Coal mines are places where coal, a fossil fuel, is extracted from the ground. Coal is formed from ancient plant material that has been buried and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. It is primarily used for electricity generation and in industries like steel production. There are two main types of coal mining: surface mining and underground mining. Surface mining involves removing the soil and rock above the coal seam, while underground mining requires digging tunnels to reach the coal. Both methods have environmental impacts, including habitat destruction and air pollution.