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Coal mining regions are significant resource extraction industries in many parts of the world. They provide a large amount of the fossil fuel energy in the world economy. The People's Republic of China is the largest producer of coal in the world, while the United States contains the world's largest 'recoverable' coal reserves (followed by Pakistan,〔(Experts suggest ways of exploiting Thar coal deposits )〕 Russia, China, and India).〔(US Energy Information Administration: ''World estimated recoverable coal'' ), Excel spreadsheet, downloaded 27 January 2009.〕 China and the United States are also among the largest coal consumers. Other important coal producing countries include Australia, India, South Africa, and Russia. A coal-mining region is a region in which coal mining is a significant economic activity. Coal-mining regions are often associated with the social, environmental and cultural impact of coal mining. ==United States== Coal mining in the United States has historically had economic and cultural dominance in regions such as the Allegheny Mountains and Appalachian Mountains, where it was a major part of identity and traditions. The replacement of workers by mechanization has had major consequences for the industry and for the people it affects. Coal is mined in the Appalachian Mountains region, and the Midwest. Most coal now produced in the United States is mined in western surface mines, especially in Wyoming's Powder River Basin.〔http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table1.html〕 A surface mining method often used in the Appalachians is mountaintop removal mining. The states with the largest recoverable coal reserves are, in descending order, Wyoming, West Virginia, Illinois, and Montana.〔(US Energy Information Administration: ''Recoverable coal reserves and average annuay recovery percentage at producing mines by state, 2006, 2005'' ), PDF file, downloaded 27 January 2009.〕 The largest single mine in the United States is the North Antolope Rachelle near Gillette, Wyoming; it produces more coal annually than many states. In 2009, it alone produced over 100 million tons of coal, and has plans to produce 130 million ton in 2012 more than 23 other coal producing states including Pennsylvania.〔http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table1.html〕 Areas with significant coal mining activities include: * Coal Region of Pennsylvania - One of the largest deposits of anthracite coal, the region is in Northeastern Pennsylvania, in the central Appalachian Mountains comprising Lackawanna, Luzerne, Columbia, Carbon, Schuylkill, Northumberland, and the extreme northeast corner of Dauphin counties. Major population centers include Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Pottsville * West Virginia - see economy of West Virginia * Eastern Mountain Coal Fields and Western Coal Fields of Kentucky * Southern Illinois Coal Fields, including the Harrisburg Coal Field * Colorado - including Denver Basin. - ''(see Coal mining in Colorado)'' * Powder River Basin - ''(see Coal mining in Wyoming)'' * Raton Basin 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Coal-mining region」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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