Anthracite is a pure and dense form of coal with high carbon concentration and low impurities. It burns cleanly and has a high energy density. It was widely used during the Industrial Revolution and continues to be used as a heating fuel. It is mined using standard techniques, with surface deposits being preferred for safety and cost reasons.
Anthracite is the densest and purest form of coal and contains a high concentration of carbon and very few impurities. Anthracite’s relative purity means it burns cleanly and has a high energy density compared to other types of coal. This type of charcoal is difficult to ignite but, once lit, it provides a powerful and constant flame over a long period of time. Physically, it is generally much harder than other forms of charcoal, generally does not crumble easily when touched, and tends to have a surface that appears slightly reflective or shiny, although its high carbon content ensures that it is still as black in color as charcoal. ‘ink.
All forms of coal are fossil fuels and are the result of geological forces acting on ancient deposits of plant and animal matter over many hundreds of thousands of years. Most of the coal deposits are thought to have been deposited during the Carboniferous Period, about 300 million years ago. Pressure and temperature have worked together to compress and transform this ancient plant matter, increasing its density and changing its structure.
The degree of temperature and pressure to which ancient biological material was exposed determined what types of fossil fuels were ultimately produced. Anthracite is the product of geological forces more intense than other types of coal, although not as much as some varieties of metamorphic minerals. Ancient biological material exposed to less extreme environmental forces, or with a different initial composition, was instead transformed into other forms of fossil fuels, such as soft bituminous coal.
Every type of coal was used extensively during the Industrial Revolution, and anthracite was especially prized for its low level of impurities and higher energy output, making it ideal for many industrial applications. It was also widely used as a fuel for railways, where its high energy density meant that less coal needed to be hauled. Its clean-burning characteristics have made it a good choice for use as a domestic and commercial heating fuel, a role it has played in the United States into the modern era and continues to play in much of the world.
Anthracite is mined using fairly standard coal mining techniques. Shallow deposits can be mined without the need to excavate large tunnel systems, while deeper deposits require more extensive excavation work and have historically proven risky locations for miners. Recent anthracite mining has tended to focus on surface deposits for both cost and safety.
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