anthracite

Hard, dense, shiny variety of coal, containing over 90% carbon and a low percentage of ash and impurities, which causes it to burn without flame, smoke, or smell. Because of its purity, anthracite gives off relatively little sulphur dioxide when burnt.

Anthracite gives intense heat, but is slow-burning and slow to light; it is therefore unsuitable for use in open fires. Its characteristic composition is thought to be due to the action of bacteria in disintegrating the coal-forming material when it was laid down during the Carboniferous period.

Among the chief sources of anthracite coal are Pennsylvania in the USA; South Wales, UK; the Donbas, Ukraine and Russia; and Shanxi province, China.