Pencil Debris
This is from an environmental tapelift collected in an
office.
Transmitted Off Circular Polarized Light and Reflected Darkfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
Pencil debris includes the carbon fragments from the "lead" of the pencil, wood sawdust,
and paint from
the surface of the pencil. The carbon fragments are actually a blend of clay and
graphite.
Significance in the Environment:
Characteristic Features:
Graphite is relatively reflective and so the particles from the pencil lead are speckled
when viewed
with reflected light.
Associated Particles:
References:
