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'''Coal mining''' is the process of digging coal out of the ground and bringing it to market,. [[Coal]] has been used for centuries for small-scale furnaces. Around 1800 it became the main energy source for the [[Industrial Revolution]]; after 1850, the expanding railway system of the industrializing countries, especially the U.S. and Britain, became the major users. Britain developed the main techniques of underground mining from the late 18th century onward with further progress being driven by 19th and early 20th century progress.<ref>Freese. (2003)</ref> After 1850 smokeless [[anthracite]] coal ("hard coal") became the main source of heating in cities, and smoky [[bituminous coal]] ("soft coal" or "brown coal") became the main source of power for factories and railroads.
'''Coal mining''' is the process of digging coal out of the ground and bringing it to market.
According to the [[National Academy of Sciences]], "Of all the fossil-fuel sources, coal is the least expensive for its energy content..."<ref>[http://needtoknow.nas.edu/energy/energy-sources/fossil-fuels/coal/ Coal],
National Academy of Sciences website</ref> The Brookings Institution declares: "developing nations see coal as one of the cheapest fuels, offering a much needed solution to rapidly growing electricity demand."<ref>[https://www.brookings.edu/blog/planetpolicy/2015/03/19/the-role-of-coal-in-future-global-energy-needs/ The role of coal in future global energy needs], Brookings Institution, 2015</ref> Coal still dominates in [[Australia]], [[China]] and [[India]] though [[Renewable energy|renewable power]] generation is steadily increasing<ref>https://industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Documents/aes/2015-australian-energy-statistics.pdf</ref><ref>http://ceenews.info/en/power-statistics-china-2016-huge-growth-of-renewables-amidst-thermal-based-generation/</ref> (as of 2017, coal power is also on the rise in at least the latter two countries).<ref>Brown, Matthew; Daigle, Katy (June 26, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/26/coal-rise-china-us-and-india-after-major-2016-drop/ Coal on the rise in China, U.S. and India after major 2016 drop]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 1, 2017.</ref> In 2016, the United States received about 30% its electricity from coal burning plants.<ref>[https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?], U.S government website</ref>
Stephen Moore, in a 2017 ''Townhall'' article entitled ''[[Trump]] Can Make American Energy Dominant'', wrote:
{{Cquote|Coal production this year is up about 15 percent, according to ''The Wall Street Journal'', and mining jobs are back as well. That's thanks to Trump's reversal of [[Obama]]-era regulations meant to bankrupt coal. We need cheap coal to produce steel and other manufactured goods in America, so coal production is basic to keeping blue-collar and hard-hat jobs here at home in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia. Out of necessity, Big Coal is learning how to produce cleaner and cheaper coal every day, as the industry that still supplies nearly one-third of our electricity competes with natural gas.<ref>[https://townhall.com/columnists/stephenmoore/2017/07/04/trump-can-make-american-energy-dominant-n2350095 Trump Can Make American Energy Dominant], Stephen Moore, Townhall, 2017</ref>}}
[[Coal]] has been used for centuries for small-scale furnaces. Around 1800 it became the main energy source for the [[Industrial Revolution]]; after 1850, the expanding railway system of the industrializing countries, especially the U.S. and Britain, became the major users. Britain developed the main techniques of underground mining from the late 18th century onward with further progress being driven by 19th and early 20th century progress.<ref>Freese. (2003)</ref> After 1850 smokeless [[anthracite]] coal ("hard coal") became the main source of heating in cities, and smoky [[bituminous coal]] ("soft coal" or "brown coal") became the main source of power for factories and railroads.
By 1900 the United States and Britain were the chief producers, followed by Germany.
By 1900 the United States and Britain were the chief producers, followed by Germany.
