Comes from the remains of plants that
have been compressed over millions of
years in the Earth.

It is about 75% carbon
Also may contain sulfur, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, and other substances.
What is in coal?
A black rock
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

So, if coal is buried under millions of years
of dirt and water, how do we get it out
of the Earth?
Surface Mining





Shaft Mining


Miners use earthmovers to remove
surface of the earth to get the coal.
If coal is close to the surface of the Earth
they will use this method.
Miners like this method because it is not as
expensive.
Unfortunately, it also destroys the land at
the surface.
Miners dig tunnels into the Earth.
Then they use tools and explosives to
remove the coal from the rock of the
Earth.
Some mines are 1,000 feet deep.
After the coal is removed from the Earth
it is loaded into mining cars and brought
to the surface.
 Then it is cleaned
 Then it is loaded on to trains for
transportation


Let’s take a break and watch a video.
› Return to the website and watch “How do
they do it: coal mining?”

Let’s review what we know so far.
› Coal is a black rock made up mostly of
›
›
›
›
carbon
It lies beneath millions of years of Earth
Miners work to remove it from the Earth
It is a source of energy for us
Top mining states are Montana, Wyoming,
Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania
Carbon: a chemical element found in
coal as well as plants and animals
 Fuel: a substance that is used for heat or
energy
 Mine: a place where miners work to get
certain materials out of the Earth
 Nonrenewable: can be used up—there is
a limited supply

Where is
coal mined?


Why is coal important, and why do
miners work so hard to bring the coal to
the surface?
› The main use of coal today is for electricity.
› Plants burn the coal to create steam, the
steam powers machines that create
electricity.

It is also used to help transform iron into
steel.
Coal heated to make coke coke can be
heated to high temperatures
changes iron ore
to iron iron is used to make steel
 The high temperatures give steel strength and
flexibility
 It can then be made into things like bridges and
automobiles.

No! We get many things through mining.
 Let's Do Some Cyber Prospecting!

› Click on the link and when you arrive,
choose a state and click on it to see what
they mine. Don’t forget to fill in question 3 as
you prospect.

Here are some other types of fuel. Make
sure and jot them down in your journal.
› We have already learned about coal
 Do you remember that coal is a
nonrenewable substance?
› Other nonrenewable fuels
 oil and natural gas.
› Other fuels
 Ethanol
 Petroleum

PROS
› We have a large
supply
› It is cheaper to
make coal into an
energy source than
other substances
› Provides energy for
plants and
electricity for homes

CONS
› Releases pollutants
into the air
› Coal ash can be
highly toxic
› Mixes with oxygen
when it burns and
creates carbondioxide, which
increases Earth’s
temperatures
The Hopi Indians were the first people to
use coal in North America.
 Thomas Edison built a coal-fired electric
generating plant in 1882.

http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?pa
ge=coal_home-basics#coal_miningbasics
 http://www.msha.gov/KIDS/MINING.HTM
 http://www.eulesstx.gov/recycling/steel_
making.htm
 http://science.discovery.com/videos/ho
w-do-they-do-it-coal-mining.html
