What are the uses of coal? …

Lignite is the youngest form of coal. It is soft and ranges in color from black to shades of brown. As a result, it’s sometimes called brown coal. Lignite is mainly used for power generation and accounts for 17 percent of the world’s coal reserves.
After millions of years, continued pressure and temperature convert lignite into   sub-bituminous coal. It burns more cleanly than other types of coal due to its low sulfur content. Sub-bituminous coal has applications in power generation and also in industrial processes. This type of coal makes up 30 percent of the world’s coal reserves.

Bituminous coal  is harder and blacker than lignite and sub-bituminous coal, and can be divided into two types: thermal and metallurgical. Together, they make up 52 percent of the world’s coal reserves. Thermal coal is mostly used for power generation, cement manufacturing and other industrial purposes, while metallurgical coal is used primarily for manufacturing iron and steel.
Anthracite  is the most mature coal and thus has the highest carbon content of any type of coal. It is frequently used for home heating and, accounting for about 1 percent of the world’s total coal reserves, represents a very small portion of the overall market. Anthracite coal can be used as a smokeless fuel in domestic and industrial contexts.