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Strip mining lignite at Tagebau Garzweiler near Grevenbroich, Germany

Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft brown combustible sedimentary rock that is formed from naturally compressed peat. It is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat content. It is mined in Bulgaria, Kosovo, Greece, Germany, Poland, Serbia, Russia, the United States, Canada, India, Australia and many other parts of Europe and it is used almost exclusively as a fuel for steam-electric power generation. 25.7% of Germany's electricity comes from lignite power plants,^[1] while in Greece lignite provides about 50% of its power needs.

Characteristics

Lignite is brownish-black in color and has a carbon content of around 25-35%, a high inherent moisture content sometimes as high as 66%, and an ash content ranging from 6% to 19% compared with 6% to 12% for bituminous coal.^[2]

The energy content of lignite ranges from 10 - 20 MJ/kg (9–17 million BTU per short ton) on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis. The energy content of lignite consumed in United States averages 15 MJ/kg (13 million BTU/ton), on the as-received basis (i.e., containing both inherent moisture and mineral matter). The energy content of lignite consumed in Victoria, Australia averages 8.4 MJ/kg (6.5 million BTU/ton).

Lignite has a high content of volatile matter which makes it easier to convert into gas and liquid petroleum products than higher ranking coals. Unfortunately its high moisture content and susceptibility to spontaneous combustion can cause problems in transportation and storage. It is now known that efficient processes that remove latent moisture locked within the structure of brown coal will relegate the risk of spontaneous combustion to the same level as black coal, will transform the calorific value of brown coal to a black coal equivalent fuel while significantly reducing the emissions profile of 'densified' brown coal to a level similar to or better than most black coals.^[3]

Uses

Because of its low energy density and typically high moisture content, brown coal is inefficient to transport and is not traded extensively on the world market compared with higher coal grades. It is often burned in power stations near the mines, such as in Australia's Latrobe Valley and Luminant's Monticello plant in Texas. Primarily because of latent high moisture content of brown coal, carbon dioxide emissions from traditional brown-coal-fired plants are generally much higher than for comparable black-coal plants, with the world's highest-emitting being Hazelwood Power Station, Victoria.^[4] The operation of traditional brown-coal plants, particularly in combination with strip mining, can be politically contentious due to environmental concerns.^[5]^[6]

Reaction with quaternary amine forms a product called amine-treated lignite (ATL), which is used in drilling mud to reduce fluid loss during drilling.

Geology

Lignite begins as an accumulation of partially decayed plant material, or peat. Burial by other sediments results in increasing temperature, depending on the local geothermal gradient and tectonic setting, and increasing pressure. This causes compaction of the material and loss of some of the water and volatile matter (primarily methane and carbon dioxide). This process, called coalification, increases the carbon content, and thus the heat content, of the material. Deeper burial and the passage of time result in further expulsion of moisture and volatile matter, eventually transforming the material into higher rank coals such as bituminous and anthracite coal.^[7]

Lignite deposits are typically younger than higher rank coals, with the majority of them having formed during the Tertiary period.

Resources

The Latrobe Valley in the state of Victoria, Australia contains estimated reserves of some 65 billion tonnes of brown coal.^[8] The deposit is equivalent to 25% of known world reserves. The coal seams are up to 100 metres thick, with multiple coal seams often giving virtually continuous brown coal thickness of up to 230 metres. Seams are covered by very little overburden (10 to 20 metres).^[8]

Types

Lignite can be separated into two types. The first is xyloid lignite or fossil wood and the second form is the compact lignite or perfect lignite.

