# Where can I get lumps of coal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708 "2005-12-22T00:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/21 "2005-12-22T18:39:25Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I read somewhere that while coal was not fun, or colorful, and it utterly failed to taste great - it was a necessity. It was the purely utilitarian gift. I suggest a box of rocks. Because you care so little that you couldn’t bother with coal. ---
**Author:** ![Found\_In\_Translation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@Found\_In\_Translation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Found_In_Translation)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/22 "2005-12-22T23:17:05Z")
[This site](http://www.twolumpsofcoal.com) may be what you’re looking for. They send a small bag with some pieces of coal either to you or semi-anonymously to a recipient you specify. (Disclaimer: I know the people who operate this site but I don’t have any business relationship with them.) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/23 "2005-12-23T01:17:15Z")
Paging **Una Persson** , who used to be known as **Anthracite**. There are few if any people I can thing of who would be better qualified to answer this. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/24 "2005-12-23T04:28:24Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > Paging **Una Persson** , who used to be known as **Anthracite**. There are few if any people I can thing of who would be better qualified to answer this. I PMed her this link. She’ll be around soon, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/25 "2005-12-23T10:01:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Florida industrial plants used 574,000 short tons of coal in 2004. There have got to be a few lumps to spare. I wouldn’t waste any time looking for coal in lumps near industrial sites or power plants. They use coal that is crushed into small pieces these days. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/26 "2005-12-23T16:25:32Z")
> [@Jet Jaguar](#): > > Lets say someone deserves a stocking full of coal for Christmas. Where can I get coal? Charcoal briquettes aren’t quite right. I want real, mined-from-the-ground coal. CVS or other chain pharmacies. They sell a small lump in a decorative tin. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/27 "2005-12-23T17:12:27Z")
The other thing you could get (though not exactly coal) is real charcoal. I don’t mean the charcoal brickets, but real hardwood charcoal. It looks enough like coal for a gag gift. You can definitely find it at barbeque or grill stores and sometimes at the major chain stores (like Target). ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/28 "2005-12-23T18:58:25Z")
A question: All my life I’ve just assumed that “coal in your stocking” meant a bunch of charcoal briquettes. Why not? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/29 "2005-12-24T00:51:04Z")
By the way, there used to be a coal expert on SDMB. Where’d she go? ---
**Author:** ![Ficer67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/30 "2005-12-24T17:38:18Z")
Just to add my two cents… Chinese heat thier businesses and homes with thes coal brickettes which in turn are manufactured by other chinese businesses. I do not have a link to one, but it is possible that they could ship a brickette to you. They are a couple of pounds, at least ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/31 "2005-12-24T19:02:04Z")
For everyone wondering where **Una** is, she’s out of country right now and unable to get some sites to open. A partial quote of her reply to my PM on Unaboard that sounds kind of fun for coal lovers: > [@](#): > > I am traveling in England and have little net access at all. […] if someone has a serious question that can wait, I will be happy to help them when I return. As it happens, I’ve just been in some coal mines… Have a lovely holiday, everybody! ;j ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/32 "2005-12-24T20:10:27Z")
> [@Ficer67](#): > > Just to add my two cents… > > Chinese heat thier businesses and homes with thes coal brickettes which in turn are manufactured by other chinese businesses. I do not have a link to one, but it is possible that they could ship a brickette to you. They are a couple of pounds, at least It just so happens that my in-laws live in PRC, though their apartment is heated by hot-water radiators. It also happens that they will be coming here to visit in a week. I’m sure my MIL would get a coal brickette for me if I asked, but the TSA might not be too keen on the idea of bringing coal onto the plane. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/33 "2005-12-24T20:12:49Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > For everyone wondering where **Una** is, she’s out of country right now and unable to get some sites to open. Thanks for checking, but the question is largely academic now since I won’t have a chance to get anything in time. (I did get them a real gift, but wanted coal as a gag.) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/34 "2005-12-24T22:53:37Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > A modern equivalent would be underwear. (which may be easier to find) I would find black lace thongs to be a more than acceptable substitute for coal. I don’t have anything that burns coal, but I do have a ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/35 "2005-12-24T22:56:04Z")
Whoops, hit “Submit” by mistake in the middle of a sentence. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/36 "2005-12-25T19:53:26Z")
> [@SandyHook](#): > > Not as much as you might think. This would keep two average size (500 Mw) units going for a year. > [@Walloon](#): > > Units of what? WAG - Watts. Two average size (500 Mw) units, i.e. 2 ea. 500 Mw Steam Turbine Generators. What else? ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708/37 "2005-12-26T02:25:15Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > rjk owes me a coke. > > Get it? [Coke](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_%28fuel%29)? Ha! I got in first, so _you_ owe _me_! Oh, well, whenever we’re both in the same city (I’m in the Dallas/Fort Worth area) we can buy each other a coke, maybe with something in it to oil the wheels, and just gas about old threads we have known. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-lumps-of-coal/336708.md?page=1)