In Pennsylvania, there are two types of coal - anthracite (hard coal) and bituminous (soft coal). Actually, there are many "shades of gray" between the two types. Anthracite burns virtually smoke-less and produces very little soot, which is why it was favored for residential use and for fueling steam locomotives used in passenger service or in heavily populated areas. In North America, anthracite is only found in three crescent-shaped areas in NE Pennsylvania. Soft coal is far more abundant and is found throughout western PA, and throughout WV, Kentucky, etc. Lignite is low grade coal found primarily in the western US. ----- Original Message ----- From: <Breakness@aol.com> To: <PALACKAW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 11:45 PM Subject: Re: [PA-LAC] Re: Coal Mine to shawn > There are, as I understand it, two types of coal ; Hard Anthracite and the > softer variety which I think is known as Lignite. The value of Anthracite is > that not only is it harder, but that the benifit of the hardness is that it > burns much hotter thus much more usefull in converting water to steam in the > steam power era both of locomotives but also for steam ( coal) power plants, > ect. > > > ==== PALACKAW Mailing List ==== > Visit the Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern PA http://www.cfrobbins.com/grsnp/ > To unsubscribe: http://www.rootsweb.com/~palackaw/index.html#MailingList >