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Earth’s Energy & Mineral Resources
Section 1:Nonrenewable Energy Resources
Energy
Energy is the ability to cause change.
Nonrenewable energy resources are being used up faster than they can be replaced by Earth processes.
Most electricity comes from nonrenewable energy.
FOSSIL FUELS
Fossil fuels are fuels that form from the remains of once living organisms that were buried and altered over millions of years. Coal Oil Natural Gas
COAL
The most abundant fossil fuel in the world
Estimated to last between 125 and 250 years.
Contains at least 50% plant remains
How Coal Forms1. Plants die in a swampy area, forming
peat.
2. Dead plants are covered by more plants, water, and sediment, keeping oxygen from it.
3. Plants decay slowly.
4. Bacteria consume the plant material, leaving carbon and impurities behind.
5. Over time, the material compacts, forming different grades of coal.
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0701/es0701page01.cfm?chapter_no=
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Types of CoalPeat (also known as “peat moss”) can be burned, but creates a lot of smoke.
Irishmen cutting and throwing peat to burn later
Types of Coal (continued)
Heat and pressure change peat into lignite coal. It doesn’t burn well, but it does burn better than peat.
More heat and pressure morph the lignite as it gets buried deeper. After time, bituminous coal is formed.
Bituminous coal also contains a lot of sulfur, which pollutes the air when burned.
Types of Coal (continued)
Anthracite coal is heated and squeezed during metamorphism and is a very dense coal.
It contains the highest content of carbon and is the rarest form of coal due to the amount of time it takes to form.
Types of Coal (continued)
Synthetic Fuels Synthetic fuels are made from
coal natural gasoil shaleor biomass. It may also refer to fuels derived from other solids
such as plastics or rubber waste. Hydrocarbons (molecules of hydrogen bonded with
carbon) are extracted from these materials to create: liquid fuels such as
synthetic gasoline for cars.fuel oil for heating homes.
gaseous fuels togenerate electricityheat homes
Oil is a thick, black liquid formed from buried remains of microscopic marine organisms.
Oil, aka, Petroleum or Crude
Land Rig
Ocean Rig
More About Oil Oil is a hydrocarbon, meaning it
is a molecule of hydrogen bonded with carbon.
Hydrocarbons burn very well to release a lot of energy.
Oil, or petroleum is refined to form many products.
Products from Refined OilProducts from crude oil include:• Gasoline• Kerosene• Diesel• Candle wax• Motor oil• Asphalt• Oils for making
plastics• Oils for lip balm
and types of make-up.
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