Anthracite Coal Specimens in Plastic Container

Object/Artifact

-

West Virginia Mine Wars Museum

Name/Title

Anthracite Coal Specimens in Plastic Container

Entry/Object ID

MW.0199

Description

Small specimens of anthracite coal in a white plastic container with slip-top lid.

Context

Primarily used by the metal industry, anthracite is the most highly metamorphosed form of coal containing more fixed carbon and least amount of volatile matter than any other form. Anthracite is the least plentiful form of coal, and in the US all anthracite mines are in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Collection

Geological

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Location

top of container

Transcription

ANTHRACITE

Material/Technique

Pen

Parts

multiple coal pieces (some as dust), container + lid

Material

Coal

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Archaeological Find

Research Notes

Research Type

Curator

Person

Shaun Slifer

Date

Nov 27, 2020

Notes

From Getty AAT: A relatively soft coal containing the tarlike substance asphaltic bitumen. Its carbon content is 60-80%, the rest composed of water, air, hydrogen, and sulfur. It is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than anthracite. It was usually formed as a result of high pressure on lignite. It dark brown to black in color, commonly banded or layered. The major problem with burning of bituminous coal is air pollution. (http://vocab.getty.edu/page/aat/300015143)