mineral
Graphite
Carbon (C)
Hardness: 1-2 on Mohs scale, Color: Steel-gray to black, Luster: Metallic to earthy, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal, Cleavage: Perfect basal, Specific Gravity: 2.09-2.23
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Physical properties
Hardness: 1-2 on Mohs scale, Color: Steel-gray to black, Luster: Metallic to earthy, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal, Cleavage: Perfect basal, Specific Gravity: 2.09-2.23
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of organic-rich carbonaceous sedimentary rocks or through reduction of carbon compounds in hydrothermal veins or igneous rocks.
Uses & applications
Used in pencils, lubricants, lithium-ion battery anodes, refractories, and foundry facings.
Geological facts
Graphite is a polymorph of diamond; while diamond has a rigid tetrahedral structure, graphite consists of stacked graphene sheets held together by weak Van der Waals forces, making it extremely soft and slippery.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its extreme softness, greasy feel, gray-black streak, and metallic-to-earthy gray luster. Sri Lanka is historically famous for producing high-purity vein graphite.
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