Bituminous coal
Topic: Energy Resources of India: Conventional and Non-conventional · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 5 "Minerals and Energy Resources"
Meaning
Bituminous coal forms when plant material is buried deep and pressed at higher temperatures for a long time. It has more carbon than lignite but less than anthracite. It is the most common coal in commercial use. Most of India's Gondwana coal, which makes up about 98 per cent of its reserves, is bituminous. Much of it is high in ash, often 30–45 per cent, which lowers its quality.
Example
The Jharia coalfield in Dhanbad district (Jharkhand) mines bituminous coal. Its high-grade bituminous coal is used as coking coal for steel plants.
Don't confuse with
- Anthracite: Anthracite is harder, has more carbon and is almost smokeless. It is the highest grade, and India has very little of it, mainly in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Lignite: Lignite is soft brown coal with high moisture and less carbon. It is a lower grade than bituminous coal.