Coal

CoalCoal

Location of World’s Location of World’s Coal FieldsCoal Fields

The Process of Creating CoalThe Process of Creating Coal

We start with organic material from We start with organic material from hundreds of millions to tens of millions hundreds of millions to tens of millions ago. The organic material accumulates ago. The organic material accumulates and then is buried under later layers of and then is buried under later layers of seawater. seawater.

The Process of Creating CoalThe Process of Creating Coal

The layers of organic matter and silt/mud The layers of organic matter and silt/mud needs to be buried underwater and then needs to be buried underwater and then underground for millions of years.underground for millions of years.

The Process of Creating CoalThe Process of Creating Coal

  This rock must then be buried This rock must then be buried underground for a combination of heat underground for a combination of heat and pressure to transform the organic and pressure to transform the organic matter to coal.matter to coal.

Location of World’s CoalLocation of World’s Coal

Coal is more widely distributed than oil.Coal is more widely distributed than oil.A lot of European countries (Britain, A lot of European countries (Britain,

Germany, Poland) have coal.Germany, Poland) have coal. Many countries outside of Europe have Many countries outside of Europe have

coal: Russia, China, Japan.coal: Russia, China, Japan.    

The Process of Creating CoalThe Process of Creating Coal

  Sound familiar?Sound familiar?

Process of creation of oil, natural gas and Process of creation of oil, natural gas and coal is basically the same.coal is basically the same.

Types of Types of CoalCoal

Types of CoalTypes of Coal

There are four types of coal, depending There are four types of coal, depending on how long the organic matter has on how long the organic matter has been heated and crushed underground.been heated and crushed underground.

The longer it has been “treated”, the fewer The longer it has been “treated”, the fewer the impurities in it, and the better it the impurities in it, and the better it burns. burns.

Types of CoalTypes of Coal

The first type is called The first type is called lignitelignite, and is only , and is only 60% carbon.60% carbon.

The second is called The second is called sub-bituminoussub-bituminous..The third is called The third is called bituminousbituminous, and is , and is

about 85% carbon.about 85% carbon.The fourth is called The fourth is called anthraciteanthracite, and is the , and is the

hardest and burns the cleanest.hardest and burns the cleanest.

Types of CoalTypes of Coal

Coal in the eastern United States, from Coal in the eastern United States, from Illinois to Appalachia is Illinois to Appalachia is bituminous, bituminous, although some isalthough some is anthracite. anthracite.

Coal in the western United States isCoal in the western United States is mostlymostly lignite or sub-bituminous. lignite or sub-bituminous.

Advantages of Using CoalAdvantages of Using Coal

The Advantages of CoalThe Advantages of Coal

1) Coal is a proven technology: 1) Coal is a proven technology: technology has progressed for two technology has progressed for two centuries. centuries.

The Advantages of CoalThe Advantages of Coal

2) There is ongoing technological 2) There is ongoing technological improvement in all aspects of coal improvement in all aspects of coal production: mining, transportation, and production: mining, transportation, and especially, burning for energy. especially, burning for energy.

The Advantages of CoalThe Advantages of Coal

3) Since the industry has been around 3) Since the industry has been around for a long time, burning coal is nearly for a long time, burning coal is nearly always the always the cheapestcheapest way to obtain way to obtain energy, by far.energy, by far.

The Advantages of CoalThe Advantages of Coal

4) There is an abundance of coal globally, 4) There is an abundance of coal globally, about two centuries worth of current about two centuries worth of current use. use.

The Advantages of CoalThe Advantages of Coal

5) There is an abundance of coal here 5) There is an abundance of coal here in the United States.  in the United States.  

Disadvantages of Using CoalDisadvantages of Using Coal

The Disadvantages of CoalThe Disadvantages of Coal

1) Coal dramatically worsens air pollution 1) Coal dramatically worsens air pollution of all types. of all types.

The Disadvantages of CoalThe Disadvantages of Coal

2) Burning coal drastically worsens global 2) Burning coal drastically worsens global warming. warming.

The Disadvantages of CoalThe Disadvantages of Coal

3) The coal industry is very hazardous 3) The coal industry is very hazardous to workers in the industry. to workers in the industry.

The Disadvantages of CoalThe Disadvantages of Coal

4) Coal mining generates tremendous 4) Coal mining generates tremendous amounts of water pollution and land amounts of water pollution and land pollution. pollution.

The Disadvantages of CoalThe Disadvantages of Coal

5) The costs of pollution are not born 5) The costs of pollution are not born by the industry, but are passed on to by the industry, but are passed on to workers, people downwind and workers, people downwind and downstream, and the rest of the downstream, and the rest of the planet as a whole.  planet as a whole.