Coal Geology

Coal is used primarily as a fuel. While coal has been known and used for thousands of years, its usage was limited until the industrial revolution. With the invention of the steam engine, coal consumption increased. The extraction and use of coal causes premature death and illness. The use of coal damages the environment, and it is the largest anthropogenic source of carbon dioxide contributing to climate change. Fourteen billion tons of carbon dioxide was emitted by burning coal in 2020, which is 40% of the total fossil fuel emissions and over 25% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.