Coal (fuel source)

A place with coal and shale in the ground would likely be an area rich in natural resources suitable for mining and extraction activities. These areas often have a history of coal mining and may have associated industries and infrastructure related to energy production. Environmental considerations are also a key factor due to the impact of mining activities on the surrounding ecosystem.

Coal forms from the accumulation of plant material in swampy environments, which decomposes and transforms over time. The lack of coal deposits in rocks older than about 443 million years is due to plate tectonics and the movement of continents, which have caused older coal-bearing rocks to be buried too deep, where the heat and pressure have transformed them into other types of rocks.

Advantages of mining coal include its abundance, relatively low cost of extraction, and its versatility in providing energy for various industries. Coal is a reliable source of energy that can support economic development and provide jobs in communities that rely on coal mining.

Natural gas is considered desirable compared to coal or oil because it burns more cleanly, producing significantly fewer emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. It is also more efficient to burn, providing a higher energy output per unit of carbon dioxide produced. Natural gas is abundant and easily extracted, making it a reliable and cost-effective energy source.

According to the International Energy Agency, current estimates suggest that there are around 150 years of coal reserves left at current consumption rates. However, it's important to note that this figure can vary depending on factors like future technological advancements, shifts in energy policy, and changes in energy demand.

Coal is formed from the decayed remains of plants in swampy areas with high vegetation growth. The presence of these specific conditions, such as a lack of oxygen and pressure, is necessary for the formation of coal. Therefore, coal deposits are only found in regions where these conditions were present millions of years ago.

Thermophilic bacteria are commonly found in coal mine waste piles, as they thrive in high-temperature environments. These bacteria are capable of breaking down complex organic compounds in coal and releasing gases like methane during the process.

Coal can be used in geothermal power plants as a backup fuel source for generating electricity when geothermal energy production is insufficient. This can help ensure a steady supply of electricity during times when geothermal energy output may be limited or unavailable.

China is at the top of coal producers.
Other important countries are USA, India, Australia and Russia.

Todays coal was formed millions of years ago. Sum of the earliest coal deposits formed only about 1 million years ago whereas the old deposits are from 300 million years ago.

Coal is formed where plant life has died and then eventually sink to the bottom of swampy areas or the water level has risen and covered the dead plant life. Over time as the amount of dead plant life accumulates at the bottom of the swampy area it turns into a dense soggy material known as peat then as the land changed and the pressure upon the peat built due to deeper burial, sandstone and sedimentary rocks that may have formed due to the changing land, the water in the peat is squeezed out and when heat is added from the earths core, the peat is turned into coal.

A coal seam can be used as a key bed in stratigraphy by acting as a recognizable and widespread marker layer in the rock sequence. Key beds help correlate different rock layers in different locations based on the consistent presence of a specific marker bed, such as a coal seam, allowing geologists to establish the relative ages of rocks in various areas.

They use mines and dig for it.

Large amounts of coal can be found on the Central Siberian Plateau. The climate there is Tundra and Subarctic, which makes coal very hard to mine, because it's very cold and hard for the ground to stay frozen.

Coal deposits are formed by the remains of plants that were buried and compacted over millions of years. The process involves the accumulation of organic material in swamps and wetlands, which is then subjected to pressure and heat, leading to the formation of coal.

The two methods used for mining coal are surface mining and underground mining. Surface mining involves removing layers of soil and rock to access coal deposits near the surface, while underground mining involves tunneling underground to extract coal from deeper deposits.

Coal can be extracted from the ground through surface mining or underground mining. Surface mining, which includes strip mining and mountaintop removal, involves removing layers of soil and rock to access the coal. Underground mining involves creating tunnels to access coal seams deep within the earth.

Coal is a chemically complex fuel. Whenever it is burned, gases are given off and particles of ash, called "fly ash," are released. The sulfur in coal combines with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide, which can be a major source of air pollution if emitted in large enough quantities.

Today, many of the effects of coal burning have been reduced significantly or eliminated. Three basic methods are used to reduce the quantity of pollutants resulting from coal combustion.

The first, a pre-combustion method for removing contaminates from coal, is coal cleaning or "coal benefication." In coal cleaning the coal is crushed and screened from impurities. Further processing utilizes the different gravities of coal and impurities to separate them in a liquid medium. Coal cleaning can remove the pyritic sulfur, which can reduce sulfur content by as much as 30 percent.

The second, a post-combustion method, uses flue gas desulfurization systems, commonly called scrubbers. According to the Electric Power Research Institute, scrubbers can remove more than 90 percent of the sulfur dioxide emissions from coal combustion. The flue gas is sprayed with a slurry made up of water and an alkaline agent-- usually lime or limestone. The sulfur dioxide reacts chemically, forming calcium sulfate or calcium sulfite. This is removed and disposed of as a wet sludge. There are currently 134 scrubbers operated by the electric utility industry in the United States.

The final method for reducing or eliminating pollution from coal combustion is the use of electrostatic precipitators or baghouses which are used to remove fly ash. In electrostatic precipitators, the particulate matter is given an electrical charge. The charge attracts it to a collector plate, where the particles are collected, preventing their discharge into the atmosphere. In a baghouse, the particulate matter is filtered out as it passes through a series of filters, similar to a household vacuum cleaner.

The two major environmental concerns today dealing with the use of coal are: increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and acid rain. Much remains to be learned about the relationship between fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and the environment. It is believed that combustion has partially contributed to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may result in warmer climates due to the "greenhouse effect." The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide prevents heat from escaping from the earth, thus warming the atmosphere.

The combustion of coal also appears to contribute to acid rain, although precise measures of the scope and seriousness of acid rain are not clear or well understood. What is clear is that further study of the phenomenon is necessary.

There is an interesting riddle to the acid rain phenomenon, and that is that acid rain damage has occurred during periods when sulfur dioxide discharges have declined or remained stable (sulfur dioxide is considered to be the principal cause of acid rain).

Burning coal releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. It also releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can lead to acid rain and air pollution. Coal mining can cause habitat destruction, water pollution, and harm to wildlife.

Coal deposits formed from the remains of ancient plants and trees that were buried and compacted over millions of years. The decaying plant material was subjected to high pressure and heat, which transformed it into coal. The process is known as coalification.

The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. This can lead to an increase in evaporation rates and changes in precipitation patterns, impacting the water cycle by altering the amount and distribution of rainfall.

Coal is actually one of the most abundant fossil fuels on Earth. It is estimated that there are large reserves of coal in many countries around the world. Oil and natural gas are generally considered to be less common than coal.

The largest reserves of coal are found in the United States, Russia, Australia, China, and India. These countries account for the majority of the world's coal reserves.

Coal is a non-renewable fossil fuel that emits greenhouse gases when burned, contributing to climate change and air pollution. Using coal negatively impacts the environment by releasing carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. There are cleaner and more sustainable energy sources available, such as renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, that can help protect the environment.

The removal of coal through mining can cause environmental damage such as deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. It can also contribute to air and water pollution through the release of harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases during the mining and burning process, leading to an overall negative impact on local ecosystems and human health.

Potash is not typically used as an energy source. It is primarily used in fertilizer production due to its high potassium content, rather than for energy generation. Uranium, coal, and petroleum are used as energy sources in the southwest and around the world.