History of anthracite coal mining in Pennsylvania History of anthracite coal mining in Pennsylvania There are two types of coal found in Pennsylvania: anthracite (the “hard coal” found in Northeastern Pennsylvania below the Allegheny Ridge southwest to Harrisburg; also called “stone coal”, “rock coal” in the 1800s) and bituminous (“soft coal”, found west of the Allegheny Front escarpment). Anthracite coal is a natural mineral with a high carbon and energy content that gives off light and heat (produced energy) when burned, making it useful as a fuel. It was possibly first used in Pennsylvania as a fuel in 1769, but its real history begins with a documented
Pulverized coal-fired boiler limited extent, in steam locomotives. For example, see Prussian G 12. In 1929 the United States Shipping Board evaluated a pulverized coal-boiler on the "Mercer", a 9,500 ton merchant ship. According to their report the Mercer with its pulverized coal-boiler ran at 95% efficiency of its best oil fuelled journey. It was cheaper to operate and install than ship's boilers using oil as fuel. Pulverized coal-fired boiler A pulverized coal-fired boiler is an industrial or utility boiler that generates thermal energy by burning pulverized coal (also known as powdered coal or coal dust since it is as fine as face