What is the difference between lignite bituminous coal and anthracite

The vast majority of subbituminous coal production in the United States comes from Wyoming 2. It is mainly used in electricity generation. Energy Information Administration. Skip to main content. PDF version. Related Frequently Asked Questions. Which states are the largest producers and consumers of coal? American Geosciences Institute.

Subbituminous coal is used in electricity generation and also in industrial processes. Bituminous coal is harder and blacker than lignite and subbituminous coal, and can be divided into two types: thermal and metallurgical.

Thermal coal, as the name implies, is used in energy generation for heating, but it is also used for cement manufacturing and other industrial purposes. Metallurgical coal is primarily mixed with iron ore to produce iron and steel. Anthracite is the most mature form of coal deposit and thus has the highest carbon content of any coal type.

Ironically, despite being the fuel that powered the industrial revolution, industrialized countries around the world are moving away from burning coal as an energy source due to its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

Moving away from coal to generate electricity is one of the ways countries like Canada and the UK are addressing climate change. Combating its contribution to air pollution is only one of the challenges facing the coal industry. As one of the oldest commodities attributed to the mining sector, coal mines and the mining methods used at them have long been controversial. Getting to know the differences is key for energy investors evaluating companies and projects. For a closer look at the different coal types and their uses, check out our other articles on the subject:.

And if you want to start investing in coal, read our Introduction to Coal Investing. This is an updated version of an article published by the Investing News Network in Ocean Acidification. Rising Sea Level. Coal types Different coal types are all minerals and rocks made largely of carbon. Figure 1. Cuttings of peat from a peat bog. Breeze, Coal-fired Generation.

Academic Press, May 13, Peat Cuttings [Online]. Earth: Portrait of a Planet , 3rd ed. New York, NY, U. Breeze, Coal-Fired Generation. Elsevier Science, Lignite [Online]. Energy, Environment and Climate , 2nd ed.