COAL SEAM Meaning and
Definition
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A coal seam refers to a distinct and continuous layer or bed of coal embedded in the Earth's crust. It is formed through the accumulation of plant remains over millions of years in a process called coalification. As plants, mainly forests, died and decomposed, their organic matter was subjected to immense heat and pressure. Over time, the organic material slowly transformed into coal, resulting in the formation of coal seams.
These seams can vary in thickness, ranging from a few millimeters to many meters. They often occur in stratified sedimentary rock formations, usually sandstone or shale, which act as a natural barrier to contain the coal. The layers of sedimentary rock above and below the coal seam are known as roof and floor strata, respectively.
Coal seams are primarily mined by underground or open-pit methods, depending on their depth and accessibility. Underground mining involves tunneling into the earth to extract the coal, while open-pit mining involves removing the layers of overlying rock to access the coal seam.
Coal seams have been a major source of energy for centuries, as coal is a combustible fossil fuel that releases energy when burned. In addition to energy production, coal seams also serve as valuable geological markers, aiding in the correlation and identification of different ages of rock formations within the Earth's crust.
Common Misspellings for COAL SEAM
- xoal seam
- voal seam
- foal seam
- doal seam
- cial seam
- ckal seam
- clal seam
- cpal seam
- c0al seam
- c9al seam
- cozl seam
- cosl seam
- cowl seam
- coql seam
- coak seam
- coap seam
- coao seam
- coal aeam
- coal zeam
Etymology of COAL SEAM
The word "coal" has its origins in the Old English word "col", which is derived from the West Germanic word "kula", meaning "charcoal". The word "seam" comes from the Old English word "seam", which is derived from the Old Norse word "saumr", meaning "seam" or "stitched line". In the context of a coal seam, the word "seam" refers to a distinct layer or bed of coal within the Earth's crust.
Similar spelling words for COAL SEAM
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