Coal is very pretty.

Yes, it is. Unfortunately, when most of us encounter coal the pieces are worn and dusty, and make a mess of anything they touch. But if you split a lump of coal the fracture surface will be smooth and shiny, and it's hard enough that it does not leave dust on the fingertip when rubbed. I have a very attractive piece of Colombian coal on my desk at work, and two pieces here at home that I "extracted" myself from a disused coal mine in Spitzbergen!


"Anthrax" (coal) and "anthros" (a flower) look very similar, but I don't know if there's any connection.