Fossil Fuels earth science
Fossil Fuels
Josh Farrar 11/16/13
The three types of fossil fuels that are used for energy provision are coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil Fuels are the remains of once living organisms, but it takes centuries to form the organic matter. Coal is millions of years of decaying land vegetation (dead plants) that will form the solid fossil fuel under intense pressure. Oil is formed on the sea floor from the remains of marine microorganisms and is deposited between small spaces in between rock and sediment in liquid form. Natural gas is also formed from the remains of microorganisms but is in the gaseous form. Natural gas mostly is made up of methane (CH4) and is highly compressed in small volumes deep within the earth.
Coal is highly abundant compared to oil and natural gas. Some analysts predict that the use of coal will increase as oil supplies decline. The coal supplies that we have now could last up to 200 years or longer. Undeveloped countries can not afford oil and natural gas so they depend on coal as their main source of energy. Coal is usually mined. The less expensive method of mining is surface mining; it produces the majority of coal in the United States. Surface mining is the act of stripping the top soil and layers of rock up to 200 feet underground to come in contact with coal. Once the coal is removed from the pit, miners return the dirt and rock to the pit and replant the vegetation. Another form of mining is in which miners ride elevators up to 1,000 feet below surface to an underground mine. Machines then dug out the coal and then the coal was brought out using rails and rail carts. This method of mining was called underground mining or deep mining. Before the coal is shipped out it is mined and processed. Shipping coal can actually cost more than mining it itself. The many ways of transporting coal includes by train, barge, ship, truck, and even by pipeline. When coal is transferred through pipelines, it
Josh Farrar 11/16/13
The three types of fossil fuels that are used for energy provision are coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil Fuels are the remains of once living organisms, but it takes centuries to form the organic matter. Coal is millions of years of decaying land vegetation (dead plants) that will form the solid fossil fuel under intense pressure. Oil is formed on the sea floor from the remains of marine microorganisms and is deposited between small spaces in between rock and sediment in liquid form. Natural gas is also formed from the remains of microorganisms but is in the gaseous form. Natural gas mostly is made up of methane (CH4) and is highly compressed in small volumes deep within the earth.
Coal is highly abundant compared to oil and natural gas. Some analysts predict that the use of coal will increase as oil supplies decline. The coal supplies that we have now could last up to 200 years or longer. Undeveloped countries can not afford oil and natural gas so they depend on coal as their main source of energy. Coal is usually mined. The less expensive method of mining is surface mining; it produces the majority of coal in the United States. Surface mining is the act of stripping the top soil and layers of rock up to 200 feet underground to come in contact with coal. Once the coal is removed from the pit, miners return the dirt and rock to the pit and replant the vegetation. Another form of mining is in which miners ride elevators up to 1,000 feet below surface to an underground mine. Machines then dug out the coal and then the coal was brought out using rails and rail carts. This method of mining was called underground mining or deep mining. Before the coal is shipped out it is mined and processed. Shipping coal can actually cost more than mining it itself. The many ways of transporting coal includes by train, barge, ship, truck, and even by pipeline. When coal is transferred through pipelines, it
Cited: California Energy Commission. “Where Fossil Fuels Come From.” Energy Quest. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html. “Coal – A Fossil Fuel.” EIA Energy Kids Page. July 2008. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. “Department of Energy – Fossil Fuels.” Department of Energy – Homepage. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. Enzler, S. M. “Fossil Fuels.” Water Treatment & Air Purification Systems. Web. 7 Oct. 2013. “The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels | Union of Concerned Scientists.” Homepage | Union of Concerned Scientists. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.