Why is coal not considered to be a mineral?

Question

Why is coal not considered to be a mineral?

Answer 1

It is.

Answer 2

because it misses 2 rules of minerals.

One its made from organic material (plants)

Two, it doesnt have a crystalline structure.

Answer 3

Coal, like oil, is made from organic remains.  Minerals are inorganic.

Coal is a sedimentary rock of organic origin consisting predominantly of carbonized plant remains.

"Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic substances with a definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties."

Answer 4

Because it is made of organic material, albiet very *hard* organic material but organic, nonetheless.

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Answer 5

"Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic substances with a definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties."

There are fossilized trees that have coal at one end and not the other.  The band of carbonization is almost certainly inorganic.  The carbon is likely the result of methane emanating from the original accretion of the earth and upwelling through cracks and fissures.  

As a geologist, I resent those pretending to know that coal is organic.  There are better theories, in my opinion, for the formation of high grade coal such as bituminous and anthracite.  The abiotic origin of so called fossil fuels hasn't caught on in this country but it has in some countries such as Russia.  It generally stems from Thomas Gold's theories which have generally been proved to my satisfaction at least to the point where I think it is a better theory  though I am clearly in the minority here in America.  If this is true, then technically, high grade coal should be a mineral.

Answer 6

Minerals are inorganic substances that occur naturally in rocks.99 percent of the minerals are made up of just eight elements .They are oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium,pottasium and mangnese.                    

But coal is an organic substance.It is a type of sedimentary rock formed from the remains of plants.So,sedimentory rocks are the main source of coal,oil and gas.Sedimentary rocks are composed of materials derived from earlier rocks and from animal and plant remains. Because of its origin, coal is called a fossil fuel.