# Coal

Coal is a black rock that is made from ancient plants. It is used to make energy!

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Also known as:** Anthracite, Bituminous Coal, Black Coal, Lignite

![Coal](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424321/objects/5402.jpg)

## Appearance

The Coal is a dark black or brownish-black rock that often has a dull, earthy sheen. It can sometimes show visible layers or streaks, reflecting its ancient plant origins and sometimes appears shiny or vitreous.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Coal helped power steam engines, kicking off the amazing Industrial Revolution!
- Imagine forests from 300 million years ago squished under pressure to form this rock!
- Some types of coal can actually float on water because they are surprisingly light!
- The world's deepest coal mines go down over 3.5 kilometers, that's incredibly far!

## Special abilities

- **Heat Unleasher:** Coal has ancient plant energy stored within that allows it to burn fiercely, releasing significant heat.
- **Carbon Creator:** Coal is packed with carbon, a vital element used to make many materials, including steel and plastics.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** black, brownish-black
- **Hardness:** 1
- **Luster:** dull
- **Specific Gravity:** 1.3

## Traits

- [Sedimentary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/sedimentary): Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments, organic matter, or chemical precipitates.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)
- [Minerals & Rocks](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals-and-rocks)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Handle gently and avoid sharp edges. Ask an adult before picking anything up.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Coal?

Compare crystal habit, luster, transparency, cleavage and surface texture. Minerals with different compositions can share almost the same color. Mineral Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Coal be?

black, brownish-black

### How hard is Coal?

1

### What kind of luster does Coal have?

dull

### What is Coal's specific gravity?

1.3

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

---

Source: [Coal: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coal)