Applications of thermoanalytical methods are demonstrated for the characterization and thermochemical reactivity of the carbon modifications fullerenes, diamond and graphite. In the first part synthesis pathways from charcoal to fragments of fullerenes and to graphite are presented. The second part sheds some light on the existence and specific textural and compositional characteristics of non-terrestrial, i.e. chondritic (meteoritic) carbon compounds. Finally, selected features specifying the thermochemical reactivity of all three modifications as function of temperature, pressure and atmosphere is described.