National Standards (GOST 25543-82) for unified classification of coals were established in USSR on December 20, 1982 as outlined in this report.
First, brown coal, bituminous coal and anthracite are classified by appearance using three kinds of parameters.
Next, classification into four stages-class, category, type and subtype-is made using parameters based on the genetic and industrial properties of coals followed by further division of each stage into several levels, all with systematic numbering. As a result, individual coal is represented by a seven-digit code number.
Then, coals are classified into three groups-mark, group and subgroup-with their general industrial properties as criteria and individual coals are shown by their code numbers in the “industrial classification chart of coal”.
Lastly, a guidance is provided for rational application of each coal and the testing methods are specified for determining the classification parameters.
