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Graphite (Photo) [abbr. Gr ]

Year of discovery: Prehistoric (World), 1891 (Japan)

Locality list: 423 localities of graphite

• C

• Class: Carbon Polymorph group
• Class: Native elements
• Insoluble in: HCl
• Magnetism: Diamagnetic
• Combustible

• Polymorph: Diamond (Cubic), Chaoite (Hexagonal), Lonsdaleite (Hexagonal)

• Color: Black, Dark gray
• Streak: Black, Dark gray
• Luster: Sub-Metallic
• Diaphaneity: Opaque

• Habit: Platy on {0001}
• Aggregate: Radial, Amygdalodial
• Striation: Triangle shape on {0001}
• Twin: {11-21}

• Cleavage: Perfect on {0001} (1 plane)
• Hardness: 1-2
• Density: 2.2

• System: Hexagonal (2H), Trigonal (3R) (Layer-stacking polytype)
• Group (2H): 6mm, 6₃mc
• Group (3R): (-3)m, R(-3)m
• Lattice (2H): a=2.5, c=6.7
• Lattice (3R): a=2.5, c=10.0

Etymology: Draw in Greek, as this mineral was used as pen.