Coal Information

Readily combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock.
Fossil fuel and is the largest source of energy for the generation of electricity worldwide, as well as one of the largest worldwide source of carbon dioxide emissions.
Coal is one of the most abundant sources of energy, more so than oil and natural gas.
Coal is inexpensive when compared to other fossil fuels.
Coal is versatile enough to be used for recreational activities or simply for home use.
Electricity produced from coal is reliable.
Coal can be safely stored and can be drawn upon to create energy in time of emergency.
Coal based power is not dependent on weather which cannot be said for alternative forms of renewable energy such as wind or solar power.
Transporting coal does not require the upkeep of high-pressure pipelines and there is no requirement for extra security when transporting coal.
Using coal reduced the dependence on using oil, which is often found in nations where there is unstable political regimes.
Types of coal:
- Lignite- the lowest rank of coal with the lowest energy content. Lignite coal deposits tend to be relatively young coal deposits that were not subjected to extreme heat or pressure. Lignite is crumbly and has high moisture content. There are 20 lignite mines in the United States, producing about seven percent of U.S. coal.
- Subbituminous- has a higher heating value than lignite. Subbituminous coal typically contains 35-45 percent carbon, compared to 25-35 percent for lignite. Most subbituminous coal in the U.S. is at least 100 million years old. About 44 percent of the coal produced in the U.S. is subbituminous.
- Bituminous- contains 45-86 percent carbon, and has two to three times the heating value of lignite. Bituminous coal was formed under high head and pressure. Bituminous coal in the United States is 100 to 300 million years old. It is the most abundant rank of coal founded in the U.S., accounting for about half of U.S. coal production- typically used to generate electricity.
- Anthracite- contains 86-97 percent carbon, and has a heating value slightly lower than bituminous coal. Most frequently associated with home heating (very small segment of the U.S. coal market).
The early stages of coal formation yield lignite, a dark brown, woody-textured substance. With increase pressure, lignite is converted into a harder, blacker substance called subbituminous coal. Under still greater pressure, a somewhat harder coal called bituminous coal is produced (soft coal). Intense pressure changes bituminous coal into anthracite, the hardest of all coals.