Although xyloid lignite may sometimes have the tenacity and the appearance of ordinary wood it can be seen that the combustible woody tissue has experienced a great modification. It is reducible to a fine powder by trituration and if submitted to the action of a weak solution of potash it yields a considerable quantity of ulmic acid.^[9]

Production

Lignite mined in millions of metric tons^[10]
Country	1970	1980	1990	2000	2001	2010
Germany	369.3	388.0	356.5	167.7	175.4	169
Indonesia	?	?	?	?	?	163
Soviet Union	127.0	141.0	137.3	—	—	—
Russia	—	—	—	86.4	83.2	76
Turkey	4.4	15.0	43.8	63.0	57.2	69
Australia	24.2	32.9	46.0	65.0	67.8	67
United States	5.4	42.3	82.6	83.5	80.5	65
Greece	8.1	23.2	51.7	63.3	67.0	56
Poland	32.8	36.9	67.6	61.3	59.5	56
Czechoslovakia	67.0	87.0	71.0	—	—	—
Czech Republic	—	—	—	50.1	50.7	44
Yugoslavia	26.0	43.0	60.0	—	—	—
Serbia and Montenegro	—	—	—	35.5	35.5	37
China	13.0	22.0	38.0	40.0	47.0	?
Romania	14.1	27.1	33.5	17.9	29.8	?
North Korea	5.7	10.0	10.0	26.0	26.5	?
India^[11]	?	?	?	?	22.121	?
Total	804.0	1,028.0	1,214.0	877.4	894.8	1,042

? – no data available
— – country did not exist yet or does not exist anymore

References

^ "Bruttostromerzeugung in Deutschland von 1990 bis 2012 nach Energieträgern". 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
^ Ghassemi, Abbas (2001). Handbook of Pollution Control and Waste Minimization. CRC Press. p. 434. ISBN 0-8247-0581-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ George, A.M.. State Electricity Victoria, Petrographic Report No 17. 1975; Perry, G.J and Allardice, D.J. Coal Resources Conference, NZ 1987 Proc.1, Sec. 4.. Paper R4.1
^ "Hazelwood tops international list of dirty power stations". World Wide Fund for Nature Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
^ "The Greens Won't Line Up For Dirty Brown Coal In The Valley". Australian Greens Victoria. 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ "Greenpeace Germany Protests Brown Coal Power Stations". Environment News Service. 2004-05-28. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ Blatt, H., Middleton, G. and Murray, R. (1972). Origin of Sedimentary Rocks. Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey. ISBN 0-13-642702-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b Department of Primary Industries, Victorian Government, Australia, ‘Victoria Australia: A Principle Brown Coal Province’ (Fact Sheet, Department of Primary Industries, July 2010).
^ Mackie, Samuel Joseph (1861). The Geologist. Original from Harvard University: Reynolds. pp. 197–200.
^ http://www.worldcoal.org/resources/coal-statistics/
^ http://infochangeindia.org/environment/statistics/statewise-production-of-coal-and-lignite.html

External links

[1] "Bruttostromerzeugung in Deutschland von 1990 bis 2012 nach Energieträgern". 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-08-21.

[2] Ghassemi, Abbas (2001). Handbook of Pollution Control and Waste Minimization. CRC Press. p. 434. ISBN 0-8247-0581-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[3] George, A.M.. State Electricity Victoria, Petrographic Report No 17. 1975; Perry, G.J and Allardice, D.J. Coal Resources Conference, NZ 1987 Proc.1, Sec. 4.. Paper R4.1

[4] "Hazelwood tops international list of dirty power stations". World Wide Fund for Nature Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-02.

[5] "The Greens Won't Line Up For Dirty Brown Coal In The Valley". Australian Greens Victoria. 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[6] "Greenpeace Germany Protests Brown Coal Power Stations". Environment News Service. 2004-05-28. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[7] Blatt, H., Middleton, G. and Murray, R. (1972). Origin of Sedimentary Rocks. Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey. ISBN 0-13-642702-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[Gov-8] Department of Primary Industries, Victorian Government, Australia, ‘Victoria Australia: A Principle Brown Coal Province’ (Fact Sheet, Department of Primary Industries, July 2010).

[Mackie-9] Mackie, Samuel Joseph (1861). The Geologist. Original from Harvard University: Reynolds. pp. 197–200.