[[Image:Miners1911.jpg|thumb|550px|power drills (left) replaced hand picks (right about 1910, and greatly increased productivity]]
[[Image:Miners1911.jpg|thumb|550px|power drills (left) replaced hand picks (right about 1910, and greatly increased productivity]]
Since 1890 coal has also been a political and social issue. Coal miners' labor unions became powerful in many countries in the 20th century. Often, the miners were leaders of the left or Socialist movements (as in Britain, Germany, Poland, Japan, Canada and the U.S.) <ref>Geoff Eley, ''Forging Democracy: The History of the Left in Europe, 1850-2000'' (2002); Frederic Meyers, ''European Coal Mining Unions: structure and function'' (1961) p. 86; Kazuo and Gordon (1997) p 48; Hajo Holborn, ''History of Modern Germany'' (1959) p. 521; David Frank, ''J. B. McLachlan: A Biography: The Story of a Legendary Labour Leader and the Cape Breton Coal Miners,'' (1999) p, 69; David Montgomery, ''The fall of the house of labor: the workplace, the state, and American labor activism, 1865-1925'' (1991) p 343.</ref> Since 1970, environmental issues have been paramount, including the health of miners, destruction of the landscape from strip mines and mountaintop removal mining, air pollution, and contribution to global warming.
Since 1890 coal has also been a political and social issue. Coal miners' labor unions became powerful in many countries in the 20th century. Often, the miners were leaders of the left or Socialist movements (as in Britain, Germany, Poland, Japan, Canada and the U.S.) <ref>Geoff Eley, ''Forging Democracy: The History of the Left in Europe, 1850-2000'' (2002); Frederic Meyers, ''European Coal Mining Unions: structure and function'' (1961) p. 86; Kazuo and Gordon (1997) p 48; Hajo Holborn, ''History of Modern Germany'' (1959) p. 521; David Frank, ''J. B. McLachlan: A Biography: The Story of a Legendary Labour Leader and the Cape Breton Coal Miners,'' (1999) p, 69; David Montgomery, ''The fall of the house of labor: the workplace, the state, and American labor activism, 1865-1925'' (1991) p 343.</ref> Since 1970, environmental issues have been paramount, including the health of miners, destruction of the landscape from strip mines and mountaintop removal mining, and air pollution. But all forms of energy must be weighed using a cost/benefit analysis since various forms of energy have various costs/benefits (including [[opportunity cost]]). For example. [[Spain]] had significant economic problems because they invested in green/renewable energy projects which were not economically viable.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2011/november/spains-green-disaster-a-lesson-for-america/?mobile=false Spain's Green Disaster a Lesson for America], CBN News</ref> In addition, newer coal burning power plants with "scrubbing" technology can reduce harmful emissions by 90%, even when burning low-quality coal which contains more sulfter.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2014/04/24/solar-is-booming-but-will-never-replace-coal/#350ce63c6ebb Solar Power Is Booming, But Will Never Replace Coal. Here's Why.], Forbes, 2014</ref> Furthermore, coal helps keep natural gas price spikes lower due to it providing a competing source of energy.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2014/04/24/solar-is-booming-but-will-never-replace-coal/#350ce63c6ebb Solar Power Is Booming, But Will Never Replace Coal. Here's Why.], Forbes, 2014</ref>
Since the beginning of the 21st century, coal has been on a significant decline as a source of plentiful and inexpensive electrical power generation. With the advent of cheaper renewable energy and efficient natural gas generators, coal is no longer the dominant source in Europe, North America, and Russia. <ref> http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/energy-industry/electricity-generation.</ref> <ref>html https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/html/epa_08_04.html </ref><ref>https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3</ref> <ref>http://www.electricity.ca/media/pdfs/EnvironmentallyPreferrablePower/2-powergenerationincanada.pdf</ref> <ref>http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Gross-electricity-production-by-fuel-GWh-EU28-2014-TABLE.png</ref> <ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-19/europe-s-coal-power-is-disappearing-quicker-than-anyone-thought </ref> <ref> http://factsanddetails.com/russia/Education_Health_Transportation_Energy/sub9_6c/entry-5153.html</ref>
==Early history==
==Early history==
==China==
==China==
