coal review sheet- exam 3

These flashcards cover terminology and key concepts related to coal formation, characteristics, and environmental impacts.

Conditions for Coal Formation

Lots of plant material in swampy areas, burial without oxygen, and millions of years of heat and pressure.

Sedimentary Basin

A low-lying area where plant material can accumulate, get buried, and turn into coal over millions of years.

Peat vs. Coal

Peat is partially decayed plant material with high moisture; coal is hardened, carbon-rich rock formed after millions of years of heat and pressure.

Ranks of Coal

Peat, Lignite, Subbituminous, Bituminous, Anthracite, and Graphite.

BTU of Peat

3,000 BTU per pound.

BTU of Lignite

7,000 BTU per pound with 8% production in the US.

BTU of Subbituminous

9,000 BTU per pound with 40% production in the US.

BTU of Bituminous

12,000 BTU per pound with 50% production in the US.

BTU of Anthracite

15,000 BTU per pound with 2% production in the US.

BTU of Graphite

1% 7,000-9,000 BTU/lb

what is the Grade of Coal?

The quality of the coal, defined by carbon content and pollution release.

Highest-grade Coal and lowest-grade coal

Anthracite is the highest grade, while Lignite is the lowest grade in the US.

Eastern vs. Western Coal

Eastern coal has higher energy content, while Western coal has lower energy content but produces less pollution.

Western Coal Characteristics

Subbituminous, 47% of US coal production, medium to low grade, lower fuel value than eastern coal.

Eastern Coal Characteristics

Bituminous, 29% of US production, higher fuel value than western coal, high-grade coal.

Coal Mining Location

Most coal is mined today in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming.

Why is Surface Mining more common in the west?

More common in the West due to coal being found at the surface.

List the age and geologic time of the two coal-forming periods in North America

Carboniferous period (300 million years ago) and Paleocene (60 million years ago)

Carboniferous Period

300 million years ago, characterized by warm, swampy rainforests that produced high-quality bituminous coal.

This explains how these conditions lead to a lower grade in the eastern deposit.

Eastern has a high grade because they were in swamps and had more time, pressure, and heat to turn plant material into bituminous and anthracite coal.

Where does the coal used in central Illinois power plants come from?

comes from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming because it has low sulfur content, which reduces air pollution

Review the graphs on the back of this page. Explain the changes in coal mining, coal rank, and my location around 1970. Why did these changes occur?

Coal mining shifted west, using more surface area coal. This could be because of the formation of the EPA and the Clean Air and Clean Water acts, so they use lower-grade coal to reduce pollution

3 Illinois Coal Characteristics

underground my subsidence: when old mines collapse causing the ground to sink in on itself; seeing coal formations in the rocks around like shale; oponts where acid mind drainage goes which can harm plants and animals

Underground Mine Substance

Occurs when old coal mines collapse, causing ground subsidence, indicated by cracks and dips in the ground.

Coal Mine Jumbo

Large drilling machines used for creating holes for explosives or roof support in underground mines.

Acid Mine Drainage

Formed when rainwater reacts with sulfur in coal mines, resulting in acidic water that harms aquatic life.

Underground Coal Fires

Difficult to extinguish due to deep burning and a constant air supply that allows them to spread.

Peat Identification

Soft and crumbly texture.

Anthracite Identification

Hardest and shiniest coal, burns the hottest.

Bituminous Identification

Black and shiny in appearance.

Subbituminous Identification

Black but not shiny.

Lignite Identification

Brown and dull in appearance.

List and explain the importance of the following components of a “Geologic Perspective.” Dynamic Earth, Global Scale, Deep Time and Systems Thinking.

• Dynamic Earth – The Earth is always changing (like earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion). It's important because it helps us understand how landforms and resources form over time.

• Global Scale – Earth’s processes are connected all over the world. This matters because a change in one place (like ocean currents) can affect weather or climate far away.

• Deep Time – Earth is billions of years old. This is important because it gives us a long timeline to understand how things like mountains or fossils formed.

• Systems Thinking – Everything on Earth is connected (land, water, air, and life). It helps us see how one change (like pollution) can affect the whole planet.