MI NERA L RES O URCES

FOSSIL
FUELS
GROUP 3- PASCAL
 I. Defining Fossil Fuels
II. Formation of Fossil Fuels
-Petroleum Formation
-Coal Formation

PRESENTATION
-Natural Gas Formation
-Other Fossil Fuels

OUTLINE
III. Mining Fossil Fuels
IV. Commercial Uses
V. Environmental Problems
Caused by Usage of Fossil
Fuels
VI. Alternative Energy Sources
• Fossil Fuels are energy-rich
substances that have formed from
partially decayed remnants of
organisms.
• They are nonrenewable resources. We
have a finite (limited) amount that is
being depleted rapidly. EDW ARD AB B EY
Fossil fuels, which include petroleum, coal, and natural gas, provide most
of the energy that powers modern industrial society. The gasoline that
fuels our cars, the coal that powers many electrical plants, and the
natural gas that heats our homes are all fossil fuels. However, they
produce pollutants such as 𝐶𝑂2 , CO, 𝑆𝑂2 and 𝑁𝑂3 .
 2.
FORMATION OF
FOSSIL FUELS
Fossil fuels formed from ancient
organisms that died and were buried
under layers of accumulating
sediment. As additional sediment
layers built up over these organic
deposits, the material was subjected to
increasing temperatures and
pressures. Over millions of years, these
physical conditions chemically
transformed the organic material into
hydrocarbons.
 PETROLEUM
 formed chiefly from ancient,
microscopic plants and bacteria
that lived in the ocean and
saltwater seas.
 As layers of sediment
accumulated over this organic
ooze, the mud was gradually
heated and slowly compressed
into shale or mudstone,
chemically transforming the
organic material into petroleum. EDW ARD AB B EY
 COAL
This substance was
formed when partially
decomposed plants
were exposed to large
amounts of heat and
pressure for eons (long
periods of time).
Coal produces more CO2
emissions per unit of heat
than other fossil
EDW fuels.
ARD AB B EY
 TYPES OF COAL
Lignite-soft coal that is
low in sulfur and
produces less heat in
comparison to other
grades of coal
Sub-bituminous-
intermediate grade coal
between lignite and
bituminous. Low hear
value and sulfur
EDWcontent.
ARD AB B EY
 TYPES OF COAL
Bituminous- “soft coal”
that is high in sulfur and
produces lots of heat
Anthracite- “hard coal”
that is low in sulfur and
produces the most heat
and less pollution

EDW ARD AB B EY
 Coal is present in greater
quantities than oil or natural
gas.
Present coal reserves could last
200 years at our present rate of
consumption however the
harm to the environment
would be more substantial.
.
 Figure 1: Recoverable
Coal Reserves in the World
NATURAL GAS
Most natural gas is formed
from plankton—tiny water-
dwelling organisms, including
algae and protozoans—that
accumulated on the ocean
floor as they died.
 Over millions of years, the
pressure and heat generated
by overlying sediments
converted this organic
material into natural gas. EDW ARD AB B EY
NATURAL GAS
Occur in structural traps such
as anticlines, the upward
folding of rock layers, and salt
domes, underground columns
of salt.
Will probably be gone by the
end of the 21st century
Mostly located in the Middle
East EDW ARD AB B EY
 Figure 2: Recoverable
Oil Reserves in the World
OTHER FOSSIL FUELS
GAS HYDRATES (METHANE
AND WATER)
TAR SANDS
Vast deposits of gas hydrates are Tar sands are heavy, asphalt-like
contained in ocean sediments and in hydrocarbons found in
shallow polar soils. In these marine sandstone.
and polar environments, methane
molecules are encased in a crystalline Tar sands form where petroleum
structure with water molecules. migrates upward into deposits of
sand or consolidated sandstone.
OIL SHALE
Oil shale is a fine-grained rock containing high concentrations of a waxy
organic material known as kerogen. Oil shale forms on lake and ocean
bottoms where dead algae, spores, and other microorganisms died
millions of years ago and accumulated in mud and silt..
MINING
III.

FOSSIL
FUELS
COAL MINING
Subsurface mining – underground coal mining
that is dangerous and unhealthy. Can cause
black lung disease.
Surface mining-disturbs large land areas and
is expensive to restore the land. Advantages
include it being healthier , a better extraction
of coal, and less expensive. On the other hand,
it disrupts the land more than subsurface
mining.
SURFACE MINING SUBSURFACE MINING
 Surface Mining
Control & Reclamation Act
(SMCRA)
• Requires that surface-mined lands be
restored to make the land usable again.
• Was passed due to carbon dioxide
emissions from coal, inability to reduce or
eliminate CO2 from combustions of coal,
and there was acid deposition from soft
coals that contain sulfur.
Controlling Sulfur
• Fluidized-bed combustion is a cleaner coal-
burning process that removes sulfur from
coal combustion (but not CO2).

