The picture in this article shows graphite processing in China is labour intensive.

Similarly, a picture on the web (not in this G&M article) showing women hand sorting lump/vein graphite in a Sri Lanka underground mine. Apparently, this is the only mine in the world that produces this kind of high quality graphite. But due to lack of automation the production is low. In Canada, ZEN may be one that could produce the same kind of graphite in large quantity that could fetch top dollars. But ZEN is still at the exploration stage, i.e. not as advance as NGC which is scheduled to be in production in 2013.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canadian-graphite-producers-prepare-for-boom/article2419656/

gold hunter