As President of the American Cannel Coal Company, Smith was certainly correct about the strata of bituminous and cannel coal to be found in Cannelton. In fact, Cannelton takes its name from the cannel coal found there, which was mined heavily in the past.
In 1836, Seth Hunt, traveling the Ohio River by boat, stopped in nearby Hawesville, Kentucky, where he became interested in the particular type of coal he found there. With the help of other investors from Boston, Massachusetts, the American Cannel Coal Company was formed in 1837 to purchase established coal mines from Judge McLean, which included the coal banks in Coal Haven. It became the first coal company to be officially incorporated and granted a charter by the State of Indiana.
The company town of Coal Haven saw its ups and downs over the next few decades. In 1841, residents renamed the town Cannelburg. However, most people called the town Cannelton and that became its official name in 1844.
The coal that drew investors from Boston was known as cannel coal. It gets its name from a mispronunciation of “candle coal,” which was what it was called in England because of the fact that its high oil content caused it to burn quickly with a bright, steady flame.
In his 1850 book, Hamilton Smith wrote, “The quality of the coal of Cannelton is undoubted. During my stay at Cannelton, I observed its combustion in the parlor grates, and under the steam mill boilers, and saw that it made a beautiful fire, and for cleanliness was superior to any coal I had ever seen of the bituminous character, and for readiness of ignition and yet economical use, surpasses all of the coals of the bituminous character of the West.” Today, cannel coal isn’t used like it was in the past, but artists still highly value it for its ability to be carved and polished into sculptures and jewelry.
Cannel coal was a favorite of blacksmiths back in the day. It was also used to produce “coal oil,” which was popular in the late 19th century before cheaper kerosene made from petroleum replaced it in popularity. Because of its high oil content, cannel coal is classified as terrestrial oil shale.
Cannel coal is a type of bituminous coal, which is also known as “soft coal” and consists of approximately 50-80% carbon. Beds of regular bituminous coal could be found in the Cannelton hills alongside the cannel coal veins.
Most of the coal found in Indiana is bituminous coal, which contains a tarlike substance called bitumen. It was formed millions of years ago when swamplands formed peat bogs that were buried by layers of sediment quicker than they could decay. High pressure over millions of years converted the peat material to bituminous coal. In some areas, even greater pressure converted spores and finer plant materials into cannel coal that could be found alongside the regular bituminous coal.
Bituminous coal is of higher quality than lignite coal, but of poorer quality than anthracite coal. Bituminous coal is considered an organic sedimentary rock, and it’s the most commonly used type of coal for electric power generation in the United States.
Bituminous coal is found in beds or seams interstratified with shales, clays, and sandstones. It is usually underlaid by an underclay (a layer of clay containing roots of plants). In Southern Indiana, the coal is usually removed by strip (surface) mining.
The posted coordinates will bring you to a road cut near where Highway 237 meets Highway 66 across from the Bob Cumming Lincoln Trail Bridge, which connects Cannelton with Hawesville. This road cut exposes a large coal seam. Take some time to stop and take a few pictures. You can also find pieces of coal at the bottom of the cliff that have weathered and fallen. You will need to answer a couple of questions here and then move on to the next waypoint.
The Cliffside Seam waypoint will bring you to another exposed coal seam in a cliff near the parking lot of a ubiquitous retailer. You’ll need to compare this seam with the seam at the Highway 237 road cut. You can also find samples here to get an up-close look at things.
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OPTIONAL: Take a photo of yourself with your GPSr somewhere in the vicinity of the posted coordinates or at one of the other waypoints. While not required, we always enjoy seeing photos of our fellow cachers!
To demonstrate the educational value of your visit, please email me the answers to the following questions: (click on the El Pollo Loco Gang link at the top of the cache page to reach our profile, where you will see a link to Send message)
1. How thick is the coal seam at its thickest point at the Highway 237 road cut? Do you think this site would make a viable strip mining site? Why or why not?
2. Find a sample of coal along the bottom of the cliff face. Describe its color and texture.
3. How does the coal seam at the Cliffside Seam waypoint differ from the Highway 237 road cut? Is it thinner? Thicker?
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