Minerals Ed
Coal and Metal Mining in Bc
A map of British Columbia that shows the locations of all the coal and metal mining operation in British Columbia in 2008. Each coal and mining operation is linked to a secondary web page that provides detailed information on the various...
US Energy Information Administration
U.s. Eia Energy Kids: Coal
Easy-to-understand information on mining and transporting coal, producing it, uses of coal, and coal and the environment.
Other
Arkansas Geological Survey: Lignite
Article on lignite that includes general information as well as a history of lignite mining and a summary of the geology of lignite deposits. The second section presents more detailed information about lignite geology in Arkansas.
Other
American Coal Foundation: Lesson Plan: History of Coal in the u.s.
Students will learn about the history of coal mining in the United States by examining a timeline of key dates. For this two-part lesson, they will do research to discover why the coal industry is important to the economy and what types...
Other
American Coal Foundation: Coal Energy Facts
Comprehensive overview of why coal is a major source of energy in the United States. Find out what coal is, what it is used for, how it is mined, where coal reserves are located, and how it is converted into electricity.
US Department of Energy
U.s. Department of Energy: Coal: Our Most Abundant Fuel
The U.S. has enough coal to last for the next 200-300 years. So why are we not using more of it? This article describes the different types or "ranks" of coal, the history, and the problems with burning coal for energy.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source: Boomtimes: 20th Century Mining Mojave Desert
This collection uses primary sources to explore twentieth-century mining in the Mojave Desert.
Other
International Peat Society
An interesting site with a lot of information on peatlands and peat.
Other
Athro, Limited: Formation of Coal
Describes how coal is formed using a chart and great pictures.
Other
Appalachian Voices: I Love Mountains: What Is Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining?
Explains what mountaintop coal mining is, the stages involved, where it is being done in the United States, and the impact on local communities and the environment.
Other
World Coal Association: Coal Mining
Find out about the effects of coal mining on the environment, the rehabilitation of land after mining, and proper mining management.
Other
Interview With Melissa Fay Greene
Melissa Fay Greene is the author of "Last Man Out: The Story of the Springhill Mine Disaster" a book published in 2004 about the 1958 Springhill Mine Disaster. Ms. Greene is an accomplished American author and National Book Award...
Other
The Industrial Revolution: Changes in Society
A guided website which covers the major aspects of the Industrial Revolution from about 1750 until 1830. Areas such as industry, agriculture are explored.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Activities: Cookie Mining
An activity where students simulate the process of extracting coal from the ground using chocolate chip cookies. They then calculate the costs involved to determine whether coal mining is profitable.
Google
Google Earth: Appalachian Voices
This site contains information about a nonprofit organization that is protecting the resources of the central and southern Appalachian region.
Ohio State University
E History: Coal Mining in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
A look into the coal mining industry in the Gilded Age through maps, timelines, images, and primary source documents.
Ohio State University
E History: Hazards of 19th Century Coal Mining
Information from an Ohio State University site. You can read about the many hazards coal miners in the 19th century faced while digging coal to fuel the emerging industry of America.
Other
Lehigh University: The Molly Maguires
An interesting site compiled by a Lehigh University undergraduate student, regarding a secret mining organization known as the "Molly Maguires" who operated in the Pennsylvania coal mines during the latter part of the 19th century.
Other
Mine Safety and Health Administration: Our Page for Kids
Site from the Mine Safety and Health Administration that aims at teaching children about mining, prospecting, mine safety, and what the human body needs from natural resources.
University of Kentucky
Kentucky Geological Survey: How Is Coal Formed?
Describes the evolution of dead plant matter into coal.
Other
American Coal Foundation: Lesson Plan: Transporting Coal
Using a variety of learning activities and related materials, students will discover where coal is mined and the different ways it is transported to power plants or steel mills where it is used. Students will then map out their own...
Other
World Coal Institute: Coal Mining
Discusses methods used to mine for coal. Click on 'Coal Mining' section of WCI report 'The Coal Resource' at the bottom of the page for a PDF file that describes coal mining processes in more detail.
University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey: Coal Mining
Easy-to-understand information and a colorful diagram on the underground and surface mining methods used for extracting coal.
Indiana University
Indiana Univ. Bloomington: Geo Notes: History of Coal Mining in Indiana [Pdf]
A brief history of coal mining in Indiana.