A huge graphite mine has been discovered in Heilongjiang, according to news released by the provincial forestry department on Feb 2.

Heilongjiang Provincial Forest Industry Bureau disclosed that more than 35 million tons of graphite has been found in the province. About 25 million tons were found in Xibeileng village, Linkou county and another 10 million tons were found in Sanhe village, Linkou county.

"There are plenty graphite resources found in Xibeileng, and the construction structure is simple to be mined,” said Ouyang Rongjing, a geology expert from Heilongjiang No 6 Geologic Engineering Exploration Institute.

He also claimed that China has rich graphite resources. From the perspective of regional distribution, Heilongjiang boasts the largest volume of graphite in China, he said.

Heilongjiang has exported graphite to many foreign countries, including Japan, the US, and South Korea.

"The graphite resources found this time can be highly processed for the whole industrial chain, something seldom found before,” said Zheng Ensheng, director of Heilongjiang’s Linkou Forestry Bureau.

"Next, we will invite professional research teams from both home and abroad to conduct research and development for the graphite industry,” he said.

Graphite is an indispensable material for modern industry, widely used in industrial production, the atomic energy industry and the national defense industry.