Not all Coal is the same so who has the useful coal?

[retaxis]

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock classified into four main types—or ranks—based on the amount of pressure, heat, and time it has undergone underground. This maturation process is called coalification, where higher ranks contain more carbon and energy, and less moisture. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
According to the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the four main types from lowest rank to highest rank are: [1, 2]

1. Lignite

• • Carbon Content: 25% to 35% [1, 2]
  • Characteristics: Also called brown coal, it is the lowest grade of coal. It has a crumbly texture, high moisture content (up to 70%), and low energy output. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Uses: Primarily used for electricity generation in power plants located very close to the mining sites, because it is expensive to transport. [1, 2]

2. Subbituminous

• • Carbon Content: 35% to 45%
  • Characteristics: Dull, black-colored coal with higher moisture and lower energy content than bituminous coal.
  • Uses: Mainly burned for steam-electric power generation and general industrial heating. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

3. Bituminous

• • Carbon Content: 45% to 86%
  • Characteristics: Often called "soft coal", it is a dense, dark rock that usually features a shiny, layered texture. It is the most abundant type of coal.
  • Uses: Widely used to generate electricity and to make coke for the steel manufacturing industry. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

4. Anthracite

• • Carbon Content: 86% to 97%
  • Characteristics: Known as "hard coal", it is the highest rank of coal. It is dense, brittle, has a shiny black luster, and burns hottest and cleanest with very little smoke.
  • Uses: Used mostly in the metal industry and for space heating in residential or industrial settings. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

 

[retaxis]

Top Countries with Anthracite(the good coal) and Hard Coal Reserves


United States: Ranks first globally for hard coal and anthracite reserves, holding over 218 billion metric tons (with Northeastern Pennsylvania containing the premier specific anthracite region of roughly 7 billion short tons).

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China: Holds the second-largest hard coal reserves and accounts for the vast majority of global anthracite production.

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Russia: Possesses massive hard coal and anthracite basins, ranking among the top global reserve holders.

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Australia: Features significant black coal reserves, including production areas that yield hard and anthracite coals.

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India: Maintains substantial hard coal deposits contributing to a large share of the global total. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

 

[SoulSpokesman]

@retaxis

Indian coal is unfortunately of a rather poor quality- very high in ash and very little is of good coking quality. It is by and large of low sulphur which is a double edged sword. It causes little acid rain but also removes the possibility of getting useful ammonium sulphate and other sulphur compounds as by products.

Regards

 

[retaxis]

@retaxis

Indian coal is unfortunately of a rather poor quality- very high in ash and very little is of good coking quality. It is by and large of low sulphur which is a double edged sword. It causes little acid rain but also removes the possibility of getting useful ammonium sulphate and other sulphur compounds as by products.

Regards

I heard that somewhere before but i wasn't completely sure on it so didn't post about the exact breakdown of indian coal

 

[Sparten]

Most Thar coal is Lignite. Its only been useful these last few years as new technologies have come online.