Coal formed from dead vegetation that was buried during the Carboniferous period from 360-300 million years ago. Over millions of years, the dead plant matter was subjected to heat, pressure, and time underground, transforming it through various ranks from peat to lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and finally anthracite coal with the highest carbon content. This coalification process occurred due to the vegetation being buried in an anaerobic environment without oxygen which allowed carbon rings to form.

1. History of the exploration of coalPart IBuried Sun

2. What is coal?

3. Carboniferous period 360 - 300 million years ago

5. Coalification(Ranks of Coal)

6. Dead Vegetation + Time + Pressure +Heat = Coal

7. Peat

8. Lignite

9. Sub-bituminous Coal

10. Bituminous Coal

11. Anthracite

13. Sub-bitiminous35-45% Carbon ContentPeat 10-25% Carbon Content5. Anthracite86-98% Carbon Content Lignite 25-35% Carbon Content4. Bituminous 45-86% Carbon Content

14. Pressure of Ranks

15. Photosynthesis and Decomposition:Aerobic vs Anaerobic

16. The Anaerobic Environment

17. Carbon Rings