bituminous coal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Industrial
Quick answer
What does “bituminous coal” mean?
A dense, soft, sedimentary coal with high volatile matter and tar content, often used for steam-electric power generation and coke production.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dense, soft, sedimentary coal with high volatile matter and tar content, often used for steam-electric power generation and coke production.
A mid-grade coal between lignite and anthracite in the coalification process, characterized by its high heating value and its tendency to burn with a smoky, yellow flame.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in term usage. In historical UK contexts, 'steam coal' is a near-synonym for certain grades of bituminous coal.
Connotations
Both varieties share technical/industrial connotations. In some US regions (e.g., Appalachia), it carries strong socio-economic and historical associations with mining communities.
Frequency
Higher frequency in geographical regions with mining industries (e.g., Appalachia in US, Yorkshire in UK).
Grammar
How to Use “bituminous coal” in a Sentence
The [region] mines produce [adjective] bituminous coal.Bituminous coal is [verb, e.g., burned/converted] for [purpose].[Quantity] of bituminous coal was [verb, e.g., extracted/shipped].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bituminous coal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The plant was designed to gasify bituminous coal efficiently.
- We no longer bituminise coal on an industrial scale.
American English
- The facility will gasify bituminous coal to produce syngas.
- They are developing new ways to liquefy bituminous coal.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form; term is not used as an adverb.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form; term is not used as an adverb.]
adjective
British English
- The bituminous coal deposits in Yorkshire are extensive.
- They ordered several tonnes of bituminous coal feedstock.
American English
- The bituminous coal industry faces regulatory challenges.
- A bituminous coal seam runs through the Appalachian region.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a commodity traded for energy and steel production.
Academic
Used in geology, energy studies, and industrial history.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in news about energy or regional economies.
Technical
Standard term in mining, geology, and energy engineering to specify coal rank.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bituminous coal”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bituminous coal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bituminous coal”
- Mispronouncing 'bituminous' as /ˈbɪt.mɪ.nəs/ instead of /bɪˈtjuː.mɪ.nəs/.
- Confusing it with 'anthracite'.
- Misspelling as 'bitumenous coal'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In many industrial contexts, yes. When people refer generally to 'coal' for power generation, they are often talking about bituminous or sub-bituminous coal, not anthracite or lignite.
The name comes from 'bitumen', a tar-like hydrocarbon substance. Bituminous coal contains a significant amount of this volatile, combustible material, which makes it softer and more readily ignited than anthracite.
Its primary uses are as a fuel for steam-electric power generation and as a raw material (coking coal) for producing metallurgical coke, which is essential in blast furnaces for iron and steel production.
Like all fossil fuels, burning bituminous coal releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. It also typically produces more sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and other pollutants than natural gas, making its environmental impact a significant concern.
A dense, soft, sedimentary coal with high volatile matter and tar content, often used for steam-electric power generation and coke production.
Bituminous coal is usually technical/industrial in register.
Bituminous coal: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˌtjuː.mɪ.nəs ˈkəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˌtuː.mə.nəs ˈkoʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; term is technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BIT-U-MIN-OUS' – it has bits of MINeral tar (bitumen) in it, making it USeful for steam and coke.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualized as a 'workhorse' fuel – not the purest (anthracite) or the weakest (lignite), but the standard, versatile industrial fuel.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic that distinguishes bituminous coal from anthracite?