Anthracite vs. Lignite — What's the Difference?

Anthracite, also known as hard coal, and black coal, is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a submetallic luster. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest energy density of all types of coal and is the highest ranking of coals.

Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25 to 35 percent, and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat content.

A dense, shiny coal that has a high carbon content and little volatile matter and burns with a clean flame. Also called hard coal.

A soft, brownish-black coal in which the alteration of vegetable matter has proceeded further than in peat but not as far as in bituminous coal. Also called brown coal.

A form of carbonized ancient plants; the hardest and cleanest-burning of all the coals.

A low-grade, brownish-black coal.

A dark grey colour.

Mineral coal retaining the texture of the wood from which it was formed, and burning with an empyreumatic odor. It is of more recent origin than the anthracite and bituminous coal of the proper coal series. Called also brown coal, wood coal.

A hard, compact variety of mineral coal, of high luster, differing from bituminous coal in containing little or no bitumen, in consequence of which it burns with a nearly non luminous flame. The purer specimens consist almost wholly of carbon. Also called glance coal and blind coal.

Intermediate between peat and bituminous coal

A hard natural coal that burns slowly and gives intense heat