I agree with Claus that the piles in the foreground are likely coke.  I've seen coke from West Virginia coking operations, and the color is a gray that is lighter than bituminous coal from which it is made.  Bituminous coal is a dark intense black, in part because of the oils (coal tar, coal oil, etc) that are part of the coal.  Anthracite is lighter because it is mostly free of the volatile compounds.

Great discussion - thank you all!

Todd Sullivan.