Geography of Sheffield county, from bituminous (ideal for domestic heating) to "Thick Coal", of a semi-anthracitic quality, appropriate for use in iron-smelting and in engine furnaces. Associated with the Upper Coal Measures were valuable iron ore deposits, occurring in the form of nodules. Large quantities of locally occurring fireclay were also exploited, as well as ganister (a clay used to make refractory furnace linings). The city of Sheffield derives its name from the River Sheaf which Until the 17th century was written as "Scheth" or "Sheath". Sidney Oldall Addy equates the origins of this word with the Old English "shed" (as in "water-shed")
Sheffield City Centre within easy walking distance of the main shopping areas. This station lies at the northern end of the Midland Main Line which begins at St Pancras International, thus affording Sheffield a direct connection to the capital and also Europe, via the Eurostar. Direct connections to other major UK cities are also available. Sheffield Station is connected to the central zone of the city centre by Sheaf Square and Howard street which leads to Arundel Gate at the Heart of the City. Sheffield possesses its own tram system known as the Sheffield Supertram. It operates on three routes, all of which