[10] ttp://www.worldcoal.org/resources/coal-statistics/

[11] ttp://infochangeindia.org/environment/statistics/statewise-production-of-coal-and-lignite.html

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{other uses}}
+__NOTOC__
+[[File:Lignite-coal.jpg|thumb|Lignite]]
+[[Image:Braunkohle als Hausbrand.jpg|right|200pix|thumb|Lignite [[briquette]]]]
+[[Image:Garzweiler.strip.mine.jpg|right|200pix|thumb|[[Strip mining]] lignite at [[Tagebau Garzweiler]] near [[Grevenbroich]], Germany]]
+'''Lignite''', often referred to as '''brown coal''', is a soft brown combustible sedimentary rock that is formed from naturally compressed [[peat]]. It is considered the lowest rank of [[coal]] due to its relatively low heat content. It is mined in [[Bulgaria]], [[Economy of Kosovo#Natural Resources|Kosovo]], [[Greece]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Republic of Serbia|Serbia]], [[Russia]], the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[India]], [[Australia]] and many other parts of [[Europe]] and it is used almost exclusively as a fuel for steam-electric power generation. 25.7% of Germany's electricity comes from lignite power plants,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ag-energiebilanzen.de/componenten/download.php?filedata=1376056996.pdf&filename=20130809_BRD_Stromerzeugung1990_2012.pdf&mimetype=application/pdf
+|title=Bruttostromerzeugung in Deutschland von 1990 bis 2012 nach Energieträgern |date=2013-08-09 |accessdate=2013-08-21}}</ref> while in Greece lignite provides about 50% of its power needs.
+==Characteristics==
+Lignite is brownish-black in color and has a carbon content of around 25-35%, a high inherent moisture content sometimes as high as 66%, and an [[Coal assay#Ash|ash]] content ranging from 6% to 19% compared with 6% to 12% for [[bituminous coal]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Ghassemi | first = Abbas | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Handbook of Pollution Control and Waste Minimization | publisher = CRC Press | year = 2001 | location = | pages = 434 | url = | doi =  | isbn = 0-8247-0581-5}}</ref>
+The energy content of lignite ranges from {{nowrap|10 - 20 MJ/kg}} (9–17 million [[British thermal unit|BTU]] per [[short ton]]) on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis. The energy content of lignite consumed in United States averages {{nowrap|15 MJ/kg}} (13 million BTU/ton), on the as-received basis (i.e., containing both inherent moisture and mineral matter). The energy content of lignite consumed in Victoria, Australia averages {{nowrap|8.4 MJ/kg}} (6.5 million BTU/ton).
+[[File:Lignite mining in Western North Dakota.jpg|thumbnail|left|Lignite mining in Western [[North Dakota]], ca.1945]]
+Lignite has a high content of volatile matter which makes it easier to convert into gas and liquid petroleum products than higher ranking coals. Unfortunately its high moisture content and susceptibility to [[spontaneous combustion]] can cause problems in transportation and storage. It is now known that efficient processes that remove latent moisture locked within the structure of brown coal will relegate the risk of spontaneous combustion to the same level as black coal, will transform the calorific value of brown coal to a [[black coal equivalent]] fuel while significantly reducing the emissions profile of 'densified' brown coal to a level similar to or better than most black coals.<ref>George, A.M.. State Electricity Victoria, Petrographic Report No 17. 1975; Perry, G.J and Allardice, D.J. Coal Resources Conference, NZ 1987 Proc.1, Sec. 4.. Paper R4.1</ref>
+==Uses==
+Because of its low energy density and typically high moisture content, brown coal is inefficient to transport and is not traded extensively on the world market compared with higher coal grades.  It is often burned in power stations near the mines, such as in Australia's [[Latrobe Valley]] and [[Luminant]]'s [[Monticello Steam Electric Station|Monticello plant]] in Texas. Primarily because of latent high moisture content of brown coal, carbon dioxide emissions from traditional brown-coal-fired plants are generally much higher than for comparable black-coal plants, with the world's highest-emitting being [[Hazelwood Power Station, Victoria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwf.org.au/news/n223/
