raw coal

Raw coal, also known as run-of-mine (ROM) coal, is coal that has not undergone any cleaning or processing after being extracted from the mine. It contains impurities such as mineral matter, clay, and rock.12

The transformation of plant matter into coal is called coalification. This process begins with the decomposition of vegetal matter in oxygen-poor environments, forming peat. Over time, pressure from accumulating sedimentary materials, along with increased heat and pressure from geological activity, transforms peat into lignite, then into bituminous and anthracite coal. The rank of coal is determined by its carbon content and the degree of coalification it has undergone.345

The primary use of coal is for combustion to generate heat for electric power plants. However, coal utilization also presents significant environmental challenges, including air pollution, acid rain, and the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which contribute to global warming.67