On the punctuation. When you look at graphite, the greasy. Luster is very apparent and is opaque. and shiny gray. Graphite has a. metallic luster, it is shiny dark gray, almost greasy looking in, is softer than. paper. You can easily scratch it with. your fingernail. In fact, it is so soft that. it marks on paper, which is why it is the. major component of pencil at 10 pencil. that is not really lead it is graphite with. a little bit of clay.