Energy & Mineral Resources What are the main sources of non-renewable energy?

Most energy sources are non-renewable, meaning they are used up faster than natural process can replace them within a human time scale.  CANNOT BE REPLACED once used up

Fossil Fuels Oil, natural gas, and coal formed from the remains of plants and animals that were buried and chemically changed millions of year ago

Coal Most abundant fossil fuel, a rock that contains at least 50% plant remains

Oil Thick, black, liquid hydrocarbon (sometimes called petroleum) formed from buried remains of microscopic marine organisms

Natural Gas Gaseous hydrocarbon that often forms with oil, but forms above it since gas is a lighter molecule

Fossil Fuels are removed from the ground through mining and pumping, current reserves are rapidly decreasing

Nuclear Energy Alternate Energy sources produced from the fission, or splitting, of uranium atoms; also considered non-renewable Nuclear power plants produce highly radioactive nuclear waste which needs to be stored and contained for at least 10,000 years