Graphite Mineral Data

Graphite Mineral Data +

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General Graphite Information

Chemical Formula:

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 12.01 gm

Carbon 100.00 % C

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Environment:

Metamorphosed limestones, organic-rich shales, and coal beds..

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) Prehistoric

Locality:

Ticonderoga, New York. Madagascar and Ceylon. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek, graphein, "to write."

Synonym:

Black Lead

Plumbago

Graphite Image

Images:

Graphite

Comments: A crystal of graphite in gneiss.
Location: Forchheim, Pockau, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany. Scale: Picture size 6 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Images:

Graphite

Comments: Black, sub-hexagonal crystal of graphite in calcite.
Location: Lead Hill Mine, (near Ticonderoga), Essex Co., New York, USA. Scale: Crystal size 1 mm.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Graphite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:2.73376

Cell Dimensions:

a = 2.464, c = 6.736, Z = 4; V = 35.42 Den(Calc)= 2.25

Crystal System:

Hexagonal - Dihexagonal DipyramidalH-M Symbol (6/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 6₃/mmc

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.35(1), 1.675(0.8), 1.541(0.6),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 0 1 0] [ 0 0 1]

Warning: this large pop-up is very compute intensive and may not work well with some computers.

Crystal Structure:

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drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
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Kukesh J S , Pauling L , American Mineralogist , 35 (1950) p.125-125, The problem of the graphite structure

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Graphite
[1]

Physical Properties of Graphite

Cleavage:

[0001] Perfect

Color:

Iron black, Dark gray, Black, Steel gray.

Density:

2.09 - 2.23, Average = 2.16

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Sectile - Curved shavings or scrapings produced by a knife blade, (e.g. graphite).

Habit:

Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).

Habit:

Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms.

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Sub Metallic

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

black

Optical Properties of Graphite

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), w=1.93-2.07.

RL Anisotrophism:

Extreme.

RL Pleochroism:

Strong, red.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Graphite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	7.90	18.70
420 nm	7.80	18.80
440 nm	7.70	18.90
460 nm	7.60	19.20
480 nm	7.50	19.50
500 nm	7.50	19.80
520 nm	7.50	20.10
540 nm	7.40	20.50
560 nm	7.40	20.80
580 nm	7.40	21.30
600 nm	7.50	21.70
620 nm	7.50	22.20
640 nm	7.60	22.80
660 nm	7.60	23.40
680 nm	7.60	24.00
700 nm	7.60	24.60

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Graphite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	100%	200%	300%	400%	500%	600%	700%	800%	900%	1000%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Graphite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.25 gm/cc
note: r_Graphite=2.25 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.011
Boson Index = 0.989

Photoelectric:

PE_Graphite= 0.16 barns/electron
U=PE_Graphite x r_electron= 0.36 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Graphite is Not Radioactive

Graphite Classification

Dana Class:

1.3.6.2 (1)Native Elements

(1.3)with semi-metallic and non-metallic elements

(1.3.6)Carbon Polymorph group

1.3.6.1 Diamond C F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

1.3.6.2 Graphite C P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

1.3.6.3 Lonsdaleite C P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

1.3.6.4 Chaoite C P 6/mmm 6/m 2/m 2/m

1.3.6.5 Fullerite! C60 pseudo-CUBIC 4/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

I/B.02-10 I - Elements

I/B - Semimetals and nonmetals

I/B.02 - Carbon series, Graphite - Lonsdaleite

I/B.02-10 Graphite C P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

I/B.02-20 Chaoite C P 6/mmm 6/m 2/m 2/m

I/B.02-30 Moissanite SiC P 6₃mc 6mm

I/B.02-40 Diamond C F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

I/B.02-50 Lonsdaleite C P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

Other Graphite Information

References:

NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Graphite Specimen Label here :

Graphite

C
Dana No: 1.3.6.2 Strunz No: I/B.02-10
Locality:

Notes: