Abstract. Geological and mineralogical characteristics of the two largest graphite vein deposits associated with the ultramafic rocks of the Serrania de Ronda (M~daga, southern Spain) are described for the first time in this paper. The deposits are hosted in the spinel-lherzolite facies of the ultramafic sequence forming in single dikes, pockets and stockworks. Veins are composed of graphite, chromite and Fe-Ni-Cu sulfides. Graphite crystallinity reflects their fully ordered nature, and the c o parameter indicates temperatures at the time of formation ranging from 770 ~ to 820 ~ According to the mineralogy and structural features of graphite veins, a magmatic origin involving assimilation of biogenic carbon from crustal rocks is proposed.