What is the highest rank of coal?

Anthracite is the highest rank of coal. It has a carbon content of over 87% on a dry ash-free basis. Anthracite coal generally has the highest heating value per ton on a mineral-matter-free basis. It is often subdivided into semi-anthracite, anthracite, and meta-anthracite on the basis of carbon content. Anthracite is often referred to as "hard coal"; however, this is a layman's term and has little to do with the hardness of the rock.

Anthracite has been commercially mined and prepared in the Northeast Region of Pennsylvania for more than 200 years. Most U.S. anthracite reserves are found in the five counties of Schuylkill, Carbon, Northumberland, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. The anthracite coal fields extend 50 miles east and west and 100 miles north and south covering approximately 484 square miles. Current estimates show about 7 billion tons of reserves of Anthracite left in the region.

Anthracite can also be found in other parts of the world as well. Among current producers, Russia, China and Ukraine have the largest estimated recoverable reserves of anthracite. Other countries with substantial reserves include Vietnam and North Korea.