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Charcoal
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About Charcoal
Formula:
C
Colour:
black
Crystal System:
Amorphous
Not a true mineral species, but rather a term used in old geological literature for carbon produced by the incomplete burning (pyrolysis) of trees and other vegetation in lava and pyroclastic flows (especially in Japan). Occasionally also used (especially in the USA) for carbonized vegetable matter in sedimentary rocks, where it may be associated with lignite or silicified wood. (Note that we are talking here only about charcoal in a geological context; the word does of course have many other uses outside of geology.)
Chemically almost pure carbon, with minor hydrocarbon and inorganic mineral impurities, although the chemistry and structure is variable and still poorly understood. Might be considered a highly disordered graphite, although this is an oversimplification, and completely amorphous carbon and fullerenes (C60) seem to be involved too.
Chemically almost pure carbon, with minor hydrocarbon and inorganic mineral impurities, although the chemistry and structure is variable and still poorly understood. Might be considered a highly disordered graphite, although this is an oversimplification, and completely amorphous carbon and fullerenes (C60) seem to be involved too.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
40391
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:40391:1
Physical Properties of Charcoal
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Chemistry of Charcoal
Mindat Formula:
C
Element Weights:
| Element | % weight |
|---|---|
| C | 100.000 % |
Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Charcoal
Crystal System:
Amorphous
Geological Environment
Geological Setting:
Lava flows, pyroclastic flows, volcanic ash, lignite beds.
Synonyms of Charcoal
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Charcoal associated with Native Sulphur | S8 |
| 2 photos of Charcoal associated with 'Meteorite' | |
| 2 photos of Charcoal associated with 'Iron meteorite' |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Charcoal
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-40391.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Charcoal
Localities for Charcoal
Showing 27 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China | |
| Bian et al. (2025) |
| Ding et al. (2023) |
| Xu et al. (2026) |
| Wang et al. (2025) |
| Zhao et al. (2022) |
| Zhang et al. (2024) |
Dominican Republic | |
| Rock Currier +3 other references |
Georgia | |
| Makadze et al. (2026) |
India | |
| Aggarwal et al. (2026) |
Indonesia | |
| |
Italy | |
| Stoppa et al. (2019) |
Japan | |
| Katsu et al. (1963) |
| Takeo Kato et al. (1934) |
| Alfredo Petrov |
| Kanehira et al. (1971) |
New Zealand | |
| Judy Rowe and Dave Blakemore specimens |
| Wezenburg (1988) |
Panama | |
| Julius Weber collection (obtained from Robert F. Barrell) | |
Philippines | |
| Figueroa et al. (2022) |
Romania | |
| Forray et al. (2015) |
Russia | |
| Rozhdestvina et al. (2024) |
| Thomson et al. (2023) |
Syria | |
| Moore et al. (2020) |
USA | |
| Tauber (2015) |
| Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1903) |
| Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1903) | |
| Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1903) |
Black Mesa Coal Mine, Black Mesa, Navajo County, Arizona, USA