\An"thra*cite\, n. [L. anthracites a kind of
bloodstone; fr. Gr. ? like coals, fr. ?, ?, coal or charcoal.
Cf. {Anthrax}.]
A hard, compact variety of mineral coal, of high luster,
differing from bituminous coal in containing little or no
bitumen, in consequence of which it burns with a nearly non
luminous flame. The purer specimens consist almost wholly of
carbon. Also called glance coal and blind coal.