Radiating Graphite in the Kola Peninsula, Russia

Hakman Valley, Mt. Yukspor, Khibiny Massif

Graphite with a very unusual hollow fibrous, conical and tubular morphologies occurs as cavity coatings and in spherical aggregates in an alkaline pegmatite in the Hackman valley, Mt. Yukspor, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsual, Russia. Associated minerals include aegirine needles, apatite crystals, albite, nepheline, natrolite crystals.

Fibrous, radiating aggregates of graphite,
(to 7 mm diameter) in pegmatite.
J.A. Jaszczak collection and photo.

Fibers are composed of hollow channels
of graphite, with walls of layered graphite
crystals. Tiny graphite cones and tubes are associated.
Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope
(FESEM) image. Aegirine in vuggy areas may be covered
richly with micro- to nano-scale cones and tubes
of graphite, as revealed in this FESEM image.

References:

"Micro- and nano-scale graphite cones and tubes from Hackman Valley, Kola Peninsula, Russia," J. A. Jaszczak, S. Dimovski, S. A. Hackney, G. W. Robinson, P. Bosio, and Y. Gogotsi. Canadian Mineralogist 45, 379-389 (2007).
"Nano- and micro-scale graphite cones and tubes from Hackman Valley, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia." J. A. Jaszczak, S. A. Hackney, and S. Dimovski. Proceedings of the technical session of the 32nd Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, Rochester, New York, April 15, 2005. Rocks and Minerals 82, 238-240 (2007).

Back to Jaszczak's home page

Back to Graphite Page


Fibers are composed of hollow channels of graphite, with walls of layered graphite crystals. Tiny graphite cones and tubes are associated. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) image.	Aegirine in vuggy areas may be covered richly with micro- to nano-scale cones and tubes of graphite, as revealed in this FESEM image.