Enjoy lower prices, quicker delivery and better quality firewood!
Order with the order form for the best service, or
Email: sales@firewood.joburg
ANTHRACITE
While firewood is commonplace when it comes to domestic heating, anthracite is experiencing a resurgence in its popularity.
Similar in appearance to coal, the higher percentage of carbon renders anthracite much harder. The use of anthracite as a form of heating has long been avoided because it can be notoriously difficult to light. The benefits of anthracite heaters; however, outweigh this minor inconvenience.
PROPERTIES OF ANTHRACITE
-
Anthracite burns with a small smokeless flame
-
Long burning
-
Low sulphur content; between 0 and 1 percent
-
Minimal/optimal moisture content
COMPARING ANTHRACITE AND FIREWOOD
ANTHRACITE FIRE |
WOOD FIRE
|
Slower ignition, longer, sustained burn
|
Easily lit, quickly burnt out |
Burns for longer, requires less attention once lit
|
Needs frequent additions of firewood |
Inexpensive, does not need continuous replenishment of stock
|
Less expensive per purchase but require frequent purchasing
|
International approval for lack of smoke |
Pollution concerns despite prevalence and sustainability
|
Low Sulphur content = Cleanest burning fuel
|
Moisture content will affect smoke levels and cleanliness of burn
|
Burn time per load of anthracite can be up to 30 hours depending on type of fireplace
|
A load of firewood will burn for 2 hours at the longest, but heat will decrease dramatically if not replenished
|
BUYING ANTHRACITE
Anthracite is mined from the earth in the same way as coal. Large chunks of anthracite are dislodged from the earth and raised to ground level on a set of rollers which have varying sizes of teeth allowing the anthracite to fall through and collect the same size and grading together.
The largest concentrations of anthracite are to be found in Russia and China. South Africa has it’s own large reserves of anthracite which are mined chiefly at Zululand Anthracite Colliery, although there are several similar, smaller mines spread across the country.
USES OF ANTHRACITE
Anthracite is graded according to three different levels. The use of the mine anthracite is determined by these grades.
-
HIGHEST GRADES – The absence of impurities such as moisture and ash in High Grade (HG) and Ultra High Grade (UHG) anthracite earmarks them for metallurgical purposes.
-
STANDARD GRADE – The most common grade of anthracite and the most suited to use as fuel for heating.
ECO-FRIENDLY BY-PRODUCTS OF ANTHRACITE
Because of the grading and the variable qualities in anthracite it is inevitable that there may be some forms of waste. In an attempt to mitigate this waste, there are mines and companies which are focused on the creation of by-products.
One of these by-products of anthracite is a briquette, which is currently being used as an eco-friendly fuel by foundries.
For the Joburg Firewood main website please visit www.firewood.joburg
This page was last updated in December 2022