Black Gold! Also known as a lump of coal.
Coal Ore is a mineral that is a common sight on servers. It is found inside caves, cliffsides and underground. A lump of coal can be mined from it using a wooden pickaxe or better. Combined with a stick it can be crafted into a torch or be used as fuel in a furnace.
As of now 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, it is a very common ore to find and the only ore to appear well above sea level.