266 Kilkenny Coal, &V. [Book VI. 



and admits of being turned into fnurF boxes, inkftands, 

 trinkets, &c. 



The word lithonthrax, ufed by fome mineralogies, 

 properly denotes ftone coal, and feerns mod applicable 

 to cannel coal, as this, from its dull and uniform frac- 

 ture, has mod refemblance to a ftony fubftance. 



5. KILKENNY coal. This is perhaps the moft free 

 from earthy matter of all the different fpecies of coal ; 

 the earth contained in it not exceeding the twentieth 

 part of its weight. This coal burns with lefs flame 

 and fmoke *, and more flowly and intenfely than the 

 cannel coal, 



6. SULPHUREOUS coal. All thofe kinds of coal 

 are called by this name, which are mixed with parti- 

 cles of a yellow and metallic appearance, and which 

 are in fact a fpecies of pyrites. In confequence of 

 this admixture they emit, when burned, a fulphureous 

 imell, and fall to pieces when expofed to the action of 

 air and moifture. 



7. BOVEY coal, xylanthrax, is of a brown or 

 brownifh black colour, and of a laminar texture. 

 The laminae are frequently flexible when frelh dug, 

 though they generally harden on expofure to air. Mr. 

 Fabroni discovers its organic ftru<5lure by boiling it 

 in dilute nitrous acid, by which its fibres are laid bare. 

 It feems to confift of wood penetrated by petroleum or 

 bitumen, and frequently contains pyrites, alum, and 

 vitriol - 



8. PEAT or turf, geanthrax. It may admit ofdoubc 



* Kilkenny, the town in Ireland where this coal is produced., 

 is pleafantly fituated ; it is watered by a clear and beautiful river, 

 and produces alfo a black marble variegated with white fpots. 

 The place has therefore been proverbially charafterifed " Fire 

 ' without fmoke, air without fog, water without mud, and the 

 >; (I rcets paved with marble.'* 



how 



