Light micrograph of the polished surface of fusain, a lithotype of bituminous coal, with fusinite, an inertinite coal maceral (constituent). The broke


Light micrograph of the polished surface of fusain, a lithotype of bituminous coal, with fusinite, an inertinite coal maceral (constituent). The broken area of collapsed cell structures (bogen structure, top left), is typical of this maceral. Coal is a sedimentary rock that occurs in stratified deposits. It forms from dead vegetation that was buried deep in the Earth during the Carboniferous Period and subjected to high temperatures and pressure. Solar energy stored by the plants from photosynthesis was trapped in the coal and is released upon combustion. Coal is the largest source of energy in the production of electricity worldwide. Field of view size: 297 x 445 micrometres.


Size: 3456px × 5184px
Photo credit: © ANTONIO ROMERO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: air, biogeochemistry, bituminous, black, bogen, carbochemistry, carbon, carboniferous, carbonization, change, chemistry, climate, coal, cycle, earth, energy, environment, fossil, fuel, fuels, fusain, fusinite, geochemistry, geological, geology, global, inertinite, light, maceral, metamorphic, micrograph, organic, petrology, pneumoconiosis, pollution, renewable, rock, sciences, sedimentary, soil, solid, source, structure, warming, water