BITUMINOUS COAL
Bituminous coal is a higher rank of coal above lignite (although
there is a transitional rank called sub-bituminous coal). Bituminous
coals tend to break and weather in a blocky fashion, are relatively sooty to
the touch, and are harder & heavier than lignite (but still relatively soft
& lightweight). Slightly discernible plant fossil fragments may be
present on bituminous coal bedding planes. Bituminous coals commonly have
irregular patches of shiny, glassy-textured organic matter.
Bituminous coal (5.5 cm across)