Coal is the most abundantly available and important fossil fuel in India. (a) Total reserves of coal : India has coal reserve of about 2,14,000 million tonnes. They occur in the rock series of two main geological ages, the Gondwana, a little over 200 million years in age, and in Tertiary deposits which are about 55 million years old. (b) It is important as a source of energy and as a source of raw material.Coal is the main source of power generation in India. It provides a substantial part of the nation’s energy needs for both industries and domestic purposes. It is the prime source of energy in the manufacturing of iron and steel. Coal is also used as raw material for the chemical industry. (c) Its main varieties are : (i) Anthracite — highest quality hard coal with more than 80 percent carbon content. (ii) Bituminous — most popular coal for commercial use with 60 to 80 percent cabon content. (iii) Lignite — low grade brown coal with high moisture content and lesser combustible matter with about 60 percent content. (iv) Peat – produced from decaying plants in swanps with low cabon content of less than 50 percent, high moisture content and low heating capacity.