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EntityQ424094· pop 14· linked from 44 articles

Also known as IMA1968-019

Chaoite, or white carbon, is a mineral described as an allotrope of carbon, whose existence is disputed. It was discovered in shock-fused graphite gneiss from the Ries crater in Bavaria. It has been described as slightly harder than graphite, with a reflection colour of grey to white. From its electron diffraction pattern, the mineral has been considered to have a carbyne structure, the linear acetylenic carbon allotrope of carbon. A later report has called this identification, and the very existence of carbyne phases, into question, arguing that the new reflections in the diffraction pattern

Key facts

Mineral.name
Chaoite
Mineral.category
Native element mineral
Mineral.formula
C
Mineral.IMAsymbol
Ch
Mineral.strunz
1.CB.05b
Mineral.system
Hexagonal
Mineral.class
Dihexagonal dipyramidal (6/mmm) H-M symbol: (6/m 2/m 2/m)
Mineral.symmetry
P6/mmm
Mineral.unit cell
a = 8.948 Å, c = 14.078 Å; Z = 168
Mineral.colour
Black
Mineral.habit
Thin 3-15 μm intergrowth lamellae with graphite
Mineral.mohs
1 - 2
Mineral.lustre
Submetallic
Mineral.diaphaneity
Opaque
Mineral.gravity
3.43 (calculated)

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Show 4 more facts
chemical formula
C
Nickel-Strunz '10th ed', review of (9th ed/ 2009 update)
1.CB.05b
Nickel-Strunz 9th edition (updated 2009)
1.CB.05b
IMA Mineral Symbol
Ch
Sources (2)

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Article

5 sections
Contents
  • Synthetic material
  • Occurrence and discovery
  • See also
  • References
  • Further reading

Chaoite, or white carbon, is a mineral described as an allotrope of carbon, whose existence is disputed. It was discovered in shock-fused graphite gneiss from the Ries crater in Bavaria. It has been described as slightly harder than graphite, with a reflection colour of grey to white. From its electron diffraction pattern, the mineral has been considered to have a carbyne structure, the linear acetylenic carbon allotrope of carbon. A later report has called this identification, and the very existence of carbyne phases, into question, arguing that the new reflections in the diffraction pattern are due to clay impurities.

==Synthetic material== It has been claimed that an identical form can be prepared from graphite by sublimation at 2700-3000 K or by irradiating it with a laser in high vacuum. This substance has been termed ceraphite.

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