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Graphite & Silicon

Graphite & Silicon — The Unsung Heroes While lithium, cobalt, and rare earths grab headlines, graphite and silicon are equally essential to the clean energy transition. Graphite is the dominant anode material in lithium-ion batteries, and silicon is the foundation of the semiconductor industry. Graphite Chemical formula: C crystalline carbon | Crystal system: Hexagonal Graphite is a naturally occurring form of crystalline carbon with a layered structure that gives it unique properties: excellent electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and the ability to intercalate lithium ions — making it ideal for battery anodes. Natural vs. Synthetic - Natural graphite is mined from geological deposits and comes in three forms: flake most valuable for batteries , amorphous , and vein lump . - Synthetic graphite is manufactured from petroleum coke at temperatures exceeding 2,800°C. It offers higher purity but costs 2–3 times more and has a significantly larger carbon footprint. Deposit Types - Flake graphite deposits form in high-grade metamorphic rocks granulite facies . Key deposits include those in Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Quebec. - Vein graphite occurs in Sri Lanka in high-purity veins within granulite-facies rocks — the only significant source of this type globally. - Amorphous graphite forms from the metamorphism of coal seams and is lower grade. Supply and Canada's Role China dominates natural graphite production 65% of global output . However, Canada has significant flake graphite deposits, particularly in Quebec. Nouveau Monde Graphite's Matawinie project aims to be one of the largest graphite mines in the Western world. Silicon Chemical symbol: Si | Atomic number: 14 Silicon is the second most abundant element in Earth's crust after oxygen , but producing the ultra-high-purity silicon required for semiconductors and solar cells is an energy-intensive, technically demanding process. Applications - Metallurgical-grade silicon MG-Si : 98–99% purity, used in aluminum alloys and silicones. - Solar-grade silicon: 99.9999% purity 6N , used in photovoltaic cells. - Electronic-grade silicon: 99.999999999% purity 11N , used in semiconductor wafers. From Sand to Chip Silicon is extracted from quartz SiO₂ in electric arc furnaces at 2,000°C using carbon reduction. The resulting MG-Si is then purified through the Siemens process or fluidized bed reactors to a