The book is on the functioning and problems of the Zonguldak Coalfield situated in Zonguldak, a town at the Black Sea region of Turkey. While there were attempts to close the mine for high cost of coal production the Gurol (the author) opposed the idea depending on the possibility of the emergence of future technologies that could lower cost and make the production feasible. He also recommended a local organization, guidance and management of the mine. (Today Hema company in Turkey has plans to produce metan gas from coal). Published in 1997 the book is based on 1995 figures, consisting of sections on global coal mining, EU coal policies, Turkey's policies, history, management and rehabilitation efforts, beyond views of certain groups on the future and policies on the subject.