+|title=Hazelwood tops international list of dirty power stations|accessdate=2008-10-02|publisher=World Wide Fund for Nature Australia}}</ref>  The operation of traditional brown-coal plants, particularly in combination with [[strip mining]], can be politically contentious due to environmental concerns.<ref>{{Cite web
+|url=http://www.vic.greens.org.au/news/media-releases-2006/the-greens-won-t-line-up-for-dirty-brown-coal-in-the-valley
+|title=The Greens Won't Line Up For Dirty Brown Coal In The Valley
+|publisher=Australian Greens Victoria
+|date=2006-08-18
+|accessdate=2007-06-28
+}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
+|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2004/2004-05-28-02.asp
+|title=Greenpeace Germany Protests Brown Coal Power Stations
+|publisher=Environment News Service
+|date=2004-05-28
+|accessdate=2007-06-28
+|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070930203414/http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2004/2004-05-28-02.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-30}}</ref>
+Reaction with [[quaternary ammonium cation|quaternary amine]] forms a product called amine-treated lignite (ATL), which is used in [[drilling mud]] to reduce fluid loss during drilling.
+[[File:Pendeloque en lignite Marsoulas MHNT.PRE.2012.0.6.95.jpg|thumb|Pendant from [[Magdalenian]] in lignite [[Muséum de Toulouse]]]]
+==Geology==
+Lignite begins as an accumulation of partially decayed plant material, or [[peat]]. Burial by other sediments results in increasing temperature, depending on the local [[geothermal gradient]] and [[tectonics|tectonic setting]], and increasing pressure. This causes compaction of the material and loss of some of the water and volatile matter (primarily [[methane]] and [[carbon dioxide]]). This process, called [[coalification]], increases the carbon content, and thus the heat content, of the material. Deeper burial and the passage of time result in further expulsion of moisture and volatile matter, eventually transforming the material into higher rank coals such as bituminous and anthracite coal.<ref>{{cite book|last=Blatt, H., Middleton, G. and Murray, R.|title=Origin of Sedimentary Rocks|year=1972|publisher=Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey|isbn=0-13-642702-2}}</ref>
+Lignite deposits are typically younger than higher rank coals, with the majority of them having formed during the [[Tertiary]] period.
+==Resources==
+The [[Latrobe Valley]] in the state of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia contains estimated reserves of some 65 billion tonnes of brown coal.<ref name=Gov>Department of Primary Industries, Victorian Government, Australia, ‘Victoria Australia: A Principle Brown Coal Province’ (Fact Sheet, Department of Primary Industries, July 2010).</ref> The deposit is equivalent to 25% of known world reserves. The coal seams are up to 100 metres thick, with multiple coal seams often giving virtually continuous brown coal thickness of up to 230 metres. Seams are covered by very little [[overburden]] (10 to 20 metres).<ref name=Gov/>
+==Types== <!--xyloid lignite, compact lignite, and perfect lignite; redirect here-->
+Lignite can be separated into two types. The first is xyloid lignite or [[fossil wood]] and the second form is the compact lignite or perfect lignite.
+Although xyloid lignite may sometimes have the tenacity and the appearance of ordinary wood it can be seen that the combustible woody tissue has experienced a great modification. It is reducible to a fine powder by [[trituration]] and if submitted to the action of a weak solution of [[potash]] it yields a considerable quantity of [[Humic acid|ulmic acid]].<ref Name="Mackie">{{cite book  | last =Mackie  | first =Samuel Joseph   | title =The Geologist  | publisher =Reynolds  | year =1861  | location =Original from Harvard University  | pages =197–200  | url =http://books.google.com/books?id=SzsFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA199&dq=Xyloid+coal#PPA198,M1  | doi =    }}</ref>
+==Production==
+{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="text-align:right"
+|+Lignite mined in millions of [[metric ton]]s<ref>http://www.worldcoal.org/resources/coal-statistics/</ref>
+! Country                          ||  1970 ||  1980 ||  1990 ||  2000 || 2001 || 2010
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Germany}}       || 369.3 || 388.0 || 356.5 || 167.7 || 175.4 ||  169
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Indonesia}}     ||     ? ||     ? ||    ? ||     ? ||   ? ||  163
