| | The [[mining]] of coal as a [[fuel]] sparked the [[Industrial Revolution]], as coal was used to power [[factory|factories]] and [[railroad]]s, first through the generation of steam, and later when coal became one of several methods of generating [[electricity]]. | | The [[mining]] of coal as a [[fuel]] sparked the [[Industrial Revolution]], as coal was used to power [[factory|factories]] and [[railroad]]s, first through the generation of steam, and later when coal became one of several methods of generating [[electricity]]. |
| − | Four types of coal are anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, and lignite. Anthracite is the cleanest burning and is found in such regions as south [[Wales]] and northeast [[Pennsylvania]]. Bituminous coal is widely found in [[Appalachia]] and widely used, and does not burn as cleanly as anthracite. Sub-bituminous coal is of a lower grade than bituminous and a higher grade than lignite, and is widely mined in the Powder River Basin region of [[Wyoming]]. Lignite is also known as "brown coal" and is the dirtiest burning, and is mainly used in power generation. The top two locations for lignite mining are [[Germany]] and [[Russia]]. | + | Four types of coal are anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, and lignite. Anthracite is the cleanest burning and is found in such regions as south [[Wales]] and northeast [[Pennsylvania]]. Bituminous coal is widely found in [[Appalachia]] and widely used, and does not burn as cleanly as anthracite. Sub-bituminous coal is of a lower grade than bituminous and a higher grade than lignite, and is widely mined in the Powder River Basin region of [[Wyoming]]. Lignite is also known as "brown coal" and is the dirtiest burning, and is mainly used in power generation. The top two locations for lignite mining are [[Germany]] and [[Russia]]. [[Graphite]], used in [[pencil]]s and as an electrical conductor, is technically a type of coal of an even higher grade than anthracite, but is not used as a fuel as it is hard to ignite. |