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The bulk and weight of coal required in the majority of manufacturing industries is large in comparison with the bulk and weight of other raw materials. This is not always true -- as with the manufacture of pig iron and steel from low-grade iron ores -- but it did lead to the concentration of industrial developments on the coal-fields, a phenomenon well seen in such countries as Britain where the Industrial Revolution came before the days of oil or electricity. Coal being a solid must be distributed mainly by rail or water.

I would think "a phenomenon" is the appositive of "the concentration of industrial developments on the coal-fields." Thus, "it" would refer to "this" in the previous sentence, which is the statement point in the first sentence. Does it make sense?

Charlie
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  • Both this and it have the entire first sentence as their referent. The issue of an appositive has no bearing on this—that's something that appears after the pronouns are used. (I also don't know why you used the dummy-pronouns tag. ) – Jason Bassford May 24 '19 at 12:50
  • @JasonBassford, thanks for many thoughtful and helpful feedback on my questions. In this case, what part do you think the "a phenomenon ..." part modifies? – Charlie May 24 '19 at 12:59
  • It modifies the concentration of industrial developments on the coal-fields, but my point is that it's not relevant to your question. You mention it and then say thus, making it appear as if you're saying that it refers to something *because* of the appositive. But that's not the case. – Jason Bassford May 24 '19 at 15:24
  • @JasonBassford, thanks, Jason. This is the way I understand the sentence: the "well seen ...by rail or water" part is just a past-participial adjective modifying "a phenomenon." thus, the entire "a phenomenon well seen...by rail or water.' part is just a noun phrase. I also agree "a phenomenon" modifies "the concentration of industrial developments on the coal-fields," and I've used the term appositive. But you think the term is kind of appropriate following a pronoun. If so, which terminology do you use to describe the modification relationship b/t "a phenomenon" and "the concentration..."? – Charlie May 24 '19 at 22:41

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