# question about coal

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-coal/67988>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 8, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-coal/67988 "2001-06-08T00:16:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![labdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5fc32e/32.png) [@labdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labdude)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-coal/67988/1 "2001-06-08T00:16:44Z")

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In the song ‘16 Tons’ there is a verse that goes, 'I loaded 16 tons on number 9 coal." What’s number 9 coal?

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-coal/67988/2 "2001-06-08T01:09:34Z")

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Well, the lyrics are actually, IIRC,

> [@](#):
>
> He picked up his shovel and he went to the mines\_\_  
> He loaded 16 tons of that number 9 coal…Til-  
> the Straw boss said\_\_Well-uh b-less my soul!

That having been said, “number 9 coal” simply refers to coal strip-mined from a seam in Hopkins County, Kentucky, which was called “Number 9”. This sort of numerical designation is not uncommon in Appalachian coals, and the Pittsburg #6 seam is still mined today.