolin deposits throughout the world as possible grass roots production sites. Most kaolin products are used in the paper industry -- the largest volume end-user 80% of the total market -- as filler and coating pigments. Lower volume specialized applications include fillers and reinforcements for plastics and TiO2 extender pigments for paints and coatings.

Jan 1, 1987

By P. Kordi, L. Egorova, R. J. Bowell, D. Gurevich, V. Sedov, A. Mikhailov, D. A. Holwell

ABSTRACT Reconnaissance exploration in the Kuene region Namibia has included geological mapping, soil and stream sediment geochemistry, and ground geophysical methods. Copper mineralization occurs within a well-defined belt with north-northwest to south-southeast trend, parallel to the regional strike of the sedimentary rocks. The occurrences vary in size but are generally stratabound. The mineralization is centred on the transition from calcareous shale and interbedded limestone, through carbonate rocks, to quartzite. Geochemical anomalies have been identified correlating to induced polarization (IP) and magnetic anomalies. The anomalies identify one potential metallogenic zone more than 17 km in strike length.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. A. Halupka, I. A. Mozer

"At its plant in San Juan, Peru, Marcona Mining Company operates two grate pelletizing furnaces for the agglomeration of 3.5 million long tons of magnetic concentrates annually. Line One, installed in 1963, was built by Lurgi as a downdraft process furnace utilizing a furnace fan for the recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone. This line was modified in 1966 to include both updraft drying and downdraft drying, and the original roof burners were converted to side-wall burners. Line Two, a Dravo-Lurgi furnace with an annual capacity of 2.4 million long tons, was built in 1966. This line, in contrast to the modified Lurgi furnace, employs direct recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone and utilization of process gases from the firing zone for updraft drying.At its plant in San Juan, Peru, Marcona Mining Compa-ny operates two grate pelletizing furnaces for the agglo-meration of 3.5 million long tons of magnetic concentrates annually. Line One, installed in 1963, was built by Lurgi as a downdraft process furnace utilizing a furnace fan for the recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone. This line was modified in 1966 to include both updraft drying and downdraft drying, and the original roof burners were converted to side-wall burners. Line Two, a Dravo-Lurgi furnace with an annual capacity of 2.4 million long tons, was built in 1966. This line, in contrast to the modified Lurgi furnace, employs direct recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone and utilization of process gases from the firing zone for updraft drying. 5 per cent increased capacity, 30 per cent lower fuel oil consumption, and approximately 400 per cent reduction in grate bar and pallet corrosion. Firing of the pellet bed was improved by conversion from roof to side-wall burners. This modification also permitted utilization of monolithic refractory in place of pre-fired shapes, thereby improving over-all furnace availability and reducing refractory stock requirements from 154 different shapes to 18.Data are presented to compare operating performance of the Dravo-Lurgi furnace and the modified Lurgi furnace. These data show 30 per cent lower fuel oil consumption and 10 per cent higher capacity per unit grate area for the Dravo-Lurgi furnace, which also averages higher availability due to greater operating flexibility."

Jan 1, 1970

A practical approach has been developed for the design of both grates and pulp lifters. It is based on: an appreciation of the process interaction between grates and pulp lifters, an interpretation of mill charge structure as it relates to discharge through grates, and an analysis of pulp and solids flow in pulp lifter channels. This approach can be used to improve the overall discharge effectiveness of AG and SAG mills.

Jan 1, 2000