This is an Earthcache. There is no physical container at the posted coordinates, but rather a geological lesson for you to explore. Please review the information on the cache page, then make your way to Ground Zero to make your observations and answer the three questions below. Email your answers to the cache owner by clicking the "message this owner" button above, and once complete, you can log this cache.

Thanks and happy caching!

QUESTIONS

1. What rank of coal is seen here?

2. Locate the largest block of coal surrounding the memorial and describe the texture. How do you think it's formation impacts the weathering you see today?

3. Do you notice any signs of potholing, if so where? Estimate the size and hypothesize, based on the information on the cache page, how the rock might change as it is exposed above ground.

(Required) Post a picture of yourself with the memorial in the background.

The Farmington Mine disaster was an explosion that happened at approximately 5:30 a.m. on November 20, 1968, at the Consol No. 9 coal mine north of Farmington and Mannington, West Virginia, USA. The explosion was large enough to be felt in Fairmont, almost 12 miles away. At the time, 99 miners were inside. Over the next few hours, 21 miners escaped the mine, but 78 were still trapped. All who were unable to escape perished; the bodies of 19 of the dead were never recovered. Today, a memorial stands in rememberance of the incident, giving a glimpse into what life is like deep underground. Here, you'll get the unique opportunity to learn about the importance of coal not only to the region, but to the geological timeline.

Formation of Coal

Coal is a sedimentary rock formed from the accumulation and burial of ancient plant material, usually in swampy environments. Millions of years ago, dense forests and plant debris accumulated in wetlands where oxygen levels were low. Because oxygen is needed for decay, this lack of oxygen allowed the plant matter to build up instead of rotting away. Over time, layers of sediment buried the organic material, and the increasing pressure and heat slowly transformed it through a process called coalification.

Unlike most other sedimentary rocks that form from compacted minerals such as sand or mud, coal forms primarily from carbon-rich plant material. The pressure and heat from burial squeeze out water and gases, concentrating the carbon. This is why coal is classified as an organic sedimentary rock, different from inorganic ones like sandstone or shale.

Weathering and Breakdown of Coal

Coal, although hard and dense, is not as resistant to weathering as many other rocks. Exposure to air and moisture causes it to break down through oxidation and physical disintegration. Oxygen reacts with the carbon and sulfur in coal, forming oxides and acids that weaken the rock. Rainwater and temperature changes further cause the coal to crack, crumble, and lose its shine. This natural weathering is one reason coal seams exposed at the surface tend to erode faster than most other rock layers.

The same properties that make coal relatively easy to break down by weathering also make it ideal for burning as a fuel. When coal is ignited, the carbon-rich material reacts quickly with oxygen, releasing large amounts of heat energy. This makes coal one of the most important fossil fuels ever used for human energy production.

Ranks (Types) of Coal

Coal occurs in several ranks, or stages, depending on how much pressure, heat, and time it has experienced:

1. Peat – The earliest stage; partially decayed plant material found in bogs. Not yet coal, but the raw material for it.

2. Lignite (Brown Coal) – Soft and crumbly with low carbon content and high moisture. Burns easily but produces less energy.

3. Bituminous Coal – The most common rank. Harder, darker, and richer in carbon, it burns hotter and cleaner.

4. Anthracite – The highest rank, formed under the greatest heat and pressure. It has the highest carbon content and burns the hottest with little smoke.

Each rank represents a step in the coalification process, moving from soft and water-rich to hard and energy-dense.

Coal in West Virginia

West Virginia, often called the Mountain State, sits atop vast deposits of bituminous coal. These coal beds formed during the Pennsylvanian Period, around 300 million years ago, when the region was a warm, swampy lowland near the equator. Over time, the Appalachian Mountains rose, folding and faulting the rock layers but preserving thick coal seams underground.

Because of this unique geologic history, abundant ancient vegetation, repeated burial by sediments, and mountain-building forces, West Virginia became one of the most coal-rich regions in the world. The state’s coal has fueled industries, powered cities, and shaped both its economy and culture for over a century.