A　novel　kind　of　mesoporous　silicon　carbide　(SiC)　was　synthesized　via　the　carbothermal　reduction　reaction　of　carbonaceous　silicon　xerogel.　The　purified　SiC　sample　was　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　Fourier　transform　infra-red　spectroscopy,　electron　microscopy　and　N-2　porosimetry.　The　results　show　that　the　SiC　obtained　has　a　thorn-ball-like　(TBL)　shape.　The　TBL　SiC　sample　has　a　surface　area　of　141　m(2)/g　and　a　pore　diameter　in　the　range　of　2-30　nm,　and　possesses　two　different　kinds　of　pores.　(c)　2006　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.