Since early in history, mankind has drawn on the earth’s resources of energy to satisfy a variety of needs in daily life. The majority of this energy has traditionally been drawn from the world’s supplies of fossil fuels (coal and petroleum) and, despite developments ш nuclear technology or solar power, this trend is likely to continue well into the forseeabk Future. The mining of coal is an essential component in rhe economy of many countries, both to supply the needs of their own industries and, in some cases, the industries of others less welt endowed with energy resources as well. <...>

Coal is a type of solid-state combustible organic rock, which is transformed from plant remains by complex biochemistry, physical chemistry and geochemistry effects also known as the coal-forming process. Through deposition, coal eventually forms a seam within coal measure strata.

This book arises from a two day international conference held at the Geological Society of London in November 1998. The meeting was organized with the purpose of bringing together sedimentologists, geomorphologists, archaeologists, environmental scientists and environmental managers to discuss recent research and topical issues relating to the interactions between natural processes, morphology and human activities in coastal and estuarine environments. More than 200 delegates, from 16 countries, attended the meeting over the course of the two days, stimulating lively discussion both about basic scientific issues and management implications. The meeting was sponsored by the British Sedimentological Research Group, the British Geomorphological Research Group, and English Heritage, and was also supported by the Environmental Sedimentology Committee of the International Association of Sedimentologists. The editors would like to thank these organizations, together with staff at the Geological Society and numerous daily helpers, especially postgraduate students and others from the University of Reading, for their generous assistance in making the meeting a great success

Here is the first complete manual on Coastal Geology. A book that gathers the knowledge of more than a century of research on different geological aspects of the coast: dynamics of geological processes, geomorphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy. They are also reflected from the applications of these sciences to the social problems and challenges of the communities occupying coastal areas. This manual collects many of my research experiences on different shores of the world, but almost everything written in this book I learned in other books.