With illustrations from drawings by the author.

The Riverside Library for Young People, number 5.

Release date is 2022-10-11

In the beginning -- The composition of coal -- When coal was formed -- How the coal beds lie -- The discovery of coal -- The introduction of coal into use -- The way into the mines -- A plan of a coal mine -- The miner at work -- When the mine roof falls -- Air and water in the mines -- The dangerous gases -- The anthracite coal breaker -- In the bituminous coal mines -- The boy workers at the mines -- Miners and their wages.

Donald Cummings with images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.

"Coal and the Coal Mines" by Homer Greene is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. This work explores the geological processes behind coal formation, the structure of coal beds, and the development of the coal mining industry, particularly in the U.S. The book emphasizes the importance of coal as a natural resource and its historical significance to economic growth. The opening of the book introduces readers to the fundamental question of how mineral coal was formed and sets the stage for an exploration of geological history, beginning with theories like the Nebular Hypothesis. Greene discusses the layers of the Earth’s crust and the role of ancient vegetation in creating the coal deposits that we mine today. He also touches on the major geological periods, leading up to the Carboniferous age, during which the coal plants thrived, giving way to a rich narrative on the complexities and the environment that fostered the eventual creation of coal over millions of years. The text is rich in scientific detail yet aims to remain accessible, illustrating Greene's intent to provide a comprehensive understanding of coal mining’s intricate nature to a broad audience. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: United States: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1889