THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE, ARGALL, BROWNE, FONTANA, YUDICHAK AND ALLOWAY, JANUARY 28, 2011
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 28, 2011
Selecting, designating and adopting anthracite or "hard coal" as
the official rock of the Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, The eastern and northeastern regions of this
Commonwealth contain virtually all of the nation's supply of
anthracite or "hard coal"; and
WHEREAS, The anthracite ranges cover 484 square miles in the
following nine counties: Dauphin, Schuylkill, Northumberland,
Columbia, Carbon, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne and Susquehanna;
WHEREAS, It is estimated that 16 billion tons of coal lie
within the anthracite seams in this Commonwealth, of which seven
to eight billion tons of anthracite coal are capable of being
WHEREAS, Anthracite mining occurs in the following eight
counties: Schuylkill, Carbon, Luzerne, Northumberland,
Lackawanna, Columbia, Dauphin and Sullivan; and
WHEREAS, Anthracite, historically referred to as "stone
coal," is one of this Commonwealth's most significant natural
WHEREAS, The production of anthracite coal has historically
been a major industry and source of employment in this
WHEREAS, Anthracite played a major role in the
industrialization of this Commonwealth and the United States;
WHEREAS, Anthracite coal was known to exist in the area of
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, as early as 1769;
WHEREAS, In 1775, the mining of anthracite began in
northeastern Pennsylvania in a mine located near Pittston; and
WHEREAS, In 1820, the first recorded anthracite coal company,
the Lehigh Coal Mining Company, began shipping anthracite out of
the coal field region; and
WHEREAS, Between 1870 and 1995, 31,113 individuals died in
anthracite mining accidents; and
WHEREAS, In 1971, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission created the Anthracite Museum Complex, three museums
(Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, Eckley Miners' Village
and the Museum of Anthracite Mining) and one historical site
(Scranton Iron Furnaces) to help preserve and share the rich
history of Pennsylvania anthracite.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Official State rock.
Anthracite or "hard coal" is hereby selected, designated and
adopted as the official rock of the Commonwealth.
Section 2. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.