Fact Sheet:

• Chemical Composition: Primarily carbon, with varying amounts of hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen
• Hardness: 1 to 2 on the Mohs scale (varies by coal type)
• Formation: Sedimentary rock formed from the accumulation and decomposition of organic matter, primarily plant material
• Color Varieties: Black, brownish-black
• Major Localities: United States, China, India, Australia, Russia, and South Africa
• Common Uses: Electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing, and as a liquid fuel

Introduction: Coal is one of the world’s most important energy resources, playing a pivotal role in the development of modern industrial societies. Formed over millions of years from plant material, coal has been a crucial energy source for electricity generation, steel production, and industrial processes. Despite its environmental impact, coal remains a significant contributor to the global energy mix, particularly in developing economies.

Formation: Coal forms from the remains of ancient vegetation that accumulated in swamps and peat bogs over millions of years. As plant material was buried under layers of sediment, heat and pressure transformed it into peat and eventually into coal. The different types of coal (lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite) are classified by their carbon content, which increases with greater heat and pressure during formation. Higher grades like anthracite have the highest carbon content and energy output, while lignite has the least.

Types and Grades of Coal:

• Peat: The precursor to coal, an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation in bogs and swamps.
• Lignite: Also known as brown coal, lignite is the lowest grade of coal with the least carbon content and is typically used in electricity generation.
• Sub-Bituminous Coal: A slightly higher grade of coal used for electricity generation and heating.
• Bituminous Coal: A more energy-dense type of coal commonly used in power plants and industrial processes, especially steel production.
• Anthracite: The highest grade of coal, anthracite is hard, shiny, and contains the most carbon, making it highly efficient for heating and power generation.

Localities and Mining: The largest coal-producing countries include:

• United States: The Powder River Basin (Wyoming and Montana) is one of the largest coal-producing regions in the world.
• China: China is the largest consumer and producer of coal, with vast reserves in provinces such as Shanxi and Inner Mongolia.
• India: With extensive coal deposits, India relies heavily on coal for electricity production, with major mining regions in Jharkhand and Odisha.
• Australia: Australia is a major exporter of coal, particularly to Asia, with significant mining operations in Queensland and New South Wales.
• Russia and South Africa: Both countries are major coal producers and exporters, with Russia’s largest coal deposits located in Siberia.

Applications: Coal has several critical uses in industrial processes and energy generation:

• Electricity Generation: The largest use of coal is for generating electricity in coal-fired power plants. Pulverized coal is burned to produce steam, which drives turbines connected to electric generators.
• Steel Production: In the steel industry, coal is converted to coke, which is then used to reduce iron ore into molten iron in blast furnaces, a key step in steelmaking.
• Cement Manufacturing: Coal is used as a fuel in cement kilns, helping to produce the high temperatures necessary to transform raw materials into clinker, a key ingredient in cement.
• Liquid Fuels: Through processes like coal gasification and liquefaction, coal can be converted into synthetic fuels such as diesel or methanol.