The importance of graphite is increasing with the global shift toward carbon neutrality and clean energy transitions. As a critical mineral for battery anodes, graphite demand is projected to grow fourfold by 2030 compared to 2023 levels, with overall demand doubling during the same period. However, graphite is classified as a high-risk mineral due to its heavily concentrated supply chain, which poses significant geopolitical risks. The globalization of manufacturing and trade has further exacerbated supply chain vulnerabilities by centralizing production in low-cost regions, deepening dependence on specific countries. This letter provides a comprehensive overview of the graphite supply chain and its associated challenges while offering strategic insights for stabilization and diversification.

Metallic ore deposits of various genetic types are distributed in the Taebaeksan mineralized district in South Korea. The different basements or host rocks for these deposits vary across the northern and southern regions of the district with the Baegunsan Syncline as its center. Previous and newly analyzed sulfur isotope data of 374 sulfide minerals collected from 45 ore deposits were reviewed to compare the genetic characteristics of the two regions. Metallic deposits in the study area were classified into skarn, hydrothermal replacement, and hydrothermal vein based on genetic types and W-Mo, Fe-Cu(-Mo-Pb-Zn), Pb-Zn(-Cu-Au- Ag), and Au-Ag(-Cu-Pb-Zn) deposits with regard to ore species. For each genetic type, average sulfur isotope values were found to be 6.8‰, 7.7‰, and 6.3‰ in the northern region, and 2.3‰, 3.6‰, and 3.5‰ in the southern region, respectively. Average sulfur isotope values for each of the ore species were 11.3‰, 2.6‰, 6.6‰, and 6.9‰ in the northern region, and 1.3‰,–0.2‰, 4.2‰, and 3.3‰ in the southern region, respectively. The results indicate that sulfur isotope compositions for both genetic types and ore species are distinctly higher in the northern region than in the southern region. These differences could be ascribed to different sulfur isotope compositions of basement and host rocks that provided sulfur to ore minerals during the evolution of hydrothermal fluids, though the mineralizing fluids were originated from magmatic source. In the northern region, higher δ34S values of ore sulfurs could be attributed to high δ34S values of sulfate and sulfide in carbonate rocks formed in seawater. On the contrary, lower δ34S values of sulfide minerals in the southern region seem to be attributed to metasedimentary rocks that have lower δ34S values as a result of bacterial sulfate reduction.

The mineralogy and geochemistry of the weathered intercumulate-type anorthosite complex in the Hadong district of South Korea were investigated as a prospective area for rare earth resource exploration. In this area, gabbroic anorthosite was intruded by rare-earth elements and yttrium (REE)-bearing dioritic pegmatites (av. 242 ppm), which caused REE-enriched Fe-Ti orebody accumulation (av. 857 ppm) near the dioritic pegmatites. REE-bearing minerals, such as allanite, cerite, and xenotime, were identified from the pegmatite and orebody, which had undergone various degrees of weathering. The total REE (∑REE) in kaolin minerals-bearing clay fractions increased compared to those of the whole rocks. When treated with ammonium-salt solvents of different pH values, that is, 4.6 (NH4Cl(aq)), 5.0 ((NH4)2SO4(aq)), and 7.8 (NH4CO3(aq)), 81%, 73%, and 70% of the exchangeable REE of the kaolin minerals-bearing clay fractions were recovered in the dioritic pegmatites. respectively. In contrast, in kaolin minerals-deficient clay fractions separated from the Fe-Ti ores, exchangeable REE were recovered less than 10% after treatment, regardless of the ammonium-salt solvent species. Therefore, the occurrence of REE-bearing primary minerals in the parent rock, the formation of kaolin minerals-bearing clay fractions, and the extraction rate of exchangeable REE with ammonium-salt solvents seem to be crucial to securing the ion-adsorption type REE resources.

The Wondong Fe-Pb-Zn polymetallic skarn deposit is located in the Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea. This deposit is associated with the Paleocene quartz porphyry and characterized by abundant exoskarn and subordinate endoskarn. A general zonation pattern is developed comprising a proximal reddish-brown garnet-rich zone, a distal greenish garnet ± pyroxene zone, and a wollastonite-rich zone at the marble front. The mineralization is characterized by Fe in the proximal garnet-rich zone and Pb-Zn within and beyond the garnet ± pyroxene zone. In general, skarn deposits show complex geophysical signatures in their rock properties in relation to metasomatism. Garnet-rich and garnet ± pyroxene skarns accompanying Fe-oxides and sulfides are significantly denser (3.3–3.4 g/cm³) than the other rocks (2.5–3.0 g/cm³) such as quartz porphyry, wollastonite-rich skarn, and silicic hornfels. Reactions related to creating garnet may increase porosity, which promotes further infiltration and reaction to produce garnet growth. The porosity of skarn rocks (1.8–8.4%) has a broad range and is generally higher than the other rocks (0.8–3.3%). In contrast, most skarn rocks show a remarkably low electrical resistivity (mostly 211–848 Ωm) than the other rocks (1,815–8,601 Ωm). Magnetic susceptibilities of skarn rocks (15–140 × 10^–5 SI) are higher than quartz porphyry and siliceous hornfels (<25 × 10^–5 SI). P wave velocities in the garnet ± pyroxene zone at the skarn front show lower values (1,487–3,674 m/s) than the other rocks (2,902–5,590 m/s), which is likely related to the porosity of the rocks. Thus, in general, the physical properties of rocks as exampled above from the skarn environment reflect their mineral assemblages and can be used for mineral exploration of skarn deposits.