The formation of coal is a very lengthy process that
starts with dead swamp plants. These plants get buried in the swamp but do not
rot because of the anaerobic conditions, which mean there is no oxygen. This
process creates peat, which is the coal precursor that can be used but is not
very good for heat. Peat is then covered in sediment and compressed nearly 80%.
From peat, lignite, or brown coal, is formed. This has low carbon value (higher
than that of peat) and is used for electric power generation. After lignite
comes bituminous, or black coal, which is the most common form of coal. It has
a high carbon value and is coked for the steel industry. Anthracite, or hard
coal, comes next and is a result of bituminous metamorphosis. This has the
highest carbon content and a low smoke value. Coke is a coal product which
comes from bituminous coal being heated in 2000 degrees Celsius and is used to
produce energy/heat for the steel industry.
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