DCHP-3

Stellar coal

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a kind of soft coal found in 1798 near present-day Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Also called oil coal.

Quotations

1918
. . . the sample is now classed to be that of an oil coal, having to all appearance, the characteristics of Stellar Coal.
1954
The name of Stellarton comes from the fact that a singular bed of coal exists there. The coal is known as "Stellar" or "oil" coal because when burning it gives off sparks like stars.
1958
The town [Stellarton] was named for its so-called stellar coal, the fish with the point of a knife through the bone, at which during combustion emits sparks resembling stars.