Cannel coal is a fine-grained, non-banded bituminous coal composed primarily of spores and plant debris that burns with a long, bright, candle-like flame. It is characterized by its dull to greasy luster and its distinct, smooth conchoidal fracture, which allows it to be carved into intricate decorative items like jewelry or buttons.
Is this cannel coal?
4-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch cannel coal with a known reference. Cannel Coal sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Pick out the mineralsComposition: Micrinite and exinite-group macerals with some inorganic material; low mineral content. Identify the two or three most abundant grains.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
Often confused with
Cannel Coal vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cannel coal
Minerals reported to co-occur with cannel coal. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 1.2-1.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Dull to greasy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Decorative, Fuel
- Host rock
- Coal seams in sedimentary basins
- Composition
- Micrinite and exinite-group macerals with some inorganic material; low mineral content
Where rockhounds find cannel coal
Classic worldwide localities
- Scotland
- Kentucky, USA
- West Virginia, USA
- Wales
- France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Coal seams in sedimentary basins. If you start seeing pyrite, siderite, shale in float, you are in the right ground.
Common questions
How do you identify cannel coal?+
Where is cannel coal found?+
What rocks look like cannel coal?+
What minerals are found with cannel coal?+
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Find cannel coal on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
