| Graphite | |
|---|---|
 Graphite specimen | |
| General | |
| Category | Native mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | C |
| IMA symbol | Gr[1] |
| Strunz classification | 1.CB.05a |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal or Rhombohedral |
| Crystal class | Dihexagonal dipyramidal (6/mmm) Hermann–Mauguin notation: (6/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Space group | P63mc (buckled) P63/mmc (flat) |
| Unit cell | a = 2.461, c = 6.708 [Å]; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Iron-black to steel-gray; deep blue in transmitted light |
| Crystal habit | Tabular, six-sided foliated masses, granular to compacted masses |
| Twinning | Present |
| Cleavage | Basal – perfect on {0001} |
| Fracture | Flaky, otherwise rough when not on cleavage |
| Tenacity | Flexible non-elastic, sectile |
| Mohs scale hardness | 1–2 |
| Luster | Metallic, earthy |
| Streak | Black |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque, transparent only in extremely thin flakes |
| Specific gravity | 1.9–2.3 |
| Density | 2.09–2.23 g/cm3 |
| Optical properties | Uniaxial (−) |
| Pleochroism | Strong |
| Solubility | Soluble in molten nickel, warm chlorosulfuric acid[2] |
| Other characteristics | strongly anisotropic, conducts electricity, greasy feel, readily marks |
| References | [3][4][5] |
Graphite (/ˈɡræfaɪt/) is a crystalline allotrope (form) of the element carbon. It consists of many stacked layers of graphene, typically in the excess of hundreds of layers. Graphite occurs naturally and is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. Synthetic and natural graphite are consumed on a large scale (1.3 million metric tons per year in 2022) for uses in many critical industries including refractories (50%), lithium-ion batteries (18%), foundries (10%), lubricants (5%), among others (17%).[6] Under extremely high pressures and extremely high temperatures it converts to diamond. Graphite's low cost, thermal and chemical inertness and characteristic conductivity of heat and electricity finds numerous applications in high energy and high temperature processes.[7]
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ Liquid method: pure graphene production. Phys.org (May 30, 2010).
- ^ Graphite. Mindat.org.
- ^ Graphite. Webmineral.com.
- ^ Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C., eds. (1990). "Graphite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Vol. I (Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts). Chantilly, VA: Mineralogical Society of America. ISBN 978-0962209703. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-10-04.
- ^ "Graphite global consumption share by end use and type".
- ^ Robinson, Gilpin R.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.; Olson, Donald W. (2017). Schulz, Klaus J.; Deyoung, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C. (eds.). "Graphite". doi:10.3133/pp1802J.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
