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www.mineralgallery.co.za Minerals F-J |
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Graphite |
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Name
Graphite
Chemistry
Theoretically 100% C, admixtures: N, H, CO2, CH4, SiO2, Al2O3, etc
Uses
Metallurgy, in electrical industries and the manufacture of lubricants and lead pencils.
Color-
Dark grey
Hardness
1-1.5
Specific gravity
2.25 (alternating due to impurities)
Crystal system:
hexagonal
Accompanied by:
Pyrite, calcite, marcasite
Fracture
Uneven
Luster
Shiny,metallic,
In cryptocrystalline forms, dull
Cleavage
perfect on (0001)
Streak
Dark steel-grey, glossy
Similar to:
Molybdenite
Graphite is a dark steel-grey mineral with a low hardness. A quick test to see how soft it is is to use it as a pencil and draw a line on paper.
It looks similar to manganese minerals but it is more greasy.
Crystals are rare, they tend to wheater before they are discovered.
It has excellent electrical conductivity and that is why they use it in nuclear reactors. They make the rods from graphite. The rods cools down or shall I say slows down the nuclear process. It is used as a lubricant and also as lead in pencils. They can produce it artificially.
