Peat is the raw material from which coal is made. It is not much more than compressed plant remains. It is used in various areas of the world, especially in the British Isles where it is cut into cubes and dried to be burned in stoves. Lignite is the next step in coal formation. It is low-grade coal and occasionally has remains of unconverted plant material.
Bituminous coal is a higher grade coal, containing no unconverted plant remains.
It burns cleaner than lignite. Anthracite is metamorphic coal and is the highest grade of coal. It burns the cleanest and gives off the most heat. Return to the 8th Grade Integrated Science Sci-ber Text Page . Visit the Utah State 8th Grade Integrated Science Core Curriculum Page .