Coal formation

This chapter discusses coal formation, coal types, and coalification - the progression through the ranks of coal. Many factors affected peat formation - climate, geology, chemistry, types of plants, etc. - and the conditions in the peat swamp affected the decay of plant material that resulted in differences in coal types. Once peat formation ceased and the peat was buried, coal was formed and then progressed through the ranks - from lignite to anthracite, over time and with exposure to pressure and temperature. Descriptions of important coal properties and coal classification standards are given in this chapter with a discussion of the changes that occur with coal rank.