Coal produces over 80% of [[China|China's]] energy; 2.3 billion metric tons of coal were mined in 2007. Despite the health risks posed by severe air pollution in cities (see [[Beijing]]) and international pressure to reduce greenhouse emissions, China’s coal consumption is projected to increase in line with its rapid economic growth. Most of the coal is mined in the western provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi and the northwestern region of Inner Mongolia. However most coal customers are located in the industrialized southeastern and central coastal provinces, so coal must be hauled long distances on China’s vast but overextended rail network. More than 40% of rail capacity is devoted to moving coal, and the country has been investing heavily in new lines and cargo-handling facilities in an attempt to keep up with demand. Despite these efforts, China has suffered persistent power shortages in industrial centers for more than five years as electricity output failed to meet demand from a booming economy. Demand for electricity increased 14% in 2007. Severe snowstorms in late January 2008 seriously disrupted the rail and electrical systems, at a time when some 200 million city workers were attempting to visit their home villages during the Lunar New Year holiday.<ref>David Lague, "Chinese Blizzards Reveal Rail Limits," [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/world/asia/01china.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin ''New York Times'' Feb. 1, 2008]</ref>
Coal produces over 80% of [[China|China's]] energy; 2.3 billion metric tons of coal were mined in 2007. Despite the health risks posed by severe air pollution in cities (see [[Beijing]]) and international pressure to reduce greenhouse emissions, China’s coal consumption is projected to increase in line with its rapid economic growth. Most of the coal is mined in the western provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi and the northwestern region of Inner Mongolia. However most coal customers are located in the industrialized southeastern and central coastal provinces, so coal must be hauled long distances on China’s vast but overextended rail network. More than 40% of rail capacity is devoted to moving coal, and the country has been investing heavily in new lines and cargo-handling facilities in an attempt to keep up with demand. Despite these efforts, China has suffered persistent power shortages in industrial centers for more than five years as electricity output failed to meet demand from a booming economy. Demand for electricity increased 14% in 2007. Severe snowstorms in late January 2008 seriously disrupted the rail and electrical systems, at a time when some 200 million city workers were attempting to visit their home villages during the Lunar New Year holiday.<ref>David Lague, "Chinese Blizzards Reveal Rail Limits," [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/world/asia/01china.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin ''New York Times'' Feb. 1, 2008]</ref>
==2008==
==2008==
* Fine, B. ''The Coal Question: Political Economy and Industrial Change from the Nineteenth Century to the Present Day'' (1990)
* Fine, B. ''The Coal Question: Political Economy and Industrial Change from the Nineteenth Century to the Present Day'' (1990)
* Flinn, Michael W. and David Stoker. ''History of the British Coal Industry : Volume 2. 1700-1830: The Industrial Revolution'' (1984)
* Flinn, Michael W. and David Stoker. ''History of the British Coal Industry : Volume 2. 1700-1830: The Industrial Revolution'' (1984)
* Galloway, Robert Lindsay. ''A history of coal mining in Great Britain'' (1882) [http://books.google.com/books?id=2DsDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:Galloway+inauthor:Robert+inauthor:Lindsay&num=30&as_brr=1 online from Google.books]
* Galloway, Robert Lindsay. ''A history of coal mining in Great Britain'' (1882) [https://books.google.com/books?id=2DsDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:Galloway+inauthor:Robert+inauthor:Lindsay&num=30&as_brr=1 online from Google.books]
* Hatcher, John. '' The History of the British Coal Industry: Volume 1: Before 1700: Towards the Age of Coal'' (1993)
* Hatcher, John. '' The History of the British Coal Industry: Volume 1: Before 1700: Towards the Age of Coal'' (1993)
* Heinemann, Margot. ''Britain's coal: A study of the mining crisis'' (1944)
* Heinemann, Margot. ''Britain's coal: A study of the mining crisis'' (1944)
* Hull, Edward. ''The Coal-fields of Great Britain: Their History, Structure and Resources: With Descriptions'' 1905 [http://books.google.com/books?id=G3w2SnWMamMC&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:Edward+inauthor:Hull&num=30&as_brr=1 online edition from Google.books]
