Coal: Man has been using coal as an energy resource since ancient times.
Formation: Before crores of years, earth was covered with thick vegetation. The tectonic movements of the earth buried the vegetation in the interior of the earth. Over thousands of years due to the heat and pressure of the interior portion of the earth, the trees containing carbon contents and some animals underwent gradual combustion. This transformed the vegetation into coal.
This period existed before 25 crore years and it was known as carboniferous period. Coal was formed during this period. Coal is found in regions of stratified rocks. On the basis of carbon content, coal can be divided into four types. They are:
- Anthracite coal
- Bituminous coal
- Lignite coal and
- Peat coal.
Uses: Use of coal increased tremendously after the invention of steam engine and after the industrial revolution. Means of transportation like railway and steamer increased and were now easy to use. With the invention of electricity, coal tar ammonia gas benzoyl and crude oil are my product of coal.
Coal reserve in India: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu- Kashmir are major coal-producing regions of India. It is also produced in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Gujarat. In Gujarat, coalfields are located in Kachchh, Bharuch, Mehsana, Bhavnagar and Surat. Lignite coal is found in these regions.
