Graphite and manganese mining in the U.S.: Proposed projects and federal battery mineral policies

作者：Elizabeth Holley, Lukas Fahle, Nicole Smith, Raphael Deberdt, Jordan L. Calderon, G. V. Gibbs, Morgan Bazilian · 发表于：Resources Policy · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105689 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Extraction and Separation Processes、Mining and Resource Management、Recycling and Waste Management Techniques

Demand is increasing for the minerals used in energy transmission and storage, such as graphite and manganese in batteries. These two commodities are produced in relatively few locations around the world, and major consumers such as the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) are highly reliant on imports, especially for refined products from China. In the US, graphite and manganese are not currently mined. In efforts to avoid geopolitical supply chain disruptions, the U.S. federal government has implemented new policies promoting domestic mining and processing of critical minerals. This contribution reviews the geological resources and development status of graphite and manganese projects in the U.S. and examines the impacts of policies on U.S. mining and processing of these two commodities. Measured, indicated, and inferred resources of 20.9 Mt are known for graphite, including 3.7 Mt of reserves. Resources of 50.5 Mt are known for manganese, with no established reserves. Graphite exploration is in advanced stages in Alaska and Alabama and in early stages in Montana and New York. There is one operating processing plant for natural graphite in Louisiana and one is under construction in Alabama. Synthetic graphite is produced in one plant in New York, and synthetic graphite plants are under construction in Georgia and Tennessee. One manganese mine is in permitting review in Arizona, and manganese exploration is underway in Minnesota and Arizona. Historic manganese mine...