Includes bibliographical references and index.

The importance of coal -- Coal and electric utilities -- A framework for analysis -- PART ONE: Origin and properties: Background -- Origin of coal -- Process of coal formation -- Biochemical phase -- Geochemical (or dynamochemical) phase -- Physical properties -- Density -- Physical constitution -- Heating value -- Chemical properties -- Classes of coal analyses -- Ultimate analysis -- Minor or trace elements -- Proximate analysis -- Mineral matter -- Explosives used in coal production -- Types -- Trends -- Forecast -- Implications -- External effects of surface mining -- Rehabilitation of spoil banks -- Suspended sediment in streams -- Revegetation -- Spoil character -- Spoil chemistry -- Assessment of the future of surface coal mining -- TRENDS IN COAL PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY: Trends in deep mining methods -- Trends in surface mining methods -- Trends in coal cleaning -- Trends in production by mine capacity -- Trends in employment and production -- TRENDS IN COAL MINE PRODUCTIVITY: Introduction -- The significance of averages -- TRENDS IN PRODUCTIVITY: Introduction -- The significance of averages -- Trends in productivity -- Trends in productivity and employment -- Productivity and technology -- Underground mines -- Surface mines -- Productivity and health and safety -- Apparent relationship between productivity and price -- Summary and outlook regarding productivity -- ROLE OF EXISTING TECHNOLOGY IN COAL PRODUCTION FOR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION: Electric utility coal consumption -- Technology for coal production -- Estimate of future coal extraction technologies -- Projected deployment schedule -- Magnitude of future coal production efforts -- Capital requirements -- Equipment production capacities -- COAL PREPARATION: Costs of coal preparation -- Effect of plant size on preparation costs -- Coal-blending technology -- Introduction -- Basic mathematical relations of coal blending -- Coal-blending costs -- Summary assessment of blending technology -- TRANSPORTATION: Coal transportation by rail -- Unit-train technology -- Technological and operational trends -- Coal transportation by barges -- Motor vehicles -- Pipeline-water slurry -- Background -- Present status -- Effects of coal preparation on transportation modes and costs -- WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR COAL DEVELOPMENT: Unit requirements -- Integrated Requirements -- Prospective water supplies -- Prospective Water Supplies Part Three: UTILIZATION: Coal-fired power plants -- Stokers -- Pulverized-coal systems -- Existing generating capacity, additions, and retirements, 1975 to 2000 -- Existing capacity -- Additions and retirements -- Projected capacity -- Reserve capacity, operating availability, and productivity -- Reserve capacity -- Availability -- Productivity -- COAL CONVERSION PROCESSES: Conventional processes -- Gasification -- Liquefaction -- Estimate of Number of Potential Coal Gasification and Liquefaction Plants in the United States -- Introduction -- Methodology -- Analysis -- Outlook and implications -- UNDERGROUND COAL GASIFICATION: Technical overview -- Approach -- Process phases -- Engineering insights from soviet tests -- Present U.S. underground coal gasification concepts -- Linked vertical well (LVW) process -- Longwall generator (LWG) process -- Packed-bed process -- Advantages and disadvantages of underground coal gasification -- Disadvantages -- Advantages -- Status of Research and Development -- Essential ENGINEERING INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL UCG Projects -- Outlook and implications -- Technology -- Environment -- Product quality -- Economics -- Implications -- ECONOMICS OF COAL UTILIZATION: Reporting and implications -- Technology and clean coal -- Structure of coal markets -- U.S. Supply-Demand Relationships for Coal -- Influencing factors -- Analysis of coal use trends by electric utilities -- Patterns of coal purchases by electric utilities -- Patterns of coal shipments and use by electric utilities -- Prices of coal supplies to electric utilities -- Outlook for coal production and use -- Present conditions -- Outlook -- Detailed analysis -- Comparison of projected coal supply and demand for electric utility use -- FACTORS INFLUENCING COAL DEVELOPMENT: Reserve quantity and quality -- Mining, production, and transportation -- Availability of critical resources -- Appropriate labor participation -- Access to capital -- Research and development.