Anthracite, also known as hard coal and black coal, is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a submetallic lustre. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest energy …

Anthracite, the most highly metamorphosed form of coal and the least plentiful form. Anthracites are black to steel gray and have a brilliant, almost metallic luster. They can be polished and used for …

Anthracite: The highest rank of coal. It is a hard, brittle, and black lustrous coal, often referred to as hard coal, containing a high percentage of fixed carbon and a low percentage of volatile matter.

Nov 17, 2025 · Anthracitic coals are high-rank coals. They are shiny (glassy) and break with a conchoidal (glass-like) fracture. Most coals do not reach anthracitic rank, which requires high heat …

Apr 29, 2025 · Anthracite coal is the hardest and most energy-rich type of coal and burns very hot. Anthracite is the cleanest burning coal, making it ideal for residential and commercial heating. …

Feb 18, 2013 · What is anthracite? Anthracite is the highest-rank coal and represents the final stage in the transformation of plant material into carbon-rich rock.

It is very hard, has a low moisture content—and a carbon content of nearly 95%. [2][3] Also, anthracite is usually the oldest type of coal, having formed from biomass that was buried 350 million years ago.