Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest calorific content of any coal, which also includes bituminous coal and lignite.
The principal use of anthracite today is for domestic fuel in either hand-fired stoves or automatic stoker furnaces. It delivers high energy for its weight and burns cleanly with little soot, making it ideal for this purpose. Other uses include the fine particles used as filter media, and as an ingredient in charcoal briquettes.
