Hi Tylemahos, it's not likely that there is any link between the sulphur content in the East African graphite deposits, and the African Rift Valley system, because they are geologically a long way apart in time. The Rift Valley is the result of tectonic plate movement which commenced about 25 to 30 million years ago - relatively recently, in geological terms. The graphite in Mozambique and Tanzania has been attributed to regional metamorphism of carbon-rich sediments, occurring in Proterozoic times, about 700 million years ago. Some of that graphite has apparently been upgraded by subsequent granitic intrusions, but even these occurred several hundred million years ago, far before the Rift Valley plate movements.
Actually, most of the analyses of graphites from the region show sulphur at low levels, compared to much of the Chinese production, so it's not likely to be a major issue. There are some industrial applications where low sulphur is a requirement, such as its use as a recarburiser in high-quality cast iron, which could give a competitive edge over petroleum coke or Chinese graphite, both of which frequently have high sulphur levels (which means they have to go through a desulphurisation process, adding costs).
Cheers,
Prime1
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