Kentucky's State Rock: Coal

 

Scientifically coal is a rock, not a mineral. In 2024, Governor Beshear signed House Bill 378 to have coal identified as the State Rock.

Bituminous coal is mined in two coal fields; the Western Kentucky Coal Field and the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. Coal is mined because coal is a rock that burns. Most of the coal mined in Kentucky is burned to produce electricity at power plants. From 1971 to 1988, Kentucky was the leading producer of coal in the United States. Peak production was in 1990, when 173 million tons were produced. Much less coal is currently mined. Nearly 10 billion tons of coal have been mined from Kentucky since 1790.

Download Coal Fact Sheet for a summary of coal in Kentucky

Learn more about Coal, https://www.uky.edu/KGS/coal/