Kivisütt

Kivisütt is a term historically used in Estonian to denote coal, a combustible sedimentary rock composed primarily of carbon and used as a fuel. The word combines elements meaning "stone" and "carbon/coal" and has been applied to various types of fossil coal in common parlance and older literature.

Coal forms from the accumulation and compaction of plant material in anaerobic conditions over geological time. Burial, heat and pressure gradually transform peat into lignite, then bituminous coal, and ultimately anthracite under higher-grade metamorphic conditions. The physical and chemical properties of coal vary by rank and influence its energy content and industrial applications.

Major uses of coal have included electricity generation, steelmaking (as coking coal), industrial heat, and domestic heating. Coal extraction methods include surface mining (open-pit and strip mining) and underground mining, each with distinct economic and safety considerations. Coal quality is assessed by parameters such as calorific value, moisture, volatile matter, sulfur, and ash content.

Coal production and combustion have significant environmental and health impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution (particulates, SO2, NOx), water contamination, and land disturbance. These effects have driven policy shifts, emissions regulation, and transitions toward cleaner energy sources and mitigation technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration.

In cultural and historical contexts, coal has played a central role in industrialization and regional development where deposits were accessible. Contemporary discussion around coal—or terms like kivisütt—often focuses on balancing economic uses with environmental and climate objectives.