Name the process of conversion of wood into coal?

 Question: Name the process of conversion of wood into coal?

Coal is one of the most widely used fossil fuels in the world. It is formed from the remains of plants that lived millions of years ago in swampy and humid environments. But how does wood, which is also a plant material, turn into coal? The answer is a process called coalification.

Coalification is the transformation of organic matter into coal under high pressure and temperature. It involves several stages, such as peat formation, lignite formation, bituminous coal formation, and anthracite formation. Each stage represents a different degree of coalification and a different type of coal.

Peat is the first stage of coalification. It is a soft and moist material that accumulates in wetlands from the partial decomposition of plant matter. Peat has a low carbon content and a high moisture content. It can be used as a fuel, but it has a low heating value and produces a lot of smoke.

Lignite is the second stage of coalification. It is formed when peat is buried deeper and subjected to more pressure and heat. Lignite is also known as brown coal because of its brownish color. It has a higher carbon content and a lower moisture content than peat. It is still a low-grade coal that burns with a lot of smoke and ash.

Bituminous coal is the third stage of coalification. It is formed when lignite is buried even deeper and subjected to more pressure and heat. Bituminous coal is also known as black coal because of its shiny black appearance. It has a higher carbon content and a lower moisture content than lignite. It is a high-grade coal that burns with a high heating value and less smoke and ash.

Anthracite is the final stage of coalification. It is formed when bituminous coal is buried further and subjected to more pressure and heat. Anthracite is also known as hard coal because of its hard and brittle texture. It has the highest carbon content and the lowest moisture content of all types of coal. It is the best quality coal that burns with the highest heating value and the least smoke and ash.

Coalification is a slow and complex process that takes millions of years to complete. It depends on various factors, such as the type of plant matter, the depth of burial, the temperature, the pressure, and the time. Coalification illustrates how nature can transform wood into coal over geological time scales.