Coal mining
Coal mining began as a labor-intensive craft in the early 18th century. Commercial operations started around 1730 in Midlothian, Virginia. Miners used hand tools to extract coal from shallow seams near the surface. They transported the fuel on carts or by dragging it through narrow tunnels. The process relied entirely on human strength and simple mechanical advantage. In the United Kingdom, these small pits were called collieries. Above-ground structures were known as pit heads. By the late 1800s, steam locomotives drove demand for higher output. India produced 6.12 million tons per year by 1900 after introducing steam engines. Japan discovered burning stones in 1478 near Omuta, central Kyushu. Farmers exploited the Chikuhõ coalfield shortly thereafter. These early efforts laid the groundwork for industrial-scale extraction that would follow.
Modern operations distinguish between open-cut methods and deep underground systems. Surface mines use draglines to remove overburden, which is earth covering the coal seam. Power shovels and large trucks transport this material away from the site. Conveyor belts move the exposed coal to preparation plants. Strip mining exposes coal by removing earth above each seam in long strips. Contour mining follows ridges along hillsides where terrain prevents flat excavation. Mountaintop removal flattens entire hilltops to access coal seams below. This method deposits debris into adjacent valleys known as valley fills. Underground mining accounts for about 60 percent of world production today. Longwall mining uses two spinning drums with carbide bits to cut across wide sections of a seam. Continuous miners utilize rotating steel drums equipped with tungsten carbide picks. They can mine up to 14 tons of coal per minute. Room and pillar techniques leave pillars of coal standing to support the roof. Modern hydraulic mobile roof supports function like large dining-room tables with jacks for legs.
China produced over 2.8 billion tons of coal in 2007 alone. That year accounted for approximately 39.8 percent of all global output. India ranked second with 745 million metric tons in 2019 estimates. The United States generated 640 million metric tons during the same period. Indonesia contributed 585 million metric tons while Australia reached 500 million metric tons. Russia supplied 425 million metric tons and South Africa provided 264 million metric tons. Germany produced 132 million metric tons of lignite, making it the largest brown coal producer globally. China employed an estimated five million people in its coal-mining industry. Over 7,921 million metric tons were produced worldwide in 2019. This figure represents a 70% increase compared to production levels from 1999. Australia exports roughly 73% of its total coal production to eastern Asia. Indonesia exports about 87% of its output. The Cerrejón mine in Colombia delivered 24.9 million tons in 2004. It contributed half of that nation's total coal exports that year.
Mining operations disrupt local ecosystems through surface alteration and pollution. Mountaintop removal flattens ridges and fills valleys with debris. This practice covers streams and destroys natural drainage courses. China creates significant acreages of abandoned mined land unsuitable for agriculture. Underground mines often experience severe surface subsidence ranging from six to twelve meters. This sinking negatively impacts farmland by preventing proper water drainage. Black damp gas mixtures remove oxygen from enclosed mine spaces causing suffocation. Fire damp consists mostly of methane which explodes when concentrations reach five to fifteen percent. Stink damp contains hydrogen sulfide gas smelling like rotten eggs. White damp air contains toxic carbon monoxide even at low levels. Germany ended subsidies for hard coal mines by 2018. RAG AG announced the closure of all remaining underground mines that year. Argentina passed Law 448 in 1870 to incentivize extraction for railway expansion. The Rio Turbio mines began producing around 1943. Taiwan ceased commercial production effectively in 2000. The abandoned Pingxi District mine now serves as a museum.
The industry directly employs over seven million workers worldwide. Millions more hold indirect jobs created by mining activities. Coal provides about 69% of Australia's
electricity production in fiscal year 2013/14. In Spain, about 2.3 percent of electric energy came from coal-burning plants in 2018. The Sánchez government settled an agreement to close ten Spanish mines at the end of 2018. Officials pre-engaged spending 250 million Euro on early retirements and retraining programs. Peabody Energy filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on the 13th of April 2016 after losing two billion dollars. U.S. net coal exports increased ninefold from 2006 to 2012 before declining to 63 million tons in 2015. A 2016 study suggested that minor investments could allow most coal workers to retrain for solar energy roles. This transition would account for only five percent of industrial revenue from a single year. China produces twice as much coal as the United States but employs fifty times more miners. Ukraine's coal industry employs about 500,000 people across the Donets Basin. Illegal mines plague the country with massive safety costs.
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Common questions
When did coal mining begin as a labor-intensive craft?
Coal mining began as a labor-intensive craft in the early 18th century. Commercial operations started around 1730 in Midlothian, Virginia.
What are the main differences between open-cut and underground coal mining methods?
Open-cut methods use draglines to remove overburden while strip mining exposes coal by removing earth above each seam in long strips. Underground mining accounts for about 60 percent of world production today and includes techniques like longwall mining that uses two spinning drums with carbide bits.
Which country produced the most coal in 2007 and how much was it?
China produced over 2.8 billion tons of coal in 2007 alone. That year accounted for approximately 39.8 percent of all global output.
How does mountaintop removal affect local ecosystems and farmland?
Mountaintop removal flattens ridges and fills valleys with debris which covers streams and destroys natural drainage courses. This practice creates significant acreages of abandoned mined land unsuitable for agriculture and causes severe surface subsidence ranging from six to twelve meters.
When did Germany end subsidies for hard coal mines and what happened to RAG AG?
Germany ended subsidies for hard coal mines by 2018. RAG AG announced the closure of all remaining underground mines that year.