Coal Notes
What is Coal?
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Formed from
decomposed
vegetation, which is
turned into solid
brittle rock when it is
compressed over a
long period of time.
5-10 ft of decomposed
material makes about
1 ft of coal
The most abundant
fossil fuel
Less than half the
price per million BTU
than oil and natural
gas.
Coal Fast Facts
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1 lb. of coal can
power 10-100 watt
light bulbs for an
hour
Should last for about
250 years at the
current rate of use
Use decreased during
the 40’s and 50’s
because oil and gas
were easier to use
Use has been
increasing since the
Arab Oil Embargo of
1973
Oil Embargo- 1973-74
News Cast
Coal Fast Facts Con’t
 It
is now used mainly
for the generation of
electricity
 In 1997 it was
responsible for 31% of
the nation’s energy
consumption
 Mostly transported by
train or barge
 China is the major
producer and the U.S.
is second
Take out your notes…
 Try
to draw a diagram of what a coal
powerplant looks like…
How Coal Generates Electricity
Coal Factory Animation
Problems with Coal
Problems with Coal…
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Contains sulfur causing
air pollution when
burned.
Makes acid rain!
High amounts of air
pollution (CO2 and
SO2) are given off by
coal power plants.
Causes more air
pollution when burned
than any other fossil
fuel
In your books (pg 436) describe
each of the following…
Peat
Lignite
Subbituminous
Bituminous
Anthracite
Coke (on back of notes sheet)
Coal Mining

Underground mining:
 dangerous,
collapsed
mines, fires, gas
explosions, and black
lung (lungs are coated
in coal dust)
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Strip Mining - the
overlying layer of
rock is stripped to get
to the coal from the
surface.
 this
is cheaper, safer,
and yields 3x’s more
coal than underground
mining
Centrailia and an Explosion
Centralia Video
Mine Explosion Video
Problems with Strip Mining
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Less than one-half of the
mines have been
reclaimed…
 restored
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to their natural state
Acid Mine Drainage is
when water reacts with
mineral in the open mine
forming highly acidic water
pollution the environment
killing aquatic organisms
and waterfowl
Solutions to Coal Use
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Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires that mined land
be restored to its primary use (forest, field, etc.)
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Clean Air Act of 1990 forces companies to reduce the emissions
(release) of SO2 and NO2 when burning coal
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More coal in this country is coming from the mid-west instead of the
east because it contains less sulfur
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New technologies are being invented to reduce air pollutants from
coal (scrubber - sprays the gas with lime or calcium water binding the
SO2, causing it to settle out – expensive process to install)
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***Using natural gas is cleaner because it releases one-half the CO2
and SO2 of coal
Synthetic Fuels
 Fuels
produced by chemically
changing fossil fuels like coal. They
are cleaner burning
 In your books, pg 446, find the notes
for…
 Liquid
Coal
 Coal Gas
 Oil Shale
Fracking
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1
pCvdOg0Cec&feature=fvst