Coal Ore

Coal Ore is a mineral block that drops coal lumps when mined. One can also acquire large amounts of experience by mining coal.

Obtaining
Coal ore is generated naturally in veins between stone blocks, much like other ores. It is a common sight on almost all maps, and can be found at almost any elevation, from cliff faces, through underground caves and sea bottoms, down to bedrock. On average, there are about 142.6 coal ores per chunk. It is the only ore to appear well above sea level; coal ore comprises about 1% of all stone, regardless of altitude. Coal veins can vary greatly in size — mountaintop deposits are usually five blocks at most, but underground ones are generally at least ten blocks, and can range up to 64.

Coal ore blocks can only be obtained with a pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch.

Usage
When mined with a pickaxe that does not have the Silk Touch enchantment, a coal ore block drops a piece of coal, and sometimes an experience orb. The Fortune enchantment applies to coal ore blocks, i.e. mining coal with it may yield more than one lump per block.

Can also be used for making torches.

As a smelting ingredient
Note: Smelting the ore instead of mining it is highly inefficient, as it would require fuel to acquire the coal, which is the exact purpose of obtaining this ore in the first place.