Coal
Coal
10/12/2010
© Keblow
Coal is a fossil fuel that formed slowly in the bowels of the earth from the remnants of submerged forests. It can be found in many regions worldwide and is still relatively abundant. It is extracted in open pits or underground mines. Coal has been used for thousands of years and today is mainly used to produce electricity.
Coal has been known to humankind since ancient times. The Chinese were already extracting it 3000 years ago and according to the Greek philosopher Theophrastus, blacksmiths were using it in the Middle East as far back as the fourth century B.C.
In France, coal had an impact on 19th century history. It is closely associated with the Industrial Revolution, the rise of trade unionism, politics, social progress, and even literature- thanks to Emile Zola's Germinal. At the same time, the Industrial Revolution in England was driven by the discovery of coal deposits in the center of the country, near Manchester and Sheffield and in the south of Scotland (Glasgow). In Germany, it was driven by the coal fields in the Ruhr. Coal mines in the United States were located in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Nowadays, this ore is mainly used to produce electricity (and coke, a key substance in the iron and steel industry).
Coal
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Every two months, this booklet by La Recherche offers an understanding of the technological, economic and environmental challenges in the energy sector.
The formation of coal, a long history
Coal is the result of a long process of transformation deep within sedimentary basins. The youngest coal fields date back to 15 million years ago while the oldest are over 300 million years old.
Coal – a resourceful fuel
Coal can be used in different ways depending on its carbon content - as a fuel, in the iron and steel industry or in carbon chemistry (i.e. the creation of gasoline and gas).
The extraction of coal in underground or open pit mines
Coal can be extracted in underground mines or quarries. The choice of extraction method is mainly based on the depths of the coal layers although environmental considerations, for example, are also taken into account.
