gas coal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “gas coal” mean?
A type of bituminous coal suitable for manufacturing fuel gas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of bituminous coal suitable for manufacturing fuel gas.
Coal that yields a high proportion of volatile hydrocarbons when heated, making it optimal for gasification processes in industrial or historical domestic gas production.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more historically salient in UK English due to the earlier and widespread use of town gas. In US English, it is predominantly a technical/industrial term.
Connotations
In the UK, it can evoke the historical 'gasworks' and the coal gas era. In the US, it is a more neutral industrial classification.
Frequency
Very low in general discourse; occasional in technical texts on energy or industrial history.
Grammar
How to Use “gas coal” in a Sentence
The [region/company] mined gas coal for the [plant/industry].[Process/Factory] required a specific type of gas coal.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gas coal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The plant was designed to gasify specific gas coals.
American English
- They process the gas coal to extract hydrocarbons.
adjective
British English
- The gas-coal industry declined after the discovery of North Sea gas.
American English
- Gas-coal reserves were mapped by the survey.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In historical or niche energy sector reports discussing feedstock for synthetic gas.
Academic
In papers on industrial history, fuel technology, or energy economics.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in chemical engineering, mining geology, and energy production contexts to specify coal suitable for gasification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gas coal”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gas coal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gas coal”
- Using 'gas coal' to refer to coal used for heating (it's specific to gas production).
- Confusing it with 'coal gas' (the product, not the source).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Gas coal' is the raw material (coal). 'Coal gas' is the manufactured fuel gas produced from it.
Its use declined sharply with the advent of natural gas, but it remains relevant in some industrial gasification and synthetic fuel processes.
No. Barbecue briquettes are not gas coal. The term is specific to industrial gas production.
They are related but not identical. Both are bituminous, but 'coking coal' is specifically for making metallurgical coke, while 'gas coal' is optimized for high gas yield. Some coals can serve both purposes.
A type of bituminous coal suitable for manufacturing fuel gas.
Gas coal is usually technical/historical in register.
Gas coal: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡæs ˌkəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡæs ˌkoʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Gas comes FROM this coal.
Conceptual Metaphor
RAW MATERIAL FOR TRANSFORMATION (coal as a source from which another substance, gas, is liberated).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary use of 'gas coal'?