Coal mining | Definition, History, Types, Facts | Britannica
WEBJun 3, 2024 · Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel on Earth. Its predominant use has always been for producing heat energy. It was the basic energy source that fueled the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the industrial growth of that era in turn supported the largescale exploitation of coal deposits. Since the mid20th century, .