What Is Lignite?

One of the most important searches being carried on by scientists is for new sources of energy. It's not just that they want to find cheaper and more efficient sources of energy to do the work of the world, it's also because some of the natural sources we now have will eventually be used up!

Have you ever seen an abandoned coal mine? At one time coal was being taken from there to feed huge furnaces and to heat build­ings. But now there isn't enough coal left to make it worth mining.

Coal is still, however, the most important solid fuel man has. In fact, it furnishes the United States with about half of its fuel.

Let's consider the different kinds of coal. Obviously, a process that took millions upon millions of years didn't create exactly the same kind of product everywhere.

Peat, for example, is the youngest of all coals. This means the vegetation from which it came was buried a shorter time than that of other coals. Peat has the least heat value of all solid fuels.

Lignite is sometimes called brown coal. It is a little older than peat and has more heating value.

Bituminous coal has the highest heating value of all solid fuels. Finally, there is anthracite coal, which is the hardest of all coals and the oldest in nature.