Coal

Coal

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure. Coal is composed primarily of carbon along with variable quantities of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Industry: Energy

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Coal

black damp

Energy; Coal

Term used for when there's an area with low oxygen levels and too much nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide or water vapor. In mining, this creates a deadly situation where asphyxiation is common.

blasting agent

Energy; Coal

A material that is made of a fuel and an oxidizer. It's usually not very sensitive and requires a booster explosive or secondary explosive to ignite it.

blasting cap

Energy; Coal

A device containing a primary explosive that is sensitive to heat and shock. The blasting cap is used to start the denotation of the secondary explosive, which for safety reasons is more stable but ...