* Hull, Edward. ''The Coal-fields of Great Britain: Their History, Structure and Resources: With Descriptions'' 1905 [https://books.google.com/books?id=G3w2SnWMamMC&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:Edward+inauthor:Hull&num=30&as_brr=1 online edition from Google.books]
* Jaffe, James Alan. ''The Struggle for Market Power: Industrial Relations in the British Coal Industry, 1800-1840'' (2003)
* Jaffe, James Alan. ''The Struggle for Market Power: Industrial Relations in the British Coal Industry, 1800-1840'' (2003)
* Jevons, W. Stanley. ''The Coal Question: An Inquiry Concerning the Progress of the Nation, and the Probable Exhaustion of Our Coal Mines'' (1906). [http://serv.ul.cs.cmu.edu/zoom/record.html?id=15551 online edition]
* Jevons, W. Stanley. ''The Coal Question: An Inquiry Concerning the Progress of the Nation, and the Probable Exhaustion of Our Coal Mines'' (1906). [http://serv.ul.cs.cmu.edu/zoom/record.html?id=15551 online edition]
[[Image:WY-COAL.JPG|thumb|300px|left| Today Wyoming is the U.S. leading producer, using giant equipment]]
[[Image:WY-COAL.JPG|thumb|300px|left| Today Wyoming is the U.S. leading producer, using giant equipment]]
====Industry====
====Industry====
* Adams, Sean Patrick. "The US Coal Industry in the Nineteenth Century."] EH.Net Encyclopedia, August 15, 2001 scholarly overview [http://eh.net/encyclopedia/?article=adams.industry.coal.us online edition]
* Adams, Sean Patrick. "The US Coal Industry in the Nineteenth Century." EH.Net Encyclopedia, August 15, 2001 scholarly overview [http://eh.net/encyclopedia/?article=adams.industry.coal.us online edition]
* Adams, Sean Patrick. ''Old Dominion, Industrial Commonwealth: Coal, Politics, and Economy in Antebellum America''. (2004_.
* Adams, Sean Patrick. ''Old Dominion, Industrial Commonwealth: Coal, Politics, and Economy in Antebellum America''. (2004_.
* Binder, Frederick Moore. ''Coal Age Empire: Pennsylvania Coal and Its Utilization to 1860''. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1974.
* Binder, Frederick Moore. ''Coal Age Empire: Pennsylvania Coal and Its Utilization to 1860''. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1974.
* [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104256174 Dan Rottenberg, ''In the Kingdom of Coal: An American Family and the Rock That Changed the World'' (2003)], owners' perspective
* [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104256174 Dan Rottenberg, ''In the Kingdom of Coal: An American Family and the Rock That Changed the World'' (2003)], owners' perspective
* Schurr, Sam H. and Bruce C. Netschert. ''Energy in the American Economy, 1850-1975: An Economic Study of Its History and Prospects.'' (1960).
* Schurr, Sam H. and Bruce C. Netschert. ''Energy in the American Economy, 1850-1975: An Economic Study of Its History and Prospects.'' (1960).
* United States Anthracite Coal Strike Commission, 1902-1903, ''Report to the President on the Anthracite Coal Strike of May–October, 1902 By United States Anthracite Coal Strike'' (1903) [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC65212138&id=3t0JAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA7&lpg=RA2-PA7&dq=Report+to+the+President+on+the+Anthracite+Coal+Strike online edition]
* United States Anthracite Coal Strike Commission, 1902-1903, ''Report to the President on the Anthracite Coal Strike of May–October, 1902 By United States Anthracite Coal Strike'' (1903) [https://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC65212138&id=3t0JAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA7&lpg=RA2-PA7&dq=Report+to+the+President+on+the+Anthracite+Coal+Strike online edition]
* Vietor, Richard H. K. and Martin V. Melosi; ''Environmental Politics and the Coal Coalition'' [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=3560720 1980 online]
* Vietor, Richard H. K. and Martin V. Melosi; ''Environmental Politics and the Coal Coalition'' [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=3560720 1980 online]
* Warren, Kenneth. ''Triumphant Capitalism: Henry Clay Frick and the Industrial Transformation of America''. U. of Pittsburgh Press, 1996.
* Warren, Kenneth. ''Triumphant Capitalism: Henry Clay Frick and the Industrial Transformation of America''. U. of Pittsburgh Press, 1996.
====notes====
====notes====
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Coal mining]]
[[Category:Coal Mining]]
[[Category:Economic History]]
[[Category:Economic History]]
[[Category:Business]]
[[Category:Business]]
[[Category:Energy]]
[[Category:Energy]]