Coal
An Everyday Resource
Coal is an easily burnable black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as layers of rock called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements. Coal is formed when dead plant matter decays into peat and is converted into coal by the heat and pressure of deep burial over thousands of years. Vast deposits of coal originate in former wetlands—which have been named coal forests or coal swamps—that covered much of Kelios’s tropical land areas during the Era of Creation. Coal is primarily used as a fuel for cooking or heating. While coal has been known and used for thousands of years, its usage outside of the average home is in the iron and steel-making professions. The mining of coal is a dangerous profession, just like mining iron ore, or any other material from below ground. Dangers include cave-ins, toxic gases or steam, extreme heat or cold, and the lack of breathable air. The added danger with coal is the dust when breathed in causes many problems in the lungs. Many miners of coal suffer later in life from the condition Blacklung, as do professions that use burning coal on a regular basis, due to smoke inhalation.Properties
Physical & Chemical Properties
Coal has the same look and feel like any other rock, the only difference is a normal rock is not flammable.
Compounds
Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements.
Geology & Geography
Coal is mainly found underground in caverns in rock formations known as coal seams. Vast deposits of coal originate in former wetlands—which have been named coal forests or coal swamps. Coal often washes up upon beaches from underwater coal seams because of erosion.
Coal by the Sea by greenallianceblog
Origin & Source
Coal is formed when dead plant matter decays into peat and is converted into coal by the heat and pressure of deep burial over thousands of years.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Coal is primarily used as a fuel for cooking or heating.
Burning Coal by bigkproducts
Industrial Use
Coal is used in the iron and steel-making professions.
Hazards
Coal dust, when breathed in causes many problems in the lungs. Many miners of coal suffer later in life from the condition Blacklung, as do professions that use burning coal on a regular basis, due to smoke inhalation.
Distribution
Storage
Huge stockpiles of coal are stored in Barns or other storage buildings.
Holding Coal by euractiv
Type
Ore/Mineral
Rarity
Common
Color
black or brownish-black
Common State
Found in solid rock form
Related Locations
Related Species
Related Professions
Working with Coal by lacuna
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