Find on this page

GEOGRAPHITE - Geological foundations for graphite mineralization

The GEOGRAPHITE project is investigating the geological factors controlling graphite mineralization and quality in Norrbotten, northern Sweden.

Project Overview

Natural graphite is an EU critical raw material essential to produce lithium-ion batteries and other energy storage solutions, and is thus central to the EU’s fossil-free industrial transition. Unlike synthetic graphite, natural graphite deposits offer lower emissions footprints if extracted and processed sustainably. In northern Fennoscandia, high-grade graphite mineralization is hosted in Paleoproterozoic greenstone successions where carbonaceous sediment, deposited during continental rifting, was subsequently metamorphosed during orogenesis to form graphite-rich schists. This four-year PhD project (2026 - 2029) is investigating the sedimentary, structural and metamorphic controls on graphite mineralization and quality in Norrbotten, northern Sweden. The study will focus on greenstone rocks in the Vittangi area (north-central Norrbotten) and the Nunasvaara graphite deposit - a designated 'strategic project' under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (2024).

Aims

Investigate the geological setting and genesis of the Nunasvaara metamorphic graphite deposit
Establish key geological and analytical criteria applicable for graphite quality characterization - focusing on mineral crystallinity and metamorphic-deformation controls
Provide knowledge-based insights and sustainability guidance for societal actors connected to Nunasvaara and future graphite resource locations in Sweden (SUN-backed interdisiplinary component)

Expected Outcomes

GEOGRAPHITE will constrain geological factors conducive to form high-crystallinity graphite for advanced industrial applications like battery anodes and graphene. Results will also contribute to international debates on natural graphite genesis and advance mineral exploration models for metamorphic graphite systems in Sweden and beyond. The project will use key geological findings to also assess juridical- and policy-relevant aspects for an area where mining is contested by local key actors and communities, thereby promoting informed, inclusive and just decision-making while also reflecting on how these aspects can inform mineral exploration and development strategies in a sustainability context.

Funding

This research is supported by CAMM-CRM, a Swedish government-supported research initiative on critical raw materials at Luleå University of Technology. The project is also co-funded by the strategic area “SUN – Natural Resources for Sustainability Transitions” at Luleå University of Technology.