What is bituminous coal?

Bituminous coal, also called soft coal, the most abundant form of coal, intermediate in rank between subbituminous coal and anthracite according to the coal classification used in the United States and Canada. read more

Bituminous coal or black coal is a relatively soft coal containing a tarlike substance called bitumen or asphalt. It is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than anthracite. Formation is usually the result of high pressure being exerted on lignite. read more

Availability: Bituminous coal is abundant. More than half of all available coal resources are bituminous. Mining locations: In the U.S., bituminous coal can be found in Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas (Johnson, Sebastian, Logan, Franklin, Pope, and Scott counties), and locations east of the Mississippi river. read more

Sub bituminous coal is a lignite that has been subjected to an increased level of organic metamorphism. This metamorphism has driven off some of the oxygen and hydrogen in the coal. That loss produces coal with a higher carbon content (71 to 77% on a dry ash-free basis). read more

Bituminous and sub-bituminous coal represents more than 90 percent of all the coal consumed in the United States. When burned, the coal produces a high, white flame. Bituminous coal is so-called because it contains a tar-like substance called bitumen. read more

Bituminous coal: Bituminous coal, the most abundant form of coal, intermediate in rank between subbituminous coal and anthracite according to the coal classification used in the United States and Canada. read more