what is lead made of
â¢ Charcoal pencils, used primarily by artists, are another popular form of black lead pencil, made from a different form of carbon than graphite that is more like coal. These make a very dark black mark on the paper compared to even very soft graphite pencils, such as 8B.ereâs a myth buster: There is no lead in pencils. Rather, the core is made up of a non-toxic mineral called graphite. The common name âpencil leadâ is due to an historic association with the stylus made of lead in ancient Roman times.