fossiling Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 I sometimes find little black coal like lumps on the beach. How can I tell whether it is coal or charcoal? I know the difference between the two, but what can I use as a field guide ( so no radiocarbon dating ) to diffenciate them? Keep looking! They're everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opabinia Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 If you are referring to a visual difference between the two, there is not a huge difference. Coal is made by the compression of decayed biological material over millions of years. I believe it is much darker and sturdier than charcoal. Charcoal is basically burned wood, it's very brittle. If I were you, I would focus more on the texture than the color or such. Charcoal is almost 100% of the time jagged because of the wood it was burnt from. Coal is either found in layers like shale or in small rounded cubes from weathering. (I'm from West Virginia USA so I have a pretty good idea on what coal is ) Just feel in your hand for how brittle it is and make a guess on your better judgement. Good Luck! -opabinia 1 _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. E.T. Hall - opabinia "If It Can be Written or Thought, It can be Filmed." - Stanley Kubrick Cambrian and Quaternary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 Are you talking about modernish charcoal? If so weight will give an indication. 1 John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiling Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 15 hours ago, JohnBrewer said: Are you talking about modernish charcoal? If so weight will give an indication. I see. So I assume that coal is denser and therefore heavier. So what I can, do is buy charcoal from the store and find a similar sized lump and weigh the two.? Keep looking! They're everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opabinia Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Make sure the charcoal is modern as JohnBrewer said, or else you might not get precise measurements. Charcoal almost has a weight similar to that of pumice i do believe. (Try looking at the Charcoal and identify wood like features.) _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. E.T. Hall - opabinia "If It Can be Written or Thought, It can be Filmed." - Stanley Kubrick Cambrian and Quaternary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 I'd think modern charcoal may even float. John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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