Environment - Fossil Fuels

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is generally associated with

coal mining

what is the primary driver of AMD

Sulfides

Common Sulfides

Pyrite, Copper + Pyrite, Zinc, Galena

AMD process:

1. Dissolution of the sulfide via chemical weathering

2. Oxidation of ferrous iