EGEE 101
Energy and the Environment

Where is Coal Located?

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Coal Fields in Pennsylvania

There are a few mining operations (historic) in northern Centre County (where the University Park Campus is located) but coal occupies much of the western portion of the state (bituminous rank) with a smaller but well-defined anthracite region in the north-east.

Map of PA showing the bituminous coal field occupying nearly all of the western portion of the state, and the much smaller (area) for the anthracite fields in the north east.
Map of the Pennsylvania distribution of Coal.
Credit: USGS

US Coal Fields

Coal is well dispersed throughout the continental United States. We have about 25% of the World's reserve of coal, and all the various coal ranks. The yellow is lignite, pale green is subbituminous coal, the other colors are various bituminous ranks, except the orange in NE Pennsylvania which is anthracite.

Map of the U.S., showing the age of its coal deposits.
Map of the US showing Geologic Age of Coal.
Credit: USGS

Here is a global view of the deposits. The major coal regions (and users) are China, the U.S., India, Europe, and Australia (major exporter).

View of the global deposits of coal
Map of global coal deposits
Credit The Open University

The take-away message from this now dated graphic below is that Asia (specifically China) is the highest user for most of the Worlds Coal (still true in 2021). The growth was related to the transformation to an economic powerhouse and increased electricfication.

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World coal consumption by region, 1980 - 2010

We also have lots of coal, far more than the energy in oil (shown in red) and natural gas (shown in brown) in the U.S., Asia (China and India), Europe, etc.

Location of the worls's main fossil fuel reserves (Mtoe) See link in caption for text description
Coal is much more plentiful in North America, Europe and Eurasia, India, China, Asia Pacific, and Australia than oil or natural gas.
Credit: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2018 (WCA Analysis)

There is also a robust international trade in coal (see the coal transport page later in this lesson).