Coal Carbon, Organic Matter, Sedimentary Rock | Britannica
Coal Carbon, Organic Matter, Sedimentary Rock: The plant material from which coal is derived is composed of a complex mixture of organic compounds, including cellulose, lignin, fats, waxes, and tannins. As peat formation and coalification proceed, these compounds, which have more or less open structures, are broken down, and new compounds—primarily aromatic (benzenelike) and hydroaromatic ...