1. The document discusses the major components and processes involved in the formation of coal from plant matter over millions of years.
2. Key components and processes include the formation of peat in swamps, followed by increased heat and pressure over time transforming the peat into lignite, then sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and finally anthracite.
3. On a microscopic level, coal is composed of different organic particles called macerals that are the remains of the original plant materials, and these macerals can be grouped into inertinite, liptinite, and vitrinite based on their properties.