What is coal made of?
Coal is composed primarily of carbon and is known for its high combustibility. It appears as a black or brownish-black sedimentary deposit, containing more than 50 percent carbonaceous material by weight and over 70 percent by volume. This carbon-rich substance is formed from the remains of plants that have undergone compaction, hardening, chemical alteration, and metamorphosis under the influence of heat and pressure over geological time.