Graphite, especially, high quality graphite can be used in many industrial applications including metallurgy, batteries, fuel cells, and refractories. In 2011, Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued a mineral exploration license to explore Bao Ha graphite deposit, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai Province. The studied samples were taken from 3 drill holes of the Bao Ha largest ore body. | Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences, 39(4), 324-336, DOI: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences Mineralogical characteristics of graphite ore from Bao Ha deposit, Lao Cai Province and proposing a wise use Hoang Thi Minh Thao*1, Tran Thi Hien2, Dao Duy Anh2, Pham Thi Nga1 1 VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam 2 National Institute of Mining, Metallurgy Science and Technology, 79, An Trach street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam Received 30 June 2017. Accepted 07 August 2017 ABSTRACT Graphite, especially, high quality graphite can be used in many industrial applications including metallurgy, batteries, fuel cells, and refractories. In 2011, Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued a mineral exploration license to explore Bao Ha graphite deposit, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai Province. The studied samples were taken from 3 drill holes of the Bao Ha largest ore body. Different methods including light microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and carbon and sulfur analyzer were performed to identify its lithological and mineralogical characteristics as well as graphite quality, then propose a wise use of the resource. The Bao Ha graphite is characterized as disseminated flake graphite in massive form, which developed in the sillimanite schist and quartz-biotite schist of the Ngoi Chi formation. Graphite flakes occur as distorted clusters of flaky plates/flakes within 50÷500 m, which is the medium size in comparison with the general grain size of graphite flake. Graphite particle makes up 33÷43% by volume and graphitic content (Cg) makes up ÷ wt.%. Impurities include mainly quartz, biotite, and feldspar (combining of K-feldspar and anorthite, the primary ore) or kaolinite (the weathered ore). This graphite ore should be .
