Coal Geology

Coal in a Nutshell

What coal is, where and how it forms, and the story it tells geologists.

Coal in the Home

Americans don't burn coal at home any more, but it still works for most of the world.

The Carboniferous Coal Forests

An online exhibit from the Hooper Virtual Natural History Museum.

Coal in Appalachian Railroad Modeling

Now this is a specialist site: Dan Bourque covers the basics of coal mining and shipping so your model train will look exactly right.

Coal in the Carboniferous

Monte Hieb wrote this long, illustrated treatment of how coal formed during the Carboniferous Period. Follow the links to his fossil photos.

Atlas of Coal Macerals

Look on the left sash for the Coal Macerals tutorial, from John Crelling of Southern Illinois University.

Coal Glossary

About 200 different terms from the U.S. Department of Energy.