| dc.description.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 | en |
