MODE II. ANTHRACITE. 55,5 



finest are in the cabinet of the Council of Mines." 

 Another specimen of anthracite is from Allues, 

 Mont Blanc ; and a third, which is slaty, is from 

 Regny, near St. Simphorien de Laie, on the road 

 fr n Roarme to Lyons. 



The best account of anthracite, as already 

 mentioned, is that given by Brongniart, which 

 shall therefore be translated. 



" Anthracite so much resembles coal, at first Brongniart's 



. r . . r account. 



sight, that for a long time it was taken for a 

 variety of that combustible mineral. Neverthe- 

 less, artisans who used it had remarked, that it 

 burnt with great difficulty, and did not produce 

 either that white flame, or black smoke, or 

 that bituminous odour which arises from coal; 

 therefore it was called, incombustible pit-coal. 



" Anthracite is of a black less opake than 

 coal ; its colour approaches nearer by its bright- 

 ness, to the metallic black ; it is also more fri- 

 able ; it is rough to the touch, and easily stains 

 the fingers; it leaves a black mark on paper, 

 which, if examined with attention, seems of a 

 dull black. These characters serve to distin- 

 guish it from graphite, which leaves a bright 

 mark, and is unctuous to the feel. 



" The texture of anthracite, sometimes schis- 

 tose, sometimes compact, at others granular, is 

 too various to serve as a characteristic. Its spe- 



