Glassy Carbon
Image: Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) (FAL)
Mineral NameGlassy Carbon
Chemical FormulaC
Mohs Hardness6
Crystal Systemamorphous
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorblack
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity1.45
Colorsblack
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalitySynthetic (manufactured)
Mineral GroupCarbon allotrope (synthetic material)
Useselectrodes, crucibles, laboratory equipment, medical implants, jewelry components
Raritycommon
Description
A large, irregularly shaped, black material with a highly reflective, glassy surface showing prominent conchoidal fractures, displayed next to a small, dark graphite cube for comparison.
Geological Context
Glassy carbon is a synthetic, non-graphitizing form of carbon produced by the pyrolysis of carbon-rich polymers in an inert atmosphere at high temperatures. It does not occur naturally in geological settings.
