Coal – the rock that made Barnsley rock
Hull Geological Society
Webinar
Tony Felski
3rd May 2023, 7.30 pm
Part of Yorkshire Geology Month
Abstract
Since the industrial revolution Until recent times coal has been the principal fuel for industrial ( electricity generation, metallurgical, etc.) use. Cool is formed by the geochemical transformation of peat. The properties of the coal formed is influenced by the type of vegetation from which the peat was formed, the depositional environment and subsequent geological conditions and effects. Most of the world coal forming peat was deposited during the Carboniferous. some 280 to 320 million years ago, though coal formation continued since that time it is more limited in extent. Extraction methods have varied from hand tools used close to the surface to modern mechanized surface and deep mining. Though the future use of coal seems uncertain there are still industries that may have to rely on it in the longer term which may result in the return of deep coal mining to the UK.