Origin and usage of the geological terms orsten, stinkstone, and anthraconite

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Abstract
Orsten, stinkstone, and anthraconite are synonymous terms in theory but not in practice. In order to trace their development, usage by European geologists through more than 200 years has been investigated. The original definitions and references are examined and found to deviate essentially from the ones in modern geological literature. Another set of poorly defined terms, bitumen and carbon, are found to play a major role in the confusion. A revision of commonly used terms rather than uncritical reproduction from dictionary to dictionary is recommended.