Graphite for suitability of crystalline graphite for industrial use case study Chawia Kenya

Abstract

The report gives a detailed account about crystalline graphite occurrence in Chawia located south of Taita Hills, Coast province in Kenya. The area is well supplied with untarmacked roads, railway line and the average elevation above sea level is about 1300m. Vegetation comprised of dry bushes and scrubs and receives two main rainy seasons, March- June and OctoberDecember. Graphite bearing rocks in Kenya are found in the Mozambique belt, Nyanzian system rocks and Kavirondian rocks. Chawia graphite deposit occurs as disseminated flakes in meta-sedimentary sequences that are composed of graphite- quartz feldspar gneiss intercalated into garnetiferous Para gneisses. Graphite bearing meta-sedimentary sequence dip uniformly within 100-200 NNE resulting in main graphite horizons becoming amenable to weathering agents. Total quantity consumed in the world has risen over the years due to improved global economic condition and growth of industries that use graphite. Major producers in the world are China, Canada, Brazil, India, Madagascar and Mexico with China leading as the major producer of crystalline graphite. Graphite widely distributed in Kenya and some of the areas that are found include Kamstoi, Kanziku and Tsavo. The main methods that are used in mining of graphite in the world are underground and open pit method and the preferable method of mining in Kenya is open pit. Milling process is very important after mining as the deposits are grounded, sized and screened. Method of data collection was secondary and involved use of geological maps, geological reports, GIS, topographical maps and x-ray difractometer, SEM machine used in data analysis. Results indicate that there was mineral association between graphite and mica.it was also observed that graphite content was highest in coarsest-grained sieved fractions. Crystalline graphite has diverse uses and exploitation of Chawia graphite deposit will improve the lives of people of the area and the economy as a whole