Chapter 19 – Coal This kind, not that kind

Energy Sources ✤ Nonrenewable energy sources are those whose resources are being used faster than can be replenished. ✤ Coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium (nuclear) ✤ Renewable energy sources replenish themselves or are continuously present as a feature of the environment. ✤ Solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, etc. ✤ Some forms are referred to as perpetual energy

A Little Fossil Fuel Humor How do you confuse a coal miner? Show him two shovels and ask him to take his pick!

Resources and Reserves ✤ A resource is a naturally occurring substance used by humans ✤ A reserve is a known deposit that can be economically extracted using current technology, under certain economic conditions ✤ Reserve levels change as technology advances, new discoveries are made, and economic conditions vary

Resources and Reserves ✤ Reserves are easy to get to and make money ✤ Some resources are harder to get to and will not make as much money

Example: Tar Sands ✤ Tar sands are a mixture of clay, sand, water, and an extremely dense form of petroleum ✤ Because it is difficult to extract and process, oil from tar sands used to be too expensive to produce ✤ Now, with improved technology and higher crude oil prices, tar sands are finally considered somewhat economical

Coal Formation ✤ 300 million years ago, plant material began collecting in swamps, initiating decay, forming a spongy mass of organic material ✤ Due to geological changes, some of these deposits were covered with sediment and water ✤ Pressure and heat over time transformed the organic matter into coal

Coal ✤ Coal is most abundant fossil fuel ✤ Primarily used for generating electricity ✤ There are 3 categories of coal: ✤ Lignite – least desirable because of its high moisture content ✤ Bituminous – most widely used because it is most abundant and easiest to mine ✤ Anthracite – has the highest energy content and is cleanest burning, but is hard to obtain

Coal Reserves in the U.S. anthracitebituminouslignite

Coal in the World ✤ Where in the world is coal found?

Coal Mining

Mountain Top Removal

Coal Mining Methods

Strip Mining Shovel

Strip Mining Bucket

Surface Strip Mining

Strip Mining Coal Seam

Mine Gallery Size

Coal Miner

Continuous Coal Agar

Longwall Mining Machine

What are the environmental impacts of mining coal?

Impacts of Mining Coal ✤ Mining can cause subsidence - the ground settles and disturbs the surface

At the entrance to a collapsed coal mine. The trucks and shovel are trying to open the collapsed mine opening. Environmental Damage – Collapsed Mine

Impacts of Mining Coal Mr. Strogen, circa 2050

Impacts of Mining Coal Acid mine drainage Water that comes out of mines is often highly acidic Text

Surface-Mine Reclamation Surface-mine reclamation. By law, after a mine has closed the land must be restored to its pre-mining conditions.

How can we reduce air pollution from burning coal? ✤ Reduce demand ✤ Use low sulfur coal ✤ Filter smoke stack smoke ✤ Filter bags ✤ Scrubbers

Summary ✤ What are the pros to using coal? ✤ What are the cons to using coal?