1. Chapter 11 Fossil Fuels - Coal

2. Fossil Fuels are fuels formed from the remains of once living things. types coal, oil, natural gas coal formed from the remains of swamp vegetation oil and natural gas formed from the remains of microscopic marine organisms All Nonrenewable

3. Nonrenewable Resources Nonrenewable: used by humans faster than the earth can create fossil fuels are still being formed by the same geologic processes but too slowly to replace what we’re using

4. Fig. 16-2, p. 357 Oil and natural gas Floating oil drilling platform Oil storage Coal Contour strip mining Oil drilling platform on legs Geothermal energy Hot water storage Oil well Pipeline Geothermal power plant Gas well Valves Mined coal Pump Area strip mining Drilling tower Pipeline Impervious rock Underground coal mine Natural gas Water Oil Water is heated and brought up as dry steam or wet steam Water Coal seam Hot rock Water penetrates down through the rock Magma

5. Coal is a Sedimentary Rock. Coal outcrop in Alaska

6. COAL Countries with largest proven coal reserves United States (~25%) Russia (~17%) China (~13%)

7. COAL Coal reserves in the United States, Russia, and China could last hundreds to over a thousand years. In 2005, China and the U.S. accounted for 53% of the global coal consumption.

9. Known coal deposits could last 200 years at present rate of consumption Notice regions with very little coal – developed or developing countries? Any connection?

10. Coal solid fossil fuel occurs in different grades based on variations in heat and pressure during burial Lignite Subbitumimous Bituminous Anthracite most, if not all, coal deposits have been identified primarily in northern hemisphere

11. Fig. 16-12, p. 368 Increasing heat and carbon content Increasing moisture content Peat (not a coal) Lignite (brown coal) Bituminous (soft coal) Anthracite (hard coal) Heat Pressure Partially decayed plant matter in swamps and bogs; low heat content Low heat content; low sulfur content; limited supplies in most areas Extensively used as a fuel because of its high heat content and large supplies; normally has a high sulfur content Highly desirable fuel because of its high heat content and low sulfur content; supplies are limited in most areas

12. Coal Mining Methods Subsurface Mining Description – excavating a vertical shaft or horizontal tunnel to the resource Benefits – can get to resources far underground Costs – more expensive, more time-consuming, more dangerous

13. Surface Mining Description – if resource is <200 ft. from the surface, the topsoil is removed (and saved), explosives are used to break up the rocks and to remove the resource, reclamation follows Benefits – cheap, easy, efficient, relatively safe Costs – tears up the land (temporarily), byproducts produce acid mine drainage that can accumulate in rivers and lakes

14. Strip Mining earth movers strip away overburden, giant shovels remove coal often leaves highly erodible hills of rubble called spoil banks Figure 15-12 Surface Mining

16. Strip Mining earth movers strip away overburden, giant shovels remove coal often leaves highly erodible hills of rubble called spoil banks Figure 15-12 Surface Mining

17. http://library.ndsu.edu/exhibits/text/greatplains/text.html Surface Mining

18. Contour Strip Mining used on hilly or mountainous terrain if land not restored, a highly erodible bank called a highwall is left Figure 15-13 Surface Mining

20. Mountaintop Removal machinery removes the tops of mountains to expose coal waste rock and dirt are dumped into surrounding streams and valleys Figure 15-14 Surface Mining

22. Coal-slurry impoundment in the Appalachian Basin. (Photo courtesy of Ben Stout, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, W. Va.)

23. Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal formation and movement of highly acidic water rich in heavy metals forms through chemical reaction of surface water (rainwater, snowmelt, pond water) and shallow subsurface water with rocks that contain sulfur-bearing minerals, resulting in sulfuric acid Heavy metals can be leached from rocks that come in contact with the acid, a process that may be substantially enhanced by bacterial action. Acid Mine Drainage http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/acid_mne.cfm#content

24. The resulting fluids may be highly toxic and, when mixed with groundwater, surface water and soil, may have harmful effects on humans, animals and plants. Acid mine drainage comes mainly from abandoned coal mines and active mining.

25. Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal Big problem with abandoned mines Shaft and tunnel systems allow water to come in contact with coal remaining underground Acid Mine Drainage

26. Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977) Requires filling (reclaiming) of surface mines after mining Expensive! Reduces Acid Mine Drainage Requires permits and inspections of active coal mining sights Prohibits coal mining in sensitive areas

27. Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal Mountaintop Removal Fills valleys and streams with debris Strip & Open Pit Spoil Heaps Debris contains sulfur and mercury

28. Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal releases large quantities of CO 2 into atmosphere Greenhouse gas releases Mercury into atmosphere releases Sulfur into atmosphere Acid Precipitation Forms Nitrogen oxides also Figure 11.8

29. Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal Source of Pollutants Coal naturally contains: Carbon Mercury Sulfur Nitrogen found in atmosphere

30. Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal Pollutants contained in coal Carbon Sulfur Mercury Pollutants created by coal CO 2 sulfur acids and nitrogen acids mercury – atmospheric, water, land

31. Acid Deposition / Acid Precipitation sulfur released as sulfur oxides when coal is burned sulfur oxides react with water in atmosphere to form sulfuric acid H 2 SO 4 nitrogen in atmosphere = _____% when super heated N 2 forms nitrogen oxides nitrogen oxides react with water in atmosphere to form nitric and nitrous acids

32. drawing

33. Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal Pollutant in Coal Pollutant created by extracting or burning coal Environmental impact of pollutant AIRWATER / LAND ________

34. Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal Pollutant in Coal Pollutant created by extracting or burning coal Environmental impact of pollutant AIRWATER / LAND Carbon CO 2 greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change ocean acidification Mercury toxicity - heavy metal in atmosphere (but falls out readily) toxicity - heavy metal in groundwater and soil Sulfur sulfur oxides (SOx)  sulfuric acid S-acids in atmosphere contributing to acid precipitation -acid mine drainage leading to acidification of ground and surface water -leaching of heavy metals into groundwater ________ nitrogen oxides (NOx)  nitrogen acids N-acids in atmos. contributing to acid precipitation ________

35. terms to know Reclamation land treatment that minimizes adverse effects from surface mining operations so that mine lands are reclaimed to a usable condition and creates no danger to public health or safety paid for by mining company, not government overseen by gov’t agency Deplete / Depletion Acid Mine Drainage Acid Deposition Overburden

36. How do we make Electricity? Need fuel source – to boil water to make steam to turn a turbine to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy Fuel sources = fossil fuels, nuclear Exceptions solar – converts solar energy into electrical energy wind – turns turbine itself

37. Fig. 16-13, p. 369 Waste heat Coal bunker Turbine Cooling tower transfers waste heat to atmosphere Generator Cooling loop Stack Pulverizing mill Condenser Filter Boiler Toxic ash disposal

38. Four widely used devices waste large amounts of energy: Incandescent light bulb: 95% of energy is lost as heat. Internal combustion engine: 94% of the energy in its fuel is wasted. Nuclear power plant: 92% of energy is wasted through nuclear fuel and energy needed for waste management. Coal-burning power plant: 66% of the energy released by burning coal is lost.

39. The major environmental impact common to all fossil fuels is that they: A) are not found everywhere. B) usually have to be processed. C) produce heat when burned. D) produce carbon dioxide. E) have to be transported.

40. The major environmental impact common to all fossil fuels is that they: A) are not found everywhere. B) usually have to be processed. C) produce heat when burned. D) produce carbon dioxide. E) have to be transported.

41. Which type of coal has the highest sulfur content? A. lignite B. subbituminous C. bituminous D. anthracite E. peat

42. Which type of coal has the highest sulfur content? A. lignite B. subbituminous C. bituminous D. anthracite E. peat

43. Which fossil fuel is most abundant in North America? A. oil B. natural gas C. uranium D. coal E. peat

44. Which fossil fuel is most abundant in North America? A. oil B. natural gas C. uranium D. coal E. peat

45. Which fossil fuel reserves will most likely last the longest? A. oil B. natural gas C. coal D. peat E. uranium

46. Which fossil fuel reserves will most likely last the longest? A. oil B. natural gas C. coal D. peat E. uranium

47. Anthracite coal: A. causes the most air pollution B. has the highest sulfur content C. is very hard and is the cleanest burning coal D. is the most abundant grade of coal E. is very soft and burns at high temperatures

