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Great Britain also had a readily available treasure trove of coal and iron ore, key ingredients needed in the manufacturing enterprises. Coal had early replaced Great Britain’s rapidly dwindling supply of wood as a source of heating, but the Industrial Revolution brought new applications such as the generation of steam power. Great Britain sat atop a large seam of coal that stretched from the British Isles through Belgium and France and across northwestern Europe. It is noteworthy that the most advanced industrial development in Europe occurred along this rich seam of coal. Great Britain mined an ever increasing amount of coal: in 1700, 3 million tons a year (six times the rest of the world combined); in 1800, 11 million tons; in 1830, 22 million tons; in 1845, 44 million tons; and in 1870, more than 100 million tons.2 The existence of such large deposits of coal provided Great Britain’s growing industrial base with sufficient fuel to power rapid and widespread expansion. During the 17th century, small scale manufacturers had discovered how to produce coke from coal through the use of special ovens that heated and concentrated the coal. This coke was then used in place of the former wood-derived charcoal to smelt iron ore. This process became more proficient as sophisticated furnace designs appeared and steam blasting made the process more efficient. The growth of the iron industry had other major impacts. It stimulated the mining industry so that sufficient coal could be harvested for the iron smelting process and the production of steam power. It also introduced the production of iron rails to move carts of coal and other materials from the mines to the manufacturing enterprises. Lastly, the growing availability of cheaper, usable iron found utility in the production of steam engines, spinning, and other machines at an ever increasing pace.