The lead in pencils, actually (8)

I believe the answer is:

graphite

(Other definitions for graphite that I've seen before include "Black carbon used in lead pencils" , "Pencil-lead carbon" , "Mixed with clay it forms the 'lead' in pencils" , "Writing material" , "Form of carbon used in pencils" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

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