Describe qualities of different types of coal found in India. Describe its formation, distribution and uses.
(1) There are four types of coal. Their qualities are given below : Peat : It has low carbon and high moisture contents and low heating capacity. Lignite : It is a low grade brown coal. It is soft with high moisture content. It is used for generation of electricity. Bituminous : It is the most popular coal in commercial use. Metallurgical coal, a high grade bituminous coal has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces. Anthracite : It is the highest quality hard coal. (2) Formation : It is formed due to the compression of plant material over millions of years. (3) Distribution : Coal is found in Damodar valley i.e., West Bengal, Jharkhand, Jharia, Raniganj, Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys, Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. (4) Uses of coal : It is used for power generation, to supply energy to industry as well as for domestic needs. It meets most of the commercial energy requirements in India.
