Characteristics of Coal
Coal is a black-brownish sedimentary rock that is highly combustible. The primary composition of coal is carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is formed when organic matter is decomposed and buried for millions of years and is acted upon by bacteria and high temperature and pressure. Coal is mostly used for fuel. The usage of coal has highly increased since the onset of the Industrial revolution. It is one of the most important resources in today’s world. It is one of the most important sources to produce electricity. Coal is used highly to produce electricity. Over one-third of the electricity in the world is produced through coal.
Coal is classified into various types based on the amount of carbon present in the coal sample. Peat is the lowest quality coal. Lignite or brown coal is the most harmful to the health of people. It is used only for the production of Electricity. Sub Bituminous coal has more carbon content than lignite and has a wide range of applications. It is mostly used as fuel. Bituminous coal is a dense black in nature and is a sedimentary rock. It has high-quality coal. It is used as a fuel in steam electric power generation and for the manufacturing of coke. Anthracite coal is the highest grade of coal and has the highest quantity of carbon. It is harder glossy, and black in nature.
Describe the distribution of coal in India
Coal is considered to be one of the most important and also abundantly available fossil fuel present in India. Coal accounts for over 55% of India’s energy requirements. Coal is a foundational resource for building the industrial sector of India.
With consideration of rapid population growth over the years, eco-conservation restrictions on hydro-power projects, and the geopolitical perception of the nuclear power system in India, coal is supposedly going to continue as an important source of energy in the context of India.