Coal mine

[Overlord1993]

Found a coal mine while exploring, should I dismantle it or keep it for later use? Dunno what would be best. xD

[Captain of the 4th Company]

I kept it. Built an outpost that delivered 800 coal daily

[SneakyFox]

Assuming you're on the first scenario the answer to this contains some pretty major spoilers.

Read on at your peril if you've not completed the first scenario at least once before.

Towards the end of the game a storm will come in which will stop all of your outposts from working. As such if you're relying on the coal from that mine you will struggle in the end-game unless you have massive storage capacity.

You can use it, and it delivers 800 coal per day if you setup an outpost, but you will need to be ready to build coal mines or thumpers in your city itself before that storm hits as you will not be able to use that outpost during the end sequence (or you will need an insane storage capacity to rely on having gotten enough coal to survive).

I would suggest dismantling it (if you have the storage available in your city for the components) and using those to build more coal production in your own city.

So, whilst you do have a choice, that extra knowledge may make the end-game easier depending on how you approach this.

[Herr Fuchs]

the storageway:::: if u use outpost use them store ressources for endgame, or
the techway:::: destroy it and use the steamcores for automatons who will do the work for u in the endgame
.
two way's of gameplay - its ur decision

[Kanjejou]

Using it to make a coal ressource point allow better mid game coal production where you usually want to do research so you want to maximise steel of wood. but the steam core can get you an automate or and improved steam building...which is better late game

personnaly i usually use the coal mine 800coal per day is nothing to scoff at (that a bit less than a level 3 coal mine used by a autmaton) but much earlier