LESSON FOUR Rustle up some energy! In this section we will be covering different methods of fuel resources extraction and use.

Where do we get Energy? FOSSIL FUELS! non-renewable resource: fuels formed from organic matter in the geological past ex. (coal oil natural gas) non-renewable resource: one that can’t be easily replaced or produced by humans these fuels were created by mass extinctions and the dead matter and all the energy stored in it for very long periods of time- typically millions of years. Coal is taken mainly in the eastern us. oil is found in many places notably the middle east. natural gas is found in many places in the US largely underground.

COAL MINING Surface Mining - mining in which soil and rock are removed to get to the minerals Subsurface mining - mining using shafts or underground tunnels to reach minerals Surface mining involves large equipment to move tons of rock and soul. this can be environmentally damaging to plant life that used to exist where the dirt was removed and can destroy the places where animals lived. Subsurface mining is what we think of when you have the typical image of a miner and a mine cart with a canary.

More coal mining Strip Mining Mountain Top Removal removal of all soil and rocks to expose minerals beneath Mountain Top Removal method of stripping away a mountains entire top to access coal reserves make basic note of these. In depth information is not requesite. Mountain top removal is mainly ustelized in the Appalachian Mountains of the south-eastern us.

Oil Extraction Pumping: horse head pumps are used to take oil from the ground. Oil rigs: same thing but in the ocean Oil extraction is generally not extremely environmentally damaging in small areas but large plots dedicated to pumping can be environmentally damaging. Off shore oil rigs pose a threat in the way of leaks such as that that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. when spill occur they can be poisonous to fish and other marine (in the oceans) wildlife. Also the animals that feed on these fish are poisoned by pollution in the fish they eat.

Natural Gas Extraction Hydraulic fracturing or fracking! -high pressure water and chemicals are shot into the ground to break up certain rock and release gas Just note that this exists. please reference recent scientific studies to further educste yourself as debate on the true impacs of fracking continue today. for students: chemical pollutants can get into ground water.

Nuclear POWER Fission: where an atom is split into more smaller atoms releasing energy nuclear power plant: a power plant that uses fission of (generally) Uranium to generate electricity Nuclear plants are generally very safe but can in rare incidents have meltdowns where the uranium fission reaction becomes uncontrollable and melts through containment leaking radioactive materials. This happened at the Fukushima reactor in Japan in 2011 and Chernobyl in Russia in 1986. Nuclear energy also creates nuclear waste in spent uranium that can no longer be fissioned.

WHAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT??? Most types of mining cause some sort of habitat destruction and can pollute nearby air and water Most fossil fuels are combusted (burned) to release energy. Combustion releases chemical pollutants into the air. Pollution can be many different chemicals for example: CO2 CO SOx NOx ect. Cars are a great example of how we use combustion reactions