RocksdayCannel Coal vs Jet
The quickest way to tell Cannel Coal from Jet: Cannel Coal is a rock — a mix of grains or minerals; Jet is a single mineraloid.
A fine, even bituminous coal that breaks with a curved fracture and burns with a bright flame.
Photo: Wilson44691, Public domain
A hard, compact black lignite — fossil wood — that takes a mirror polish.
Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick tests
- Texture: Cannel Coal is a rock — a mix of grains or minerals; Jet is a single mineraloid.
Key differences
- Jet is tougher and takes a brighter polish; it is a gem variety of coal.
Side by side
| Property | Cannel Coal | Jet |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Sedimentary rock | Mineraloid |
| Mohs hardness | 2–3 | 2.5–4 |
| Luster | Dull to greasy | Velvety to vitreous (polished) |
| Streak | — | Brown |
| Colors | Black, Gray | Black |
| Crystal system / structure | Fine-grained bituminous coal | Amorphous (organic) |
| Specific gravity | 1.1–1.4 | 1.3–1.4 |
| Found in | Scotland; Kentucky | Whitby, England; Asturias, Spain |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify cannel coal
- Black, dull to satiny, with a smooth curved break.
- Very light. Does not soil your hands as much as ordinary coal.
- A knife scratches it.
Structure: Fine-grained bituminous coal
Full Cannel Coal guide →How to identify jet
- Jet black, light and warm to the touch.
- Brown streak.
- Smells like coal when a hot needle touches it.
Structure: Amorphous (organic)
Full Jet guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cannel coal and jet?
Cannel Coal is a sedimentary rock with a Mohs hardness of about 2–3 and a dull to greasy luster, usually black or gray. Jet is a mineraloid with a Mohs hardness of 2.5–4 and a velvety to vitreous luster, usually black.
How can you tell cannel coal from jet?
Cannel Coal is a rock — a mix of grains or minerals; Jet is a single mineraloid. Jet is tougher and takes a brighter polish; it is a gem variety of coal.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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