<P> The use of coal in South Africa dates back to the iron age (300--1880 AD), when charcoal was used to melt iron and copper, but large - scale exploitation of coal did not occur until the mid-19th century . </P> <P> South African Reserves by Coalfields </P> <P> The largest coal deposits in South Africa are to be found in the Ecca deposits, a stratum of the Karoo Supergroup, dating from the Permian period, between 280 and 250 Ma . The Ecca Group is extensive, covering around two thirds of South Africa (much of it covered by slightly younger rocks - see diagram on the left). Only the northern and north - eastern portion of these Ecca deposits is coal - bearing, but it nevertheless contains more than a third of all coal reserves in the Southern Hemisphere . </P> <P> Notable coalfields are: </P>

South africa's global reserves and production of coal