TL/DR –
US graphite mines are resuming operations after a 70-year hiatus due to surging demand for the mineral, driven largely by its use in lithium-ion batteries. The shift comes as ongoing trade tensions with China have raised concerns about the country’s reliability as a supply-chain partner. Among the active projects is Titan Mining Corp’s endeavor in New York, which aims to start commercial sales by 2028 and hopes to supply a significant portion of US graphite needs.
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U.S. Reinstates Graphite Mining After Seven-Decade Hiatus
Graphite mining, a practice that has been largely dormant in the United States for almost 70 years, is witnessing a revival. The mineral has a wide range of applications, from making pencils to being a critical component in nuclear reactors. However, it was often imported from other countries like China due to its inexpensive cost.
This perspective, however, is altering due to escalating demand for graphite. The mineral plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, which power an array of devices including electric cars and cell phones. As trade rifts with China intensify, the demand for graphite has surged. With the continuous supply of multiple critical minerals becoming a concern for federal officials, plans for graphite mining have been floated by several companies.
New York Marks the Resurgence of Graphite Mining
In New York, Titan Mining Corp. has initiated mining small quantities of ore from a deposit located approximately 40 kilometers from the Canadian border. The company expects commercial sales to kickstart by 2028. The company officials believe that the current geopolitical climate is conducive for selling graphite concentrate for military, industrial, and high-tech uses. Potential applications include anodes in large lithium-ion batteries tied to electrical grids, heat-resistant coatings in factories, and lubricants for military vehicles.
“We believe there is a real opportunity here,” said Rita Adiani, the CEO of the company. “We have the ability to supply a significant portion of U.S. needs. And that’s largely because you can’t see China now as a reliable supply-chain partner.”
Graphite: A Critical Mineral
Due to its high temperature resistance and electrical conductivity, graphite has a myriad of military and commercial uses. As a result, the Department of Energy has classified the need for graphite as critical, with the Department of the Interior listing it as one of 60 “critical minerals,” together with over a dozen rare earth elements.
Current Graphite Mining Projects in the U.S.
Although most U.S. graphite mines were shut down by the 1950s, the U.S. Geological Survey National Minerals Information Center reports that no U.S. graphite mines currently produce a commercial product. However, the Titan mine is among five active graphite projects, with two in Alabama and one each in Alaska and Montana. The Graphite One Inc. project in Alaska is located at the site of the largest known large-flake graphite deposit in the United States.
Titan Mining Corp. holds a unique advantage with its New York graphite deposit, which was discovered several years ago at the site of its existing zinc mine. The company has initiated limited graphite mining under its current permits while pursuing additional ones for large-scale mining.
Anticipating to produce about 40,000 metric tonnes of graphite concentrate annually, the company estimates this amount to be roughly half the current U.S. demand for natural graphite. “We have indications, effectively, that 100% of the output from this facility could be sold,” said Adiani.
Material is Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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