Graphite

Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, USA
© John Jaszczak

Show Graphite Photos (56)

Formula:

System:

Hexagonal

Colour:

Iron black to steel-grey

Lustre:

Sub-Metallic

Hardness:

1 - 2

Name:

From Greek "graphein", 'to write'; named by German chemist and mineralogist A. G. Werner in 1789.

Polymorph of:

Diamond, Lonsdaleite

Graphite usually occurs in flakes in metamorphosed rocks rich in carbon, but it can also be found in veins and in pegmatites. Where large deposits are found it is mined and used as an industrial lubricant and for 'lead' in pencils.

Classification of Graphite

IMA status:

Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"

Strunz 8th edition ID:

1/B.02-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:

1.CB.05

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
B : Carbon-silicon family

Dana 7th edition ID:

1.3.5.2

Dana 8th edition ID:

1.3.6.2

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals

Hey's CIM Ref.:

1.25

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)

mindat.org URL:

http://www.mindat.org/min-1740.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Physical Properties of Graphite

Lustre:

Sub-Metallic

Diaphaneity (Transparency):

Opaque

Colour:

Iron black to steel-grey

Streak:

Black to steel gray

Hardness (Mohs):

1 - 2

Hardness (Vickers):

VHN₁₀=7 - 11 kg/mm²

Tenacity:

Flexible

Cleavage:

Perfect
{0001}

Fracture:

Micaeous

Density (measured):

2.09 - 2.23 g/cm³

Density (calculated):

2.26 g/cm³

Crystallography of Graphite

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Morphology:

Hexagonal platy crystals

Twinning:

{1121}

Crystal Atlas:

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Graphite - Dipyramidal {101}

Graphite - Tabular {001}

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

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t/T	: decrease/increase transparency	x/X	: next/previous texture
b/B	: next/previous background	w	: toggle wireframe
s	: toggle sticks	m	: toggle miller indices
k	: toggle crystallographic axes	=/-	: zoom in/out
r	: stop/start rotation	1/2/3

Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.

Structure

Reference
Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York. Crystal Structures 1:7-83.

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More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

X-Ray Powder Diffraction:

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Graphite

Type:

Uniaxial (-)

Anisotropism:

Extreme

Colour in reflected light:

Iron black to steel gray

Comments:

Deep blue in transmitted light.

Chemical Properties of Graphite

Formula:

Essential elements:

All elements listed in formula:

Relationship of Graphite to other Species

1.CB.05

1.CB.05

1.CB.10

1.CB.10

1.CB.15

1.1

1.2

1.5

1.6

1.7

AuCu

1.8

Zinc

1.9

Cadmium

1.10

Danbaite

CuZn

1.11

Zhanghengite

CuZn

1.12

1.13

1.14

1.15

1.16

1.1

0.9

1.17

Paraschachnerite

1.18

Luanheite

1.19

Weishanite

(Au,Ag)

1.20

Indium

1.21

Aluminium

1.22

Khatyrkite

(Cu,Zn)Al

1.23

Cupalite

(Cu,Zn)Al

1.24

1.26

1.27

1.28

1.29

1.30

1.31

Au(Pb,Sb)

1.31

Novodneprite

AuPb

1.32

Leadamalgam

HgPb

1.33

Arsenic

1.34

Arsenolamprite

1.35

Paxite

CuAs

1.36

Koutekite

1.37

Domeykite

1.38

Algodonite

(Cu

1-x

)

1.39

Novakite

AgAs

1.40

Kutinaite

AgAs

1.41

Antimony

1.42

Stibarsen

AsSb

1.43

Paradocrasite

1.44

Horsfordite

1.45

Cuprostibite

(Sb,Tl)

1.46

Allargentum

(Ag

1-x

)

1.47

Aurostibite

AuSb

1.48

1.49

1.50

1.51

1.52

1.53

1.54

1.55

1.56

1.57

1.58

1-x

(x=0.6)

1.59

Ferchromide

1.5

0.5-x

1.60

Wairauite

CoFe

1.61

Nickel

1.62

Kamacite

(Fe,Ni)

1.63

Taenite

(Fe,Ni)

1.64

Tetrataenite

FeNi

1.65

Awaruite

1.66

Palladium

(Pd,Pt)

1.67

Potarite

PdHg

1.68

Paolovite

1.69

Stannopalladinite

(Pd,Cu)

1.70

Cabriite

SnCu

1.71

Taimyrite

(Pd,Cu,Pt)

1.72

Atokite

(Pd,Pt)

1.73

Rustenburgite

(Pt,Pd)

1.74

Zvyagintsevite

(Pd,Pt,Au)

