Anthracite

Lignite

Anthracite vs Lignite

Anthracite

Lignite

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1 Definition

1.1 Definition

Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster

Lignite is a soft brownish coal which shows traces of plants and is intermediate between bituminous coal and peat

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

Pennsylvania, U.S.

France

1.2.2 Discoverer

Unknown

1.3 Etymology

From Greek anthrakites, from anthrax, anthrak meaning coal

From French, Latin lignum wood + -ite1

1.4 Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Not Applicable

1.6 Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Amorphous, Glassy

2.2 Color

Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

81% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

59% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.2 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

62% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.3 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

42% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

43% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.4 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

19% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

38% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.5 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

15% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

22% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.5 Appearance

Veined or Pebbled

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Not Yet Used

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

Not Yet Used

3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses

Not Yet Used

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 Construction Industry

Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel Production

for Road Aggregate, Steel Production

3.2.2 Medical Industry

In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Manufacture of Aspirins

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Not Yet Used

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

Alumina Refineries, Electricity Generation, Liquid Fuel, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Paper Industry

Electricity Generation

4 Types

4.1 Types

Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite

Xyloid Lignite or Fossil Wood and Compact Lignite or Perfect Lignite

4.2 Features

Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel

Generally rough to touch, Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Not Yet Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

4.3.3 Sculpture

Not Yet Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

4.3.5 Pictographs

Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Not Yet Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

Present

5 Formation

5.1 Formation

Anthracite forms from the accumulation of plant debris in a swamp environment. When plant debris dies and falls into the swamp, the standing water of the swamp protects it from decay.

Coal formation takes place due to accumulation of plant debris in a swamp environment. The Coal formation process continues, as peat turns into lignite brown or black coal at increasing heat and pressure.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals

Not Available

5.2.2 Compound Content

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

50% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

19% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Not Applicable

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

78% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Not Applicable

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

77% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

86% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Not Applicable

Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

1-1.5

6.1.2 Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Conchoidal

6.1.4 Streak

Black

6.1.5 Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Shiny

Dull to Vitreous to Submetallic

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

Flint

⊕

▶

▼

Not Available

Rank: N/A (Overall)▶

Not Available

Rank: N/A (Overall)▶

▲

Obsidian

⊕

▶

175 (Granite)

◀ ▶ ADD ⊕

6.1.8 Cleavage

Non-Existent

6.1.9 Toughness

Not Available

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

1.1-1.4

6.1.11 Transparency

Opaque

6.1.12 Density

1.25-2.5 g/cm³

800-801 g/cm³

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

Banded iron for..

⊕

▶

▼

1.32 kJ/Kg K

Rank: 4 (Overall)▶

1.26 kJ/Kg K

Rank: 5 (Overall)▶

▲

Granulite

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▶

1.09 (Travertine)

◀ ▶ ADD ⊕

6.2.2 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam

7.1.2 Africa

Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania

7.1.3 Europe

Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom

7.1.4 Others

Not Yet Found

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

7.2.2 South America

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

Anthracite vs Lignite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Anthracite and Lignite Reserves. Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster. Lignite is a soft brownish coal which shows traces of plants and is intermediate between bituminous coal and peat. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Anthracite vs Lignite information and Anthracite vs Lignite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Anthracite vs Lignite Characteristics

Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Anthracite vs Lignite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anthracite and Properties of Lignite. Learn more about Anthracite vs Lignite in the next section. The interior uses of Anthracite include Not yet used whereas the interior uses of Lignite include Not yet used. Due to some exceptional properties of Anthracite and Lignite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Anthracite in construction industry include Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel production and that of Lignite include For road aggregate, Steel production.

More about Anthracite and Lignite

Here you can know more about Anthracite and Lignite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anthracite and Lignite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anthracite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals and mineral content of Lignite is not available. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Anthracite vs Lignite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Anthracite is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors whereas, Lignite is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Anthracite is Veined or Pebbled and that of Lignite is Veined or Pebbled. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anthracite vs Lignite. The hardness of Anthracite is 1-1.5 and that of Lignite is 1. The types of Anthracite are Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite whereas types of Lignite are Xyloid Lignite or Fossil Wood and Compact Lignite or Perfect Lignite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anthracite and Lignite is black. The specific heat capacity of Anthracite is 1.32 kJ/Kg K and that of Lignite is 1.26 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Anthracite is heat resistant, water resistant whereas Lignite is heat resistant.