Carbonaceous refers to something relating to, containing, or composed of carbon.
It is a descriptor used for the attribute of any substance rich in carbon.
The carbonaceous chondrites are meteorites that are rich in carbon.
The word "carbonaceous" was first used in 1791 [1] In geology, metamorphism of a carbonaceous geological material is expressed as a graphitisation process, referring to the graphite generated.
Graphitisation may be accelerated or retarded in dependence on various metamorphic or lithological factors involved.