Carbothermal reduction of kyanite, a natural aluminosilicate with high alumina content (Al 2 O 3 и SiO 2 ), was used as a way to synthesize SiC-Al 2 O 3 powder. Carbon black was mixed with the mineral precursor in a molar ratio of (C/SiO 2 ) ס 5.5. The Carbothermal reaction sequence was studied in the temperature range 1260-1550°C. Completion of the reaction at 1550°C gave -SiC-whiskers and ␣-Al 2 O 3 particles as final products. From observations, the impurities contained in the mineral precursor behave as catalysts for the vapor-liquid-solid whisker growth mechanism. When the specific surface area of the starting carbon was increased from 330 to 996 m 2 /g, the carbothermal reaction rate increased but the morphology of the SiC-whiskers became very irregular. This study aimed to identify the main reaction conditions for obtaining a favorable morphology of the synthesized powder for elaborating Al 2 O 3 -SiC-whisker composite materials by using low cost starting materials and a relatively simple in situ synthesis route in comparison to the conventional way of separately preparing the phases SiC (whiskers) and Al 2 O 3 before elaborating composites.