History of Illinois Coal Mines - Coal and Coal Mining by ...
2019-5-6 · In 1920, 0.6% of the 73,920,653 tons produced by the bituminous coal industry in Illinois was produced by strip mining methods. In 1953, 36.29% of the 45,966,114 tons of bituminous coal produced was mined by stripping. Coal being a non-renewable natural resource, strip mining is a conservation measure.