Things About Me Series - 01 - First Coal Experience
Let me tell you a little bit more about myself and my first experience with coal.
The first time I saw coal under a microscope, I was still an undergraduate student. I was wandering through the old Geology Department at the University of Porto, looking for one of my professors, when I noticed a student sitting alone at a microscope. It struck me as odd — why was there a single microscope in a separate room rather than with the others in the classrooms? Intrigued, I approached the student and asked what she was doing. She told me she was looking at meta-anthracites. Meta-what? At that moment, I realized I had forgotten the little I had learned about coal in my Sedimentary Petrology classes.
She gave me a brief explanation and, to my surprise, invited me to look through the microscope. "So coal isn’t black?" I asked, astonished. What I saw was a piece of vitrinite with a bright golden hue. I was hooked. I needed to know more about this strange rock.
What I didn’t know at the time was that, just a couple of years later, I would be studying those very same meta-anthracites. Determined to learn more, I spoke with the professor responsible for the Applied Petrology course. Despite the fact that I was the only student interested in taking the course, she agreed to open it just for me. In our fourth year, we were free to choose whichever courses we wanted. Applied Petrology wasn’t a popular choice since Portugal’s coal mines had closed in the 70s — from an employability standpoint, the course didn’t seem useful unless you were willing to work overseas. Most of my classmates opted for geological engineering courses, which offered better job prospects. But I followed my curiosity.
I dove into the world of coal and petroleum systems, learning how to examine coal under the microscope. The more I learned about organic matter, the more I wanted to know. Eventually, I completed my honours-equivalent degree focusing on high-rank coals and graphite, using various techniques to characterize their microstructure. I loved every bit of it.
Coal is a fascinating rock — a true hybrid, straddling the line between geological material and biological matter. And let me tell you, after 20 years of working with it, it still manages to surprise me.
Looking back, that moment — peering through the microscope at a golden piece of vitrinite — was a turning point. It sparked a curiosity that has shaped my entire career. It’s that same curiosity and passion that led me to start CarbonMat. Through this blog, I hope to share both the technical knowledge I’ve gained over the years and the personal experiences that continue to fuel my work. Because, at the end of the day, science isn’t just about data — it’s about the stories and discoveries that push us forward.
