II. Coal

A. History 1. Much of the Earth was once swampland 2. Plants and animals died in warm environment and were covered rapidly 3. Heat and pressure caused changes and allowed coal formation 4. Forms in several stages

B. Peat 1. First stage of coal 2. Brittle, brown, high in water and low in carbon 3. Found at the Earth’s surface 4. Burns fast and smoky 5. High in impurities

C. Lignite 1. Second stage of coal 2. Soft, brown coal at about 40% carbon 3. Peat that is under pressure becomes this 4. Must be mined

D. Bituminous 1. Third stage of coal 2. Soft coal deep in the Earth’s crust 3. Most abundant in the U.S. And in industry a. Used to produce electricity and heat

E. Anthracite 1. Hardest coal, metamorphic rock from heat and pressure 2. Rarest and deepest 3. Clean burning, high heat, and low smoke 4. Used for heating homes