Coal is one of the most significant minerals that are found in almost every country all over the world and according to recent research, it is disclosed more than 35% of coal is used to generate electricity as well as a fuel. On the other hand, the quantity of underground coal is gradually decreasing, as there is excessive usage of coal for a different purpose. In 2019, the capacity of coal was not more than 1.5 billion tons all over the world and in 2021 research disclosed that there are only 0.89 billion tons of coal left.                                         

Concept of Coal

Coal is the most used mineral after petroleum and it is mainly used to generate electricity as well as fuel purpose. The main element of coal is carbon and it is seen that there is more than 80% carbon in coal and the percentage of coal varies with the different forms of coal. On the other hand, Jim Hansen, eminent scientist, and environmentalist of NASA stated that coal is the most dangerous mineral that can be a great threat to the climate as it contains a huge amount of carbon. 

Types of coal and its uses

Different types of coal are used for different purposes 

1. Peat coal is mainly considered a precursor of coal as it is mainly used in industry. This type of coal is mainly found in Ireland as well as Finland. It is a type of dehydrated coal, which is very useful for the purpose of fuel absorption.           
2. Lignite coal is another type of coal that is formed after compressed peat coal and this is called brown coal. Lignite coal is mostly used in the power station for generating electricity. 
3. Bituminous coal is a type of dense sedimentary mineral that is formed with compressed Lignite coal. This kind of coal is generally used in power stations, manufacturing companies as well as in the making of coke.          
4. Steam coal is a significant type of coal that mainly belongs to bituminous coal characteristics. This type of coal is mostly used in the steam engines of railway tracks but in the present-day application, this coal is not used at all.          
5. Anthracite is the most ignitable coal that is hard and glossy. It is also called smokeless coal and during burning, there is hardly any smoke coming out. This type of coal is mostly used for all-purpose as the principal characteristics of this type of coal are lengthy burning times, provides generous heat, and releases a little amount of carbon dioxide into the climate. For all these reasons, this type of coal is mostly used in manufacturing companies as well as different industries.                   

Coal mining methods and mine 

Coalmine refers to the process of physical extraction as well as deducting other unnecessary elements from coal. Apart from that, the procedure of the coal mine consists of the process of removal from the surface of the earth. On the other hand, several types of coal mining methods vary from region to region. 

1. The most effective method of coal mining is the economical method that entirely depends on the location of the region and the quality of coal. 
2. Another method of coal mining has relied on the depth of the earth’s surface and thickness of the earth’s surface. It is seen that around the depth of 180 ft of the earth’s surface the coalmine is mostly found. In addition, in this depth, the best quality of coal is found. In general, 100 ft below the earth’s surface coal is available and with technical help, those can be easily removed.        

Conclusion

During carbon burn, the atmosphere is greatly hampered as the smoke of coal consists of huge carbon content and releases a greater quantity of carbon dioxide in the environment that is considered as a great threat for the atmosphere. Coal Mine is a rare explosion that is mostly caused by fatalities and there are more than 250000 coal mines all over the world. The geological factor that works in terms of the coal mining process is the density of coal mines and the mechanical support.