Fossil Fuels: Formation and Extraction
Coal forms over millions of years from ancient plants that died in swamps. As layers of sediment piled up, heat and pressure transformed these remains into coal by squeezing out oxygen. Since this process takes millions of years, coal is considered a non-renewable resource.
Oil and natural gas form similarly but from ocean plants and animals. When these organisms died and sank to the ocean floor, they were covered by sediment. The type of fossil fuel created depends on heat levels and biomass type - higher temperatures typically produce natural gas.
Extraction methods vary by fuel type. Coal can be mined through bell pits, open cast mining, drift mining, or deep mining. Once extracted, coal requires minimal refining before use. For other substances, extraction processes must separate desired materials from mixtures using solvents that are selective, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Energy Fact: Oil remains the #1 energy source globally, with natural gas demand growing rapidly (projected 65% increase), while coal use is gradually declining but still important for power generation.
Other important fuels include synthetic fuels made from coal or biomass through chemical conversion, and nuclear fuel, which generates energy through controlled nuclear reactions in specialized reactor systems with cooling mechanisms and containment structures.