Coal Ore is a mineral that is a common sight on servers. It is found inside caves, cliff sides and underground. A lump of coal can be mined from Coal ore using a wooden pickaxe or better. Coal lumps can be combined with sticks to make torches or used as fuel in a furnace or Minecart.
In Survival mode, it gives the player 1 to 4 step blocks. In creative mode it can be placed by players as of 0.28.
Currently in Minecraft Alpha, mining coal yields one coal lump. Coal blocks are very common to find and are the only ore to appear well above sea level.