FOSSIL FUELS III
Coal
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Formed from ancient plants.
Coal beds were prehistoric swamps.
Can be considered to be “stored” solar energy.
Photosynthesis:
CO2 + H20 + solar energy  carbohydrates + O2
We can also run the process backwards and
burn carbs to get energy, water, and carbon
dioxide.
• Normally when a plant dies it decomposes.
• If there is not enough oxygen, it can’t
completely decompose, thus we get a slow
accumulation of energy.
• In a swamp, the bacteria that decompose the
plants also use up the Oxygen.
• Coal found today formed between 1 and 440
million years ago.
Major Coal Forming Periods
• Carboniferous and Permian 360 to 250 MYA
– High quality bituminous and anthracite
• Upper Cretaceous to Miocene 100 to 5 MYA
– Low quality subbituminous and lignite coals
• Quaternary 2.6 MYA to present
– peat
Major Geologic Divisions
• Steps to becoming coal:
• Peat
• Lignite (brown coal)
• Subbituminous
• Bituminous
• Anthracite
• The major difference is the percentage of the
coal that is carbon. Higher carbon
concentration means better quality coal.
• Formation of coal
• Coal progresses through the stages with increasing
pressure and temperature.
Type
% Carbon
Lignite
30
Energy Content
(MJ/kg)
11.6 – 16.3
Subbituminous
40
18.6 – 23.3
Bituminous
50 - 70
25.6 - 34.8
Anthracite
90
32.5
Oil
85
46
Coal Classification
Which type of coal provides the
most energy/kg?
1. Lignite
2. Bituminous
3. Anthracite
0%
1.
0%
2.
0%
3.
• The largest amount of US coal is Bituminous.
• Approximately 1% is Anthracite. (Found in
Pennsylvania.)
• Many coal veins have a high sulfur content.
– Significant contributor to acid rain.
– S+O2SO2
– SO2 combines with water in atmosphere to form
sulfuric acid.
– Limits the use of those coals
• Coal has uranium & thorium: radioactive
– Concentrated when coal is burned
• Other contributions.
• Mercury
• Arsenic
• Selenium
Union Pacific Big Boy
Coal Mining
• Coal veins can be 1 in to 400 ft thick.
• Must be at least 2 ft thick to make mining
profitable.
• Underground mining is a dangerous
occupation in America.
Coal Mining
• Tunneling – 40%
• Surface mining – 60%
– Removing overburden to get to coal
• Strip mining
• Mountaintop removal
Types of Coal Mining
Tunnel Mining
Strip Mining
Mountain Top Removal
Mountain top removal
mining
Should Mountain Top Removable
be allowed in the U.S.?
1. Yes
2. No
0%
1.
0%
2.
US Coal Reserves by Type
Coal Reserves Sulfur Content
Proved Coal Reserves (2006)
Brazil
Poland
Kazakhstan
Ukraine
South Africa
Australia
India
China
Russia
United States
0
50000
100000
150000
TOTAL
(million tonnes (teragrams)
200000
250000
Proven Coal Reserves
Proven Coal Reserves
Who has the largest reserves of coal?
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B. South Africa, India,
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C. US, Russia, China
D. Germany, India,
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Coal Production by State
Coal Production by State
Coal Production by State
Who are the biggest coal
producing states?
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A. Wyoming and West
Virginia
B. Pennsylvania and
Kentucky
C. West Virginia and
Kentucky
D. Texas and Illinois
Proven Coal Reserves
Coal Production by Country
Coal Production by Country
Production of Coal 2006
Total World
Poland
Indonesia
Germany
South Africa
Russia
Australia
India
USA
China
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
million tonnes
5000
6000
7000
Who are the largest producers of coal?
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A. Germany, France,
Poland
B. Indonesia, India,
Australia
C. US, China, India
D. Germany, Russia,
Poland
Chinese SY Mikado 2-8-2
A thick shroud of haze lingers over China, turning the sky an opaque grey.
Beijing, China's capital, is situated under the densest portion of the smog
layer. The aerosol pollution can be seen blowing eastward across the Bo
Hai Bay and Yellow Sea reaching as far as North and South Korea and the
islands of Japan. (NASA)
Donora 1948
Coal
Consumption
Mix of Fuels in US
US Coal Production
Production of Coal 2006
Total World
Poland
Indonesia
Germany
South Africa
Russia
Australia
India
USA
China
0
100
200
300
400
500
Expected Life of Reserves
600
• Estimated that we have enough reserves for
200-300 years at current production rates.
• Use may be expanded
– Replace aging oil/natural gas/nuclear electric
plants
– More demand for electrical energy
– Alternative uses such as coal gasification.
Should the use of coal in America
be expanded?
A. Yes
B. No
0%
No
Ye
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