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History
When was coal discovered as a source of heat?
Traces of it appear in copper smelting ash pits dating back to the second millennium b.c.e.3 Textbooks state that coal was first discovered in North America on the banks of the Illinois River in 1701. 9 Contravening this assumption is evidence gathered during archaeological explorations of the aboriginal villages of the Southwest. Hopi Indians settled along the ridge of Jeddito Valley around 1200 c.e., and used coal for both heating and firing pottery. 4More than 27,000 tons of coal were mined close to Awatovi and the total for the whole Jeddito Valley probably exceeded 100,000 tons. Over 90 percent of the coal was carried to the houses for fuel. Comparatively little was used for firing pottery. The
5use of coal was an important
aspect of the culture of the Hopis in this region in Pueblo III, IV and V time. The utilization of coal may have been an accidental discovery, but the technique of mining demonstrates the ingenuity and industry of the Hopis.
Extracting coal remained a benign occupation until the demands of steam locomotion turned it into a major industry. From its modest beginnings, coal mining became a critical part of the national product. Until the 1950's, when it was eclipsed by diesel fuels and oil, coal tonnage served as a proxy for manufacturing capacity in the United States.
11 New processes of distillation and beneficiation gave rise to new applications. Heat from coke-fired blast furnaces produces cast iron, which in turn strengthens and enriches steel. Metal alloys depend on the consistent bloom for heat-treating, reducing, hardening and smelting processes. Coal-fired boilers supply heat for cement plants, steam for manufacturing and the temperature/pressure gradient that speeds chemical reactions.Coal byproducts in 1930's
100
years of New Mexico coal production:
Looking Ahead:
The environmental costs of producing and using coal stand out like smokestacks on the horizon. Fragile landscapes are threatened with incursions for proposed exploration and development to increase capacity. It's dirty; it's harmful to lungs, to aquifers and air quality. Unfortunately, the cleaner alternatives are not available or not affordable at present for most households. Coal mines, generating plants and furnaces are landmarks of the 21st century horizon. Their impact may extend well beyond, perhaps into a future world, where heat comes clean and coal stays in the ground.
Bay Stevens February, 2002
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