Question

Which coal grades are likely located in each of the three coal layers represented in the western Canadian sedimentary basin?

a) Drag and drop the appropriate coal grades types into the respective red fields on the right-hand side of the image.
Options:
Drag-and-drop interface not provided
Anthracite, Bituminous, Sub-bituminous
Lignite, Sub-bituminous, Anthracite
Bituminous, Anthracite, Lignite

Answer 1

The coal layers in the western Canadian sedimentary basin are likely to contain anthracite in the deepest layer, bituminous coal in the middle layer, and lignite in the uppermost layer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The western Canadian sedimentary basin holds various grades of coal. These grades are differentiated by factors such as the amount of heat energy they can produce and their carbon content.

The highest grade coal is anthracite, and is known for being hard and containing the highest energy content. Bituminous coal is less pure than anthracite but still has a high heat value and is the most abundant form in the Western United States.

Finally, lignite is a lower grade coal with a higher oxygen content and less energy compared to the other types.

Given the stratification and typical burial depths of these coals, the likely distribution of coal grades in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin might start with the deepest layer containing anthracite, followed by bituminous in the middle, and lignite in the uppermost layer that is relatively less deeply buried.