subbituminous coal

subbituminous coal

Dark-brown to black coal, intermediate in rank between lignite and bituminous coal. It contains less water and is harder than lignite, making it easier to transport, store, and use. It has lower heating value than bituminous coal, but its sulfur content is often low, so that a number of coal-fired electric-power plants have switched from bituminous to subbituminous coal and lignite (which also tends to have relatively low sulfur). Subbituminous deposits are found in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, and China.

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subbituminous coal [¦səb·bə′tü·mə·nəs ′kōl]

(geology)

Black coal intermediate in rank between lignite and bituminous coal; has more carbon and less moisture than lignite.