(Pb,Sn)

1.75

Plumbopalladinite

1.76

Osmium

(Os,Ir,Ru)

1.77

Iridium

(Ir,Os,Ru)

1.82

Platinum

1.83

Hongshiite

PtCu

1.84

Niggliite

PtSn

1.85

Isoferroplatinum

1.86

Tetraferroplatinum

PtFe

1.87

Tulameenite

CuFe

1.88

Ferronickelplatinum

FeNi

1.89

Rhodium

(Rh,Pt)

Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

1.3.5.1

1.3.5.3

1.3.5.4

1.3.5.5

Other Names for Graphite

Synonyms:

Black Lead	Graphitoid (of Shepard)	Melangraphite	Mica des Peintres	Mica Pictoria
Pencil Ore	Plombagine	Pombaggine	Reissblei

Esperanto names:

French names:

German names:

Russian names:

Графит

Spanish names:

Varieties:

Polytypes for Graphite

Polytypes:

Graphite-3R

Other Information

Other Information:

Greasy feel

Health Warning:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Graphite

Reference List:

Cirkel, Fritz (1907), Graphite: its properties, occurrence, refining and uses: Department of Mines, Mines Branch, Ottawa, Canada, 307pp.

Alling, Harold L. (1917), The Adirondack graphite deposits, New York State Museum Bulletin 199: 7-150.

Spence, Hugh S. (1920), Graphite Mines, Branch Report No. 511: Canada
Department of Mines, Ottawa: 202pp. + photos.

Wesselowski and Wassiliew (1934) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 89: 494.

Palache, Charles (1941), Contributions to the mineralogy of Sterling Hill, New
Jersey: Morphology of graphite, arsenopyrite, pyrite and arsenic: American Mineralogist: 26(12): 709-717.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 834pp.: 152-154.

Cameron, Eugene N. and Weis, Paul L. (1960), Strategic graphite - a survey, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1082-E: 201-321.

Taylor, R., Gilchris, Ke, and Poston, L.J. (1968) Thermal conductivity of polycrystalline graphite. Carbon: 6: 537-544.

Kwiecinska, Barbara (1980), Mineralogy of Natural Graphites: Zaklad Narodowy
imienia Ossolinskich; Polska Akademia Nauk: 67: Jun-87.

Weis, Paul L. (1980), Graphite skeleton crystals - A newly recognized morphology of crystalline carbon in metasedimentary rocks: Geology: 8: 296-297.

Shafranovskii, G.I. (1981), New graphite twins: Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo
Mineralogicheskogo Obschestva: 110(6): 716-720.

Shafranovskii, G. I. (1982), Crystallomorphology of graphite from the Ilmen Mountains; Mineralogical Research of Endogenic Deposits of the Urals: Academy Nauk CCCP- Uralskii Nauchnuri Tsentr: 44-53.

Shafranovskii, G.I. (1982), Graphite [growth] twins and triads: Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal: 4(1): 74-81.

Shafranovskii, G.I. (1983), Classical and non-classical twinning in graphite: Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obschestva: 112(5): 577-581.

Gohla, Karl-Heinz (1984), Graphit aus Kropfmuhl: Magma: 4: 26-51.

Jedwab, Jacques and Boulègue, Jacques (1984): Graphite crystals in hydrothermal vents: Nature: 310: 41-43.

Weinelt, Winfried (1984), Die Geologie der Graphit- Lagerstatte Kropfmuhl: Magma: 4: 52-56.

Weiner, Karl-Ludwig and Hager, Harald (1987), Growth spirals on graphite crystals: Lapis: 12(1): 31-33.

Rumble, D. and Chamberlain, C.P. (1988), Graphite vein deposits of New Hampshire: New England Intercollegiate Geologic Conference Guidebook: 241-255.

Pearson, D.G., Davies, G.R., Nixon, P.H. and Milledge, H.J. (1989), Graphitized diamonds from a peridotite massif in Morocco and implications for anomalous diamond occurrences: Nature (London): 338 210: 60-62.

Bernatowicz, Thomas J.; Amari, Sachiko; Zinner, Ernst K.; and Lewis, Roy S. (1991), Interstellar grains within interstellar grains: Astrophysical Journal: 373: L73-L76.

Jaszczak, John A. (1991), Graphite from Crestmore, California: Mineralogical
Record: 22(6): 427-432.

Kvasnitsa, V.N. and Yatsenko, V.G. (1991), Spherical graphite from the Azov Sea region: Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal: 13(1): 95-101.

Lemanski, Chester S. Jr. (1991), Graphite in ore: The Picking Table: 32(1): 13-Nov, 1991.

Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi; Suzuki, Shunichi; and Chida, Tadashi (1991), Origin of graphite in the Oshirabetsu gabbroic body, Hokkaido Japan: Journal of Mineralogy, Petrology, and Economic Geology; Japanese Association of Mineralogists, Petrologists and Economic Geologists, Tohoku University, Sendai 980, Japan: 86(6): 264-272.

Kvasnitsa, V.N. and Yatsenko, V.G. (1992), Mechanisms of natural graphite crystals growth in the Ukraine: Doklady Academuu Nauk: 4: 73-76.

Dissanayake, C.B. (1994), Origin of vein graphite in high-grade metamorphic
terrains: Role of organic matter and sediment subduction: Mineralium
Deposita: 29: 57-67.

Jaszczak, John A. (1994), Famous graphite crystals from Sterling Hill, New Jersey: The Picking Table: 35(2).

Semenenko, V. P. and Girich, A. L. (1995), Mineralogy of a unique
graphite-containing fragment in the Krymka chondrite (LL3): Mineralogical
Magazine: 59: 443-454.

Tyler, Ian (1995), Seathwaite Wad and the Mines of the Borrowdale Valley
"Blue Rock Publications, Carlisle, England": 220.

Jaszczak, John A. (1997), Unusual graphite crystals from the Lime Crest quarry, Sparta, New Jersey: Rocks & Minerals: 72(5): 330-334.

Kvasnitsa, V.N. and Yatsenko, V.G. (1997), Growth spirals on graphite crystals from Ukraine: Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal: 19(6): 43-48.

Jaszczak, John A. (1998), Unusual graphite crystals from the Lime Crest quarry, Sparta, New Jersey: The Picking Table: 39(1): 20-24.

Kvasnitsa, V.N.; Yatsenko, V.G.; and Zagnitko, V.M. (1998), Varieties of Graphite Spherulites from Deposits and Ore Occurrences of Ukraine: Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal, Akademiya Nauk Ukrainy, Kiev, Ukraine: 20(2): 34-39.

Hanna, George A. and Jaszczak, John A. (1999), A new find of spherical
graphite from Sterling Hill, New Jersey: The Picking Table: 40: 27-30.

Kvasnitsa, Victor N.; Yatsenko, Victor G.; and Jaszczak, John A.(1999), Disclinations in unusual graphite crystals from anothosites of Ukraine: Canadian Mineralogist: 37(4): 951-960.

Jaszczak, John A. (2000), Palache's "Contributions to the mineralogy of Sterling
Hill, New Jersey": The 900-foot level revisited: Matrix, A Journal of the
History of Minerals: 8(3): 137-149.

Jaszczak, John A. and Robinson, George W. (2000), Spherical and triskelial
graphite from Gooderham, Ontario, Canada: Rocks & Minerals: 75(3): 172-173.

Satish-Kumar, M. and Wada, Hideki (2000), Carbon isotope equilibrium between calcite and graphite in Skallen Marbles, East Antarctica: evidence for the preservation of peak metamorphic temperatures: Chemical Geology: 166: 173-182.

El Goresy, Ahmed; Gillet, Philippe; Chen, Ming; Künstler, Friedel; and Graup, Günther and Volker, Stähle (2001), In situ discovery of shock-induced graphite-diamond phase transition in gneisses from the Ries Crater, Germany: American
Mineralogist: 86: 611-621.

Jaszczak, John A. (2001), Palache's "Contributions to the Mineralogy of Sterling Hill, New Jersey", The 900-foot level revisited: The Picking Table: 42(1).

Jaszczak, John A. and Rakovan, John (2002), Growth spirals on graphite crystals from the Trotter Mine dump, Franklin, New Jersey: The Picking Table: 43(2).

Rakovan, John and Jaszczak, John A.(2002), Multiple length scale growth spirals on metamorphic graphite {001} surfaces studied by atomic force microscopy: American Mineralogist: 87: 17-24.

Jaszczak, John A.; Robinson, George W.; Dimovski, Svetlana; Gogotsi, Yury (2003), Naturally Occurring Graphite Cones: Carbon: 41(11): 2085-2092.

Santosh, M.; Wada, H.; Satish-Kumar, M.; And Binu-Lal, S.S. (2003), Carbon isotope "stratigraphy" in a single graphite crystal: Implications for the crystal growth mechanism of fluid-deposited graphite: American Mineralogist: 88: 1689-1696.

Stadermann, F. J., Croat, T. K., and Bernatowicz, T. (2004) "NanoSIMS Determination of Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Compositions of Presolar Graphites from the Murchison Meteorite", 35th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 15-19, League City, Texas, abstract no.1758.