A very hard piece of coal that has the radiance of fire with white veins. Said to glow in water but fade in oil. It is also referred to as Black Coal, Crow Coal, or even Black Diamonds.
Albertus Magnus linked it with carbuncle, like ruby or garnet. Other medieval legends hold that it could help the possessor ward off abscesses.
What is Anthracitis?
This is an uncommonly talked about stone in the modern day. However, Anthracitis has a long tradition with ancient and medieval lapidary sources. It has been described as incredibly hard and dark, likened to that of coal. However, some accounts would describe the stone as having white streaks or veins coursing through it, claiming its fiery radiance was immediately apparent when placed in water. However, they would add that it fades in oil.
The name is related to the Greek word anthrax, which means coal or burning coal. This term has been associated with other famous fiery red stones, among the most well-known of these is carbuncle. So, it was not uncommon for a medieval writers to connect Anthracitis with ruby or garnet because of the gleaming, flame-like appearance.
Albertus Magnus, German Dominican friar, bishop, and philosopher, noted similar stones in his works on minerals.
Like many stones described in medieval lapidaries, Anthracitis carried multiple meanings and medicinal or protective powers. Among the more well-known ones attributed to Antrhacitis was its claimed ability to prevent abscesses.
It is also worth noting that Anthracitis should not be confused with modern anthracite coal. It is confusing, since they do share the same linguistic root, and anthracite is also incredibly hard coal, which is also known as black coal, crow coal, and black diamond.