Graphite occurs in metamorphic rocks as a result of the reduction of sedimentary carbon compounds during metamorphism. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), world production of natural graphite in 2008 was 1,110 thousand tonnes (kt), of which the following major exporters are: China (800 kt),India (130 kt), Brazil (76 kt), North Korea (30 kt) and Canada (28 kt).
The rise of the Lithium-ion battery has caused great excitement in the graphite industry in recent times. Demand for batteries (primarily nickel-metal-hydride and to a lesser extent Li-ion) caused a surged in graphite demand in the late 1980s and early 1990s – driven by portable electronics such as the walkman and power tools. Batteries are the fastest growing end use for graphite.
The advent of the laptops, mobile phones and the Apple iPad and iPhone products has increased the demand for batteries. But it is electric vehicles that hold the potential to see graphite demand boom. For example, the Li-ion battery in the fully electric Nissan Leaf contains nearly 40 kg of graphite.
National Graphite (Formerly Lucky Boy Silver Corp) will continue development of its Nevada silver and gold claims
The Company’s Candelaria silver properties are located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt in western Nevada. The Walker Lane is a major northwest-southeast-trending zone which displays right lateral fault movement that ranges from 30 to 40 miles in its central portion, and hosts a variety of precious metal and base metal mineral deposits (as well as geothermal activity) along its length. The mineralization on the Candelaria prospect is primarily silver mineralization with some gold, lead and zinc exposed at the surface and trending east-west across the northern edge of the claims.
