A possible mechanism for natural graphite formation

By extrapolating the Arrhenius plots for carbonization and experimental thermal progressive graphitization, it is shown that carbonization can go to completion in nature (ΔH ≈ 65 kcal/mole), whereas progressive graphitization is thermodynamically improbable (ΔH ≈ 260 kcal/mole). The mechanism of formation of natural graphite has thus to be determined. Since the geothermal gradient is not strong enough for producing graphite, the existence of shear stresses has to be taken into account. Metamorphism and tectonics create suitable conditions for this transformation. Series of samples of increasing rank from anthracites to metaanthracites, semigraphite and graphite (some of them from the same parent rocks) were compared with carbon, heat-treated experimentally under pressure (5 kbar). Anthracites are microporous materials. Their pores are flattened parallel to the bedding by a pressure effect which is responsible for a long-range statistical preferred orientation. They are anisotropic in texture but only biperiodically crystallized (turbostratic). Metaanthracites differ from anthracites only by an increasing coalescence between adjacent pores. They are thus either mesoporous or even macroporous. They are still turbostratic. Semi-graphites are suddenly obtained as a new phase by an increase in temperature, pressure and shear stresses. They are formed by single macropores, i.e. hollow distorted polyhedral shells. They are partially graphitized. Graphite is suddenly produced by a second phase change also due to an increase in temperature, pressure and shear stresses. The lamellar shape represents the limit of a flattened macropore.