Coal Formation

• Fossil fuels are natural resources formed from ancient plant and animal remains
• The formation process takes millions of years, requiring heat and pressure
• Coal, oil, and natural gas are the main types of fossil fuels
• Fossil fuels are the primary source of energy worldwide
• Fossil fuels are classified as nonrenewable resources

The Formation of Coal

• Coal formation begins with ancient swamps and forests, dating back 300-400 million years
• Dead plant material accumulates in swampy areas
• Layers build up over time, creating peat
• Heat and pressure then transform peat into different types of coal like:
• Lignite (youngest)
• Bituminous
• Anthracite (oldest and hardest)

Coal Formation Process Steps

• Plant material falls into swampy areas (step 1)
• Material gets buried by sediment (step 2)
• Pressure increases as more layers build up (step 3)
• Heat and pressure remove water and gases (step 4)
• Carbon content increases over millions of years (step 5)

The Formation of Oil

• Oil formation begins with tiny marine organisms (plankton)
• Organisms sink to the ocean floor when they die
• Remains get buried under layers of sediment
• Heat and pressure transform the remains into oil
• The process can take millions of years
• Oil is usually found in porous rock formations

Natural Gas Formation

• Natural gas forms alongside oil from marine organisms
• Natural gas is created through the same process of heat and pressure as oil
• Natural gas can form independently or with oil deposits
• Methane is the main component of natural gas
• Natural gas is lighter than oil and is found in the upper portions of reservoirs

Natural Gas and Oil Formation Over Time

• Tiny marine plants and animals died and were buried on the ocean floor around 300-400 million years ago
• Over millions of years, the remains were buried deeper and deeper
• Enormous heat and pressure turned the remains into oil and natural gas
• Today, drilling through layers of sand, silt, and rock reaches the rock formations that contain deposits

Why Nonrenewable?

• Fossil fuels take millions of years to form
• The rate of use is much faster than the rate at which they can form
• Once used, fossil fuels cannot be readily replaced
• There is a limited supply on Earth
• The current rate of consumption is unsustainable

Environmental Impact

• Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases
• Fossil fuels contribute to climate change
• Mining and drilling can damage ecosystems
• Oil spills can harm wildlife
• Air pollution affects human health

Future of Energy

• There is a need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels
• There needs to be a shift towards renewable energy sources
• Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are being looked at
• There needs to be more development of new energy technologies
• There needs to be more importance on energy conservation