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}  || 127.0 || 141.0 || 137.3 ||     — ||     — ||    —
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Russia}}        ||     — ||     — ||     — ||  86.4 ||  83.2 ||   76
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Turkey}}        ||   4.4 ||  15.0 ||  43.8 ||  63.0 ||  57.2 ||   69
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Australia}}     ||  24.2 ||  32.9 ||  46.0 ||  65.0 ||  67.8 ||   67
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|United States}} ||   5.4 ||  42.3 ||  82.6 ||  83.5 ||  80.5 ||   65
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Greece}}        ||   8.1 ||  23.2 ||  51.7 ||  63.3 ||  67.0 ||   56
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Poland}}        ||  32.8 ||  36.9 ||  67.6 ||  61.3 ||  59.5 ||   56
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Czechoslovakia}}||  67.0 ||  87.0 ||  71.0 ||     — ||     — ||    —
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Czech Republic}}||     — ||     — ||     — ||  50.1 ||  50.7 ||   44
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Yugoslavia}}    ||  26.0 ||  43.0 ||  60.0 ||     — ||     — ||    —
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Serbia and Montenegro}}|| — ||  — ||     — ||  35.5 ||  35.5 ||   37
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|China}}         ||  13.0 ||  22.0 ||  38.0 ||  40.0 ||  47.0 ||    ?
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|Romania}}       ||  14.1 ||  27.1 ||  33.5 ||  17.9 ||  29.8 ||    ?
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|North Korea}}   ||   5.7 ||  10.0 ||  10.0 ||  26.0 ||  26.5 ||    ?
+|-
+|align=left|{{Flag|India}}<ref>http://infochangeindia.org/environment/statistics/statewise-production-of-coal-and-lignite.html</ref> ||  ?  ||  ?  ||  ?  ||  ?  || 22.121 ||   ?
+|-class="sortbottom"
+!Total                             !! 804.0 !!1,028.0!!1,214.0!! 877.4 !! 894.8 !!1,042
+|}
+*? – no data available
+*— – country did not exist yet or does not exist anymore
+==See also==
+{{Portal|Energy}}
+* [[Bergius process]]
+* [[Coal assay]]
+* [[Energy value of coal]]
+* [[Orders of magnitude (specific energy density)]]
+* [[Fischer-Tropsch process]]
+* [[Karrick process]]
+* [[Leonardite]]
+* [[Greenhouse gas#Relative CO2 emission from various fuels|List of CO<sub>2</sub> emitted per million Joule of energy from various fuels]]
+* [[Kemper Project]]
+==References==
+{{Reflist|2}}
+==External links==
+{{commonscat|Lignite}}
+*[http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Issues/Lignite.html Geography in action - an Irish case study]
+*[http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Assets/Photo_albums/Eight/pages/Lignite.html Photograph of lignite]
+*[http://www.cleancoal.com.au/ECT/Coldry.html  Coldry:Lignite Dewatering Process]
+*[http://www.isf.uts.edu.au/publications/tarlo2002whybrowncoal.pdf Why Brown Coal Should Stay in the Ground]
+*[http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/37518/Brown-Coal-050710.pdf Victoria Australia Brown Coal Factsheet]
+*[http://www.australianminesatlas.gov.au/aimr/.../brown_coal_10.jsp Australian mines atlas]
+{{Coal}}
+[[Category:Coal]]
+[[Category:Organic minerals]]

v t e Coal
Coal types by grade (lowest to highest)	Xylit Peat¹ Lignite Sub-bituminous coal Bituminous coal Anthracite Graphite¹
Coal combustion	Ash pond Asian brown cloud Asthma Black coal equivalent Char Charcoal Coal combustion products fired power station gas phase-out pollution mitigation power in China power in the United States preparation plant seam fire tar Coke Coking Energy value Flue gas Fly ash Fossil fuel Fossil fuel phase-out Great Smog of London Greenhouse gas emissions Metallurgical coal NOx Smog Sulfur dioxide Toxic heavy metals
Coal mining	Blackdamp Black lung disease Coal dust Coalfields Coal gas homogenization liquefaction mining disasters in the United States mining region refuse slurry town Environmental issues in Appalachia Environmental justice and coal mining in Appalachia Firedamp Health and environmental impact of the coal industry Health effects of coal ash History of coal mining Hydrogen sulfide Mining regions Outbursts Peak coal Problems in coal mining Refined coal Whitedamp
Note: [1] Peat is considered a precursor to coal. Graphite is only technically considered a coal type.