48. Anthracite coal: A. causes the most air pollution B. has the highest sulfur content C. is very hard and is the cleanest burning coal D. is the most abundant grade of coal E. is very soft and burns at high temperatures

49. Bituminous coal: A. is the most common grade of coal B. causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal C. is very soft and burns at high temperatures D. is very hard and burns cleanly E. has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal

50. Bituminous coal: A. is the most common grade of coal B. causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal C. is very soft and burns at high temperatures D. is very hard and burns cleanly E. has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal

51. Which pollutant is a result of burning coal? A. carbon dioxide B. sulfur oxides C. mercury D. nitrogen oxides E. all of these

52. Which pollutant is a result of burning coal? A. carbon dioxide B. sulfur oxides C. mercury D. nitrogen oxides E. all of these

53. Which pollutant is not contained within coal? A. carbon B. sulfur C. mercury D. nitrogen E. all of these

54. Which pollutant is not contained within coal? A. carbon B. sulfur C. mercury D. nitrogen E. all of these

55. Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides lead to: A. acid indigestion B. acid mine drainage C. acid precipitation D. A & B E. B & C

56. Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides lead to: A. acid indigestion B. acid mine drainage C. acid precipitation D. A & B E. B & C

57. Sulfur and Nitrogen oxides lead to: A. acid indigestion B. acid mine drainage C. acid precipitation D. A & B E. B & C

58. Which of the following has the largest proven coal reserves? A. South America B. The United Sates C. Australia D. Indonesia E. China

59. Which of the following has the largest proven coal reserves? A. South America B. The United Sates C. Australia D. Indonesia E. China

60. Scrubbers in smoke stacks remove large amounts of what major air pollutant? A. carbon dioxide B. sulfur oxides C. nitric acid D. sodium oxides E. mercury

61. Scrubbers in smoke stacks remove large amounts of what major air pollutant? A. carbon dioxide B. sulfur oxides C. nitric acid D. sodium oxides E. mercury

62. The concern about global warming is directly related to increased levels of what chemical in the atmosphere? A. mercury B. carbon dioxide C. sulfur oxide D. nitrogen oxide E. chlorofluorocarbon

63. The concern about global warming is directly related to increased levels of what chemical in the atmosphere? A. mercury B. carbon dioxide C. sulfur oxide D. nitrogen oxide E. chlorofluorocarbon

64. Today the world's main energy source is A. coal B. hydroelectric C. natural gas D. nuclear E. oil

65. Today the world's main energy source is A. coal B. hydroelectric C. natural gas D. nuclear E. oil

66. The legislation that has regulated mining activities in the United States since 1977 is the: A. Wilderness Act B. Clean Water Act C. Endangered Species Act D. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act E. Soil Conservation Service Act

67. The legislation that has regulated mining activities in the United States since 1977 is the: A. Wilderness Act B. Clean Water Act C. Endangered Species Act D. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act E. Soil Conservation Service Act

68. All of the following statements are true about surface mining except A. It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the United States B. It is also known as strip mining C. It is generally safer for miners than other coal mining processes D. It is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining E. It is the most hazardous type of mining for workers

69. All of the following statements are true about surface mining except A. It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the United States B. It is also known as strip mining C. It is generally safer for miners than other coal mining processes D. It is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining E. It is the most hazardous type of mining for workers

70. Which of these statements about coal is false? A. Some types of coal contain a lot of sulfur. B. Subsurface mining accounts for about 40% of the coal mined in the U.S. C. Coal powered the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution. D. Coal produces far less SO 2 than natural gas or oil. E. Coal supplies about 20% of the energy used in the United States.

71. Which of these statements about coal is false? A. Some types of coal contain a lot of sulfur. B. Subsurface mining accounts for about 40% of the coal mined in the U.S. C. Coal powered the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution. D. Coal produces far less SO 2 than natural gas or oil. E. Coal supplies about 20% of the energy used in the United States.