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What is it and where is it formed? Graphite is one of the
two kinds of carbon. The other one is
diamond which is a lot harder than
graphite. The difference between the two is how the atoms are arranged.
Diamonds that are close to the surface of the Earth are slowly changing into
graphite. Graphite is caused by the changes in
igneous and
metamorphic rocks.
It is formed when plants, rocks, and organic things in limestone areas change
over time. |
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How and where is it mined? Graphite is mined using
underground mining and surface
quarrying. The way it is mined depends on how
deep into the Earth the graphite is. It is mined in: China, Brazil, Canada,
Malagasy, Norway, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. |
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What is it used for?
Graphite is used for the lead in pencils, to make steel
stronger, and as a
lubricant. Clay + water + graphite = the lead in pencils. |
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Photo by Eric Greene, courtesy of
Treasure Mountain Mining |
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Mineral Characteristic |
What the
mineralogists say |
Kid's Guide: What it REALLY
means! |
| Chemical Symbol |
C |
It only has carbon in it. |
| Color |
Black or gray |
These
are graphite’s usual colors. |
| Streak |
Black gray to brownish gray |
If you
crushed graphite, it would become a black-gray or
brownish-gray dust. It is one way that scientists
identify it. |
| Transparency |
Opaque |
You
can’t see through it. |
| Luster |
Metallic to dull |
If you
shine a light on it, it would have a dull shine like
dirty metal. |
| Cleavage |
Perfect in 1 direction |
If you
broke graphite, it would break smoothly into sheets. |
| Fracture |
Flaky |
If it
is broken into smaller pieces, it will be flaky or
sheet-like. |
| Magnetism |
None |
It will
not attract, or be attracted to, a magnet |
| Hardness |
1 - 2 |
It is a
soft metal. |
| Specific gravity |
2.2 |
If you
held a piece of it, it would seem light for its size. |
| Crystal Shape |
Hexagonal |
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Graphite can be made from
coke, which is what is left over
after bituminous coal has had its purer parts taken out to be used as fuel.
This is man-made graphite and it ends up costing more to make. People want it
because it is purer, heavier, and stronger than natural graphite. |
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Links:
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Citations:
Fuller, Sue. Rocks
& Minerals. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
“Graphite.” Raintree Illustrated Science Encyclopedia. 1991
ed.
“Graphite.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed.
Greene, Eric. "Photos for website: graphite." E-mail to Club Web. 20
Jan 2006.
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