Where is Coal Found?
Coal is extracted from the ground by coal mining, either underground mining or open pit mining (surface mining). The early uses of coal: China Coal Information Institute reports the Chinese mined coalstone for fuel 10,000 years ago at the time of the New Stone Age, or Neolithic Era. “People in Shanxi, now the largest coal production base, have been burning coal as fuel since then.”Outcrop coal was used in Britain during the Bronze Age (2000-3000 years BC), where it has been detected as forming part of the composition of funeral pyres. It was also commonly used in the early period of the Roman occupation: Evidence of trade in coal (dated to about AD 200) has been found at the inland port of Heronbridge, near Chester, and in the Fenlands of East Anglia, where coal from the Midlands was transported via the Car Dyke for use in drying grain. Coal cinders have been found in the hearths of villas and military forts, particularly in Northumberland, dated to around AD 400. In the west of Englan
Proven coal deposits exist on every continent, including Antarctica. The United States has the world’s largest supply of recoverable reserves, or about 24 percent. Coal is found in thirty-eight states, and nearly one-eighth of the country lies over coal beds. Top coal-mining states include Montana, Illinois, Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Texas, and Indiana.
It has been estimated that there are over 847 billion tonnes of proven coal reserves worldwide. This means that there is enough coal to last us over 130 years at current rates of production. Coal is located worldwide – it can be found on every continent in over 70 countries, with the biggest reserves in the USA, Russia, China and India. All fossil fuels will eventually run out and it is essential that we use them as efficiently as possible. Coal reserves could be extended still further through a number of developments including: • the discovery of new reserves through ongoing and improved exploration activities; • advances in mining techniques, which will allow previously inaccessible reserves to be reached.
Proven coal deposits exist on every continent, including Antarctica. The United States has the world’s largest supply of recoverable reserves, or about 24 percent. Coal is found in thirty-eight states, and nearly one-eighth of the country lies over coal beds. Top coal-mining states include Montana, Illinois, Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Texas, and Indiana. How Plentiful Is Coal? Coal supplies in the United States are far more plentiful than domestic oil or natural gas; they account for 95 percent of the country’s fossil fuel reserves and more than 60 percent of the world’s fuel reserves. The United States has about 275 billion tons of recoverable coal, which could last us more than 250 years if we continue using coal at the same rate as we use it today. In addition, the United States has more than 25 percent of the world’s estimated coal reserves. To meet energy and metallurgical needs, the United States mines over a billion tons a year of coal. The r
