Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India? What are the four major forms of it? Write main features of each form.

Coal is an important and abundantly available fossil fuel in India. It is formed due to the compression of plant material over millions of years. It is a bulky material and loses weight on use as it is reduced to ash. The four major forms of coal are: 

Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India?

(i) Anthracite: It is the highest quality hard coal.

(ii) Peat: Decaying plants in swamps produce peat. It has a low carbon and high moisture contents and low heating capacity.

(iii) Lignite is a low grade brown coal, which is soft with high moisture content. The principal lignite reserves are in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu and are used for generation of electricity. 

(iv) Bituminous coal is buried deep and subjected to increased temperatures. It is the most popular coal in commercial use. Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.

What is the process by which coal is formed?
(a) Volcanic activity
(b) Compression of plant material over millions of years
(c) Sedimentary rock formation
(d) Chemical reaction with underground minerals

Solution

(b) Compression of plant material over millions of years

Which form of coal is considered the highest quality hard coal?
(a) Peat
(b) Anthracite
(c) Lignite
(d) Bituminous coal

Solution

(b) Anthracite