Bituminous coal is the most common type of coal, abundantly found in ancient coal deposits which can be dated back millions of years. Often referred to as soft or black coal, this specimen exhibits a high carbon content, ranging from 76-86%. It also holds a relatively high energy density (27 MJ/kg) meaning that it releases significant amounts of energy when burned. Bituminous coal is most commonly used for electricity generation, as well as in the production of steel. This particular piece of coal was collected as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria in the nineteenth century. It originates from Cape Paterson, a seaside village located in South Gippsland, Victoria (located on Bunurong Country). The discovery of bituminous coal in this locality was first made in 1826 by explorer William Hovell. More discoveries were gradually made over the following decades and in 1859 the Victorian Coal Company commenced the first active coal mining operations in the state by sinking a number of shafts and bores near the area of Cape Paterson. Evidence of this coal-focused past can be found today at the State Coal Mine Museum in the nearby town of Wonthaggi. This specimen is significant as it was collected from the locality of Cape Paterson in Victoria, an area that has since become historically instrumental in the mining of coal and other substances in the state of Victoria. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. A solid hand-sized piece of bituminous coal with a shiny black-grey surface and jagged edges.Existing Label: BITUMINOUS COAL / Locality: Cape / Patterson, VIC. burke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen, state coal mine museum, wonthaggi coal mine, victorian coal company, bituminous coal, coal victoria, coal energy generation, william hovell, cape paterson, coal specimen

The School of Mines Ballaarat Annual Report 24 January 1882, Additional Examination Statute, Certificates Granted by Council, Copy of letter received from the Honble. Francis Ormond MLC, Extracts from Visitors' Book, Fees, Form of Bequest, Life Governors, Museum open to Visitors, Office Bearers, Paper of Particulars, Report of the Curator of the Museum and Library (with plans), Report of the Superintendent of Laboratories, Report of the Lecturer in Telegraphy, Report of the Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year 1881, Subjects and Lecturers, Subjects and Examiners, Subscriptions and Donations from 1 January to 31 December 1881, The Lignite Deposit at Skipton (with Section and Plan)Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report. Pale brown booklet of 64 pages. A plan of the Ballarat School of Mines shows the position of the Botanical Gardens, and the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. Geological Sketch Map of Country in the Neighbourhood of Skipton and Plan showing site of Coal Discovery. Skipton Coal Discovery - Section of Windlass Shaft. .2) is a leatherbound copyballarat school of mines, coal, plan, ballarat school of mines botanical gardens, ballarat school of mines museum, museum, annual report, james oddie, w. p. bechervaise, s. e. friggis, f. j. martell, w. h. nicholls,, e. i. rosenblum, h. r. caselli, thomas mann, theos. williams, f. m. krause, alf. mica smith, walter d. campbell, w. h. shaw, charles kent, andw. berry, robert adam, wm. lant carpenter, henry parkinson, h. b. de la poer wall, w. h. brockenshire, arthur parker, c. davies, simon richards, c. r. blackett, david jones, wilberforce dyke, kr. r. krauel, duncan love, william ralph heaton, edward dowling, octavius vaughan morgan, william denton, e. h. grimwade, james hunter, the honble. francis ormond, ferdinand krause, a.a. buley, j. cosmo newberry, w.c. kernot, john lewis, j.m. bickett, james bickett, fees, annie barnett, annette budden, isabel clinton, john dimsey, agnes pobjoy, charlotte shaw, bernard o'dowd, bernard patrick o'dowd, josiah wasley, ferdinand von mueller, william kernot, john lynch, william henderson, henry richards caselli, w.p. berchervaise, e.i. rosenblum, w.h. nicholls, lignate, samuel figgis, mary drury, w. longley, botanical reserve, botanical gardens, francis ormond, george russell, william foster stawell, w.j. clarke, rivett henry bland, john warrington rogers, j. lonie, s.e. figgis, r.f. hudson, w. robertson, e.l. rosenblum, theophilus williams, andrew berry, henry sutton, h. rosales, state school classes, calcutta international exhibition, examinations, h.b.m ship bounty, certicates, walter charles kernot, william tunbridge, mary skelton, cartherine moran, mary rose usher, margaret ellen brophy, william burbridge, andrea tuxen, elizabeth curnow, francis campigi, james s. morrison, arthur hogue

This particular specimen was recovered from the Lal Lal Coal and Iron Mine in Victoria, 19km from Ballarat. Brown Coal was discovered here in 1857, just alongside the Geelong to Ballarat Railway line. This discovery of lignite (brown coal) was the first in Victoria, which would bring important benefits to the region and state, both of which had previously been reliant on coal imports. In the 1860s, iron ore was found just 5km from Lal Lal, and the area was converted into an Iron Ore Mine. The Lal Lal Iron Mining Company took over operations in 1874, who then peaked iron production in 1884. This mine continued operations until June 1884, when the blast furnace was extinguished and never recommenced. The blast furnace at Lal Lal is considered one of the most important and highly significant sites ion early industrial history in Australia, as it is the only remaining best furnace from the nineteenth century in the Southern Hemisphere. The furnace ruins are 17 metres high, and are clearly visible today on Iron Mine Road, Lal Lal, near the Bungal Dam. This specimen of Lignite (brown coal) is significant, as it was mined from the area where brown coal was first discovered in Victoria, leading to an important and controversial future of the mining and use of brown coal in this State. The Victorian Heritage Database has listed the Lal Lal Coal Mine with local significance, with their Statement of Significance stating: "The Lal Lal coal mine is historically significant as the site of the first discovery of lignite (brown coal) in Victoria, and one that promised important benefits to regional and state industries that were reliant on coal imports at the time. The significance of the stie is reduced by the poor state of preservation of the coal mining and processing fabric". This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A hand-sized light-weight, soft and combustable sedimentary rock specimen, that is dark brown in colour. The specimen has jagged edges, as though parts of the rock have crumbled away. Brown coal, or Lignite, is formed naturally from compressed peat, and is typically found in natural basins. The stages to the formation of coal ('coalification') begin with plant material and wood, which will decay if it is not subjected to deep burial or heating, and turn into Peat. Peat, when sufficiently compressed naturally, will turn into Brown Coal (Lignite), and finally into Black Coal (sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite). Each successive stage has a higher energy content and lower water content. It is brownish-black in colour. Brown Coal has a high moisture content, between 50 and 75 percent, and a low carbon content. Some Brown Coals may be stratified, with layers of plant matter, which means little coalification has occurred beyond the peat natural processing stage. When Brown Coal is submerged in dilute nitric acid or boiling potassium hydroxide solution, it reacts to produce a reddish solution, of which higher-ranked coals do not. When brown coal is pulverised and burned in boilers, the steam is used to drive turbines, which generates electricity. It is the lowest rank of coal, as when burned, it creates a relatively low heat content, which in turn does not create a great output of steam. burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, brown coal, brown coal specimen, lignite, lal lal, lal lal coal mine, lal lal iron mine, ballarat, blast furnace