The kinds of coal , in increasing order of alteration, are lignite (brown coal--immature), subbituminous, bituminous, and anthracite (mature).

Coal starts off as peat. After a considerable

amount of time, heat, and burial pressure, it is metamorphosed from peat to lignite. Lignite is
considered to be "immature" coal at this stage of development because it is still somewhat
light in color and it remains soft. As time passes, lignite increases in maturity by becoming
darker and harder and is then classified as sub-bituminous coal . As this process of burial
and alteration continues, more chemical and physical changes occur and a the coal is
classified as bituminous. At this point the coal is dark and hard. Anthracite is the last of the
classifications, and this terminology is used when the coal has reached ultimate maturation.
Anthracite coal is very hard and shiny.
The degree of alteration (or metamorphism) that occurs as a coal matures from peat to
anthracite is referred to as the " rank " of the coal. Low-rank coals include lignite and subbituminous coals. These coals have a lower energy content because they have a low carbon
content. They are lighter (earthier) and have higher moisture levels. As time, heat, and burial
pressure all increase, the rank does as well. High-rank coals, including bituminous and
anthracite coals, contain more carbon than lower-rank coals which results in a much higher
energy content. They have a more vitreous (shiny) appearance and lower moisture content
then lower-rank coals .

The rank of coal is based on the degree to which the orginal plant material has been
transformed into carbon and can be seen as a rough indication of how old the coal is: the
older the coal the higher the carbon content (generally). The ranks of coal (from most to least
carbon content) are as follows: anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, and lignite.
The coal with the highest carbon content is the best and cleanest type of coal to use. As you
move down the coal rank the heat given out decreases and the dirtyness of the fuel and
moisture content increases.

Lignite coal

Used almost exclusively for electric power generation lignite is a young type of coal. Lignite
is brownish black, has a high moisture content (up to 45 %), and a high suphur content.
Lignite is more like soil than a rock and tends to disintegrate when exposed to the weather.
Lignite is also called brown coal.
Lignite has a colorific value of less than 5 kw/kg approximately.

Subbituminous coal
Subbituminous coal is also called black lignite. Subbituminous coal black and contains 20-30
% moisture. Subbituminous coal is used for generating electricity and space heating.
Subbitumnious coal has calorific values ranging from 5 - 6.8 kW/kG approximately.
Bituminous coal
Bituminous coal is a soft, dense, black coal. Bituminous coal often has bands of bright and
dull material in it. Bituminous coal is the most common coal and has a moisture content less
than 20 %. Bituminous coal is used for generating electricity, making coke, and space
heating.
Bituminous coal has calorific values ranging from 6.8 - 9 kW/kG approximately.
Anthracite coal

Often referred to as hard coal, anthracite is hard, black and lustrous. Anthracite is low in
suplhur and high in carbon. It is the highest rank of coal. moisture content generally is less
than 15 %.
Anthracite has a calorfific values of around 9 kW/kG or above.