APPALACHIAN ANTHRACITES

Detailed investigations of Carboniferous anthracites in three Appalach ian coalfields have revealed important insights into the regional geol ogy of the three areas with distinct tectonic and thermal histories. S pecific geologic information obtained from coal studies includes: pale oburial depths, thrusting sequence, and influence of hydrothermal flui ds. This discussion summarizes numerous studies of anthracite fields f rom Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts and Rhode Island in orde r of increasing metamorphism with emphasis on tectonic and thermal his tory.