The United States has about a 235-year supply of coal, if it continues using coal at the same rate at which it uses coal today. Montana is the state with the most coal reserves (119 billion tons). But Wyoming is the top coal-producing stateâit produced over 400 million tons in 2012. Texas is the top coal-consuming state. It uses about 100 million tons each year. The average coal miner is 45 years old and has 16 years of experience. Coal ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, is used as filler for tennis rackets, golf balls, and linoleum. U.S. coal deposits contain more energy than that of all the worldâs conventional oil reserves.
Marbleizing or faux marbling is the preparation and finishing of a surface to imitate the appearance of polished marble. It is typically used in buildings where the cost or weight of genuine marble would be prohibitive.
Unlike quarried stone, cultured stone is cast in molds to create specific pieces such as bathtubs, sinks, countertops, backsplashes, moldings and trim, shower walls and shower pans. The molds are lined with a special gel coat that bonds to the mixture, creating a very hard, transparent surface. Durable â Cultured marble is non-porous, making it extremely tough and resistant to stains, mildew and chips. 2  Economical â In general, cultured marble is less expensive to fabricate and install than slab marble, but will increase the overall value of a home just as natural stone products will.