• Scrubbers can also reduce sulfur escaping

from coal combustion but not the CO2.
These are often placed in smokestacks to
reduce emissions.
Controlling Sulfur
• Fluidized-bed combustion is a cleaner coal-
burning process that removes sulfur from
coal combustion (but not CO2).

• Scrubbers can also reduce sulfur escaping

from coal combustion but not the CO2.
These are often placed in smokestacks to
reduce emissions.
Fluidized-bed combustion
Scrubbers
 Energy Policy &
Conservation Act in 1975

OIL AND Law passed as a result of

problems with Oil dependency.

NATURAL Strategic Petroleum

GAS
Reserve
was created which contains up
to one billion barrels of oil stored
in Salt mines along the Gulf of
Mexico.
 USES OF
CRUDE OIL
ACCORDING
TO
TEMPERATURE .
 IV.

COMMERCIAL
USES

DIRECT
COMBUSTION
Fossil fuels are primarily burned to
produce energy. This energy is used to
power automobiles, trucks, airplanes,
trains, and ships around the world; to fuel
industrial manufacturing processes; and to
provide heat, light, air conditioning, and
energy for homes and businesses. About
two-fifths of all energy consumed in the
United States is used by industry, one-
third by homes and businesses, and about
one-fourth by transportation.
In addition to direct combustion for
commercial uses, fossil fuels are also
burned to generate most of the world’s
electric power. In 2003 fossil fuel–fired
power plants produced 65 percent of the
world’s electrical power, down from 71
percent in the late 1970s. In 2003 the
world’s remaining electricity supply was
generated primarily by hydroelectric
power and nuclear fission with solar,
geothermal, and other sources accounting
for a relatively small amount.
ELECTRICITY
GENERATION
DIRECT COMBUSTION
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
 V.

ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY
USAGE OF FOSSIL FUELS
 PROBLEMS WITH MINING
COAL
LANDSLIDES ACID MINE DRAINAGE
This is produced when rainwater seeps
They occur on hills that were
through iron sulfide minerals exposed
unstable due to the lack of
in mine wastes and carries sulfuric acid
vegetation.
to nearby lakes and streams.

BLACK LUNG MOUNTAINTOP

DISEASE REMOVAL
name for debilitating lung The dragline takes huge chunks
condition caused by inhalation out of a mountain to reach the coal
of coal dust. located below.
 EXXON VALDEZ
The Exxon Valdez spilled 260,000 barrels of crude oil into the Prince
William Sound along the coast of Alaska. This led to a decline in bird
populations, sea otter populations, and the salmon migration was
disrupted. To clean up, they mechanized stream cleaning and
rinsing, which killed shoreline organisms. They left the area with
contaminated shorelines.
Persian Gulf Oil Spill
In the Persian Gulf oil spills,
crude oil was dumped into the
Persian Gulf. Many oil wells
were set on fire, and lakes of
oil spilled into the desert
around the burning oil wells.
Cleanup efforts along the
coastline and the desert were
hampered by the war.
.
 Alternative Energy Sources
The prospect of reducing the world’s dependence on
fossil fuels is problematic. Alternative energy
industries, such as nuclear energy, hydroelectric
energy, solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal
energy exist, but these energy sources currently only
account for a combined 14 percent of energy
consumed worldwide. To date, alternative energy
sources have been hindered by technological and
environmental difficulties.
 Alternative Energy Sources
For instance, although the uranium that fuels nuclear
power is abundant, the risk of nuclear accidents and
the difficulty associated with safe disposal of
radioactive waste have led to the decline of the
nuclear power industry (see Chernobyl’). Conversely,
solar and wind power seem environmentally safe, but
they are unreliable as steady sources of energy. As
global energy consumption grows each year,
development of certain alternative energy sources
becomes increasingly important.
 10
ITEM
TEST
 10-ITEM TEST
1. ______ are energy-rich substances that have formed
from partially decayed remnants of organisms.
2. Which of the following is not a fossil fuel?
- Petroleum
- Uranium
- Coal
- Natural Gas
3. This substance was formed when partially
decomposed plants were exposed to large amounts of
heat and pressure for eons (long periods of time).
4. Oil reserves are most commonly located at ____.

5-6. Enumerate the two types of coal mining

7. This ship spilled 260,000 barrels of crude oil into the

Prince William Sound along the coast of Alaska, and
the oil spill still exists today.

8-9. Two main commercial uses of fossil fuels

10. Write a 1-2 sentence opinion why (or why not) you
prefer using renewable energy despite being not as
effective as energy extracted from fossil fuels.
ANSWERS:

1. Fossil fuels
2. Uranium
3. Coal
4. Middle East
5-6. Surface and subsurface mining
7. Exxon Valdez
8-9. Direct combustion and energy production
10. Any answer will do.