coal part one

Coal first started forming about three hundred million years ago from the remains of swamps. Dead plants would sink to the bottom and then be covered by dirt and mud. Then instead of rotting it formed peat. Peat is like a mossy looking substance. This occurred because there was no oxygen under the water and mud. In order for organic objects to rot there needs to be oxygen. Sediment later covered and compressed the peat. Then as time progressed with lots of pressure coal is formed. The order that coal is formed is peat (precursor), then lignite (brown coal), bituminous coal (black coal), and finally the best kind of coal anthracite coal (hard coal). Some companies will turn the coal into coke. But it’s not the kind of coke that is like a drink or drugs. This is like pebbles of coal.

           

                Peat is the beginning stage of the coal process. This is created from left over plants that have fallen into bogs and muskegs. The lack of oxygen keeps it from decaying and this is a huge contributor to how it’s made. Peat also was used as a heat source by people in rural Northern Europe. Peat doesn’t burn as hot as coal does. Lignite also known as brown coal is the next stage of the coal process. Normally it can be found in Alaska and some western states. It has a pretty low carbon concentration (30%) and low heat value. This is used for electric generation. Bituminous coal is the next on the list. It’s the most common form of coal found. It’s used in the steel industry as its coked form. Its carbon value is 45-85% and conducts heat pretty well. Last but not least is the best kind of coal and that is anthracite coal. It comes from metamorphic bituminous coal. It has the highest carbon content which is 85-95% and conducts heat the best. When burned it is nearly smokeless and is found in northern Pennsylvania.