Variety of charcoal, dark gray in colour, thus often mistaken for lead. Reduced into dust, it is mixed with glue and then, once dry, cut to a point to be utilized for drawing: presents a clear mark, stable and dark gray in colour. Graphite (together with a ferruginous clay and black smoke) is the basis of the compound created in 1975 by N. J. Conte , from which the modern production of the pencil developed.