Graphite deposits in the United States

Dates

Publication Date: 2022-01-31

Citation

Karl, N.A., Knudsen, L.D., Gnesda, W.R., Mauk, J.L., and Schmeda, G., 2022, Graphite deposits in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P99RK9SU.

Summary

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides the descriptions of 10 U.S. sites that include mineral regions, mineral occurrences, and mine features that contain enrichments of graphite. To be included in this data release, sites must have a contained resource and (or) past production of more than 1,000 metric tons of graphite, which is approximately 3 percent of the average annual U.S. consumption of graphite from 2016 through 2020. Sites in this dataset occur in Alaska, Alabama, Colorado, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. There are known graphite occurrences in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Wyoming that have not been included in this database [...]

Summary

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides the descriptions of 10 U.S. sites that include mineral regions, mineral occurrences, and mine features that contain enrichments of graphite. To be included in this data release, sites must have a contained resource and (or) past production of more than 1,000 metric tons of graphite, which is approximately 3 percent of the average annual U.S. consumption of graphite from 2016 through 2020. Sites in this dataset occur in Alaska, Alabama, Colorado, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. There are known graphite occurrences in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Wyoming that have not been included in this database because contained resource and (or) production of graphite were not found above our cutoff in the public domain for these areas.

Graphite is considered a critical and strategic mineral because of its essential applications in the aerospace and energy sectors (Robinson and others, 2017). Graphite is used in batteries, brake linings, lubricants, powdered metals, refractory applications, and steelmaking (U.S. Geological Survey, 2021). In 2020, the U.S. was 100 percent net import reliant on graphite from countries that included China, Mexico, Canada, and India (U.S. Geological Survey, 2021). Graphite has not been produced in the U.S. since the 1950s.

Graphite occurs in the U.S. as disseminated flake graphite deposits and as graphite veins. Globally, most currently mined flake graphite deposits contain at least 8 to 12 percent graphitic carbon in deposits larger than 0.5 million metric tons (Robinson and others, 2017). In comparison, the Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska contains a measured and indicated resource of more than 10 million metric tons with 7.8 percent graphite plus an inferred resource of more than 90 million metric tons with 8 percent graphite (King and others, 2019). Graphite One Inc. plans to decide whether to move the Graphite Creek deposit into production after an updated prefeasibility study is completed in early 2022.

The entries and descriptions in the database were derived from published papers, reports, data, and internet documents representing a variety of sources, including geologic and exploration studies described in State, Federal, and industry reports. Resources extracted from older sources might not be compliant with current rules and guidelines in minerals industry standards such as National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). The presence of a graphite mineral deposit in this database is not meant to imply that the deposit is currently economic. Rather, these deposits were included to capture the characteristics of the largest graphite deposits in the United States. Inclusion of material in the database is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The authors welcome additional published information in order to continually update and refine this dataset.

King, N., Valorose, C., and Ellis, W., 2019, 2019 NI 43-101 mineral resource update for Graphite Creek, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA, prepared for Graphite One Inc. [Filing date March 26, 2019]: Alaska Earth Sciences, Inc., 258 p., accessed February 6, 2020, at http://www.sedar.com.

Robinson, G.R., Jr., Hammarstrom, J.M., and Olson, D.W., 2017, Graphite, chap. J of Schulz, K.J., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., Seal, R.R., II, and Bradley, D.C., eds., Critical mineral resources of the United States - Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, p. J1-J24, https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1802J.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2021, Mineral commodity summaries 2021: U.S. Geological Survey, 200 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/mcs2021.

Contacts

Point of Contact :: Jeffrey L Mauk
Originator :: Nick A Karl, Liam D Knudsen, William R Gnesda, Jeffrey L Mauk, German Schmeda
Metadata Contact :: Carma A San Juan
Publisher :: U.S. Geological Survey
Data Owner :: Mineral Resources Program
SDC Data Owner :: Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
USGS Mission Area :: Energy and Minerals
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase

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USGS_Graphite_US_Metadata.xml “Data documentation and instructions” Original FGDC Metadata	View	93.2 KB	application/fgdc+xml
00Readme_Graphite.txt “Readme file”		4.5 KB	text/plain
USGS_Graphite_US_CSV.zip “Graphite data (CSV files and Data Dictionary)”		22.15 KB	application/zip
USGS_Graphite_US_Geodatabase.zip “Graphite Geodatabase”		575.49 KB	application/zip
USGS_Graphite_US_Metadata.zip “Graphite Metadata (XML, HTML, TXT)”		87.85 KB	application/zip
USGS_Graphite_US_Shapefiles.zip “Graphite Shapefiles (and CSV files)”		74.82 KB	application/zip
Graphite.png “Kigluaik Mountains, Alaska; Graphite hand-sample; Graphite in pegmatite”		1.29 MB	image/png

Extension: USGS_Graphite_US_MapService.zip
USGS_Graphite_US_MapService.sd “ArcGIS service definition, contains mxd and GIS data.”		1.07 MB

Related External Resources

Type: Web Link

Other products by and additional information on the USGS Mineral Deposit Database Project	https://www.usgs.gov/usmin
USGS Mineral Deposit Database interactive map and downloadable data	https://mrdata.usgs.gov/deposit/
Additional interactive maps and downloadable data: USGS Mineral Resources Online Spatial Data	https://mrdata.usgs.gov/
USGS National Minerals Information Center (NMIC): Graphite Statistics and Information	https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/graphite-statistics-and-information
Graphite Professional Paper 1802-J By: Gilpin R. Robinson Jr., Jane M. Hammarstrom, and Donald W. Olson	https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1802J

Purpose

This dataset was developed as part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to inventory public information on critical mineral deposits within the United States that have public record of production and (or) resources above a specified cutoff limit. In the case of graphite, sites must have a contained resource and (or) past production of graphite metal more than 1,000 metric tons, which is approximately 3 percent of the average annual consumption of graphite in the U.S. from 2016 through 2020. The geospatial data provide location, geologic description, and production and resource information. In general, the USGS uses this information to delineate mineral resource permissive tracts (geographic areas in which specific types of mineral deposits may occur), develop assessments of potential undiscovered mineral resources, determine where and how environmental effects of mining may be observed, and understand the natural variability found in mineral deposits of particular types. The data also support the Federal strategic objective to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals by providing information for geoscience research and mineral exploration to State and Federal agencies, private industry, and the general public.

Graphite deposits in the United States

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