If it’s dark gray or black, quite soft, light, and prone to leaving schmutz on things, it’s graphite.
Physical Properties |
|
| Chemical formula | C |
| Class | Native element |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal (rhombohdral) |
| Habit | Hexagonal tablets Foliated and scaly masses Radiating or granular aggregates |
| Color | Lead gray Black |
| Hardness | 1 to 2 |
| Specific gravity | 2.1 to 2.2 |
| Cleavage | Perfect basal (001) |
| Fracture | Elastic Flexible |
| Luster | Submetallic |
| Transparency | Opaque |
| Streak | Black |
| after Perkins, 354 |
Graphite in Hand Sample
Small graphite sample
Scanning electron micrograph of graphite
Graphite in Thin Section
Thin Section GigaPans
Graphite in graphite schist, plane polars
Graphite in graphite schist, crossed polars
Graphite Schist, Plane Polars
Graphite schist in plane polarized light. Magnification: 40x Click here to watch graphite schist rotating in crossed polars: https://youtu.be/6WAkWKmNWnU Cli…
Graphite Schist, Crossed Polars
Graphite schist in cross polarized light. Magnification: 40x Click here to watch graphite schist rotating in plane polars: https://youtu.be/14Ke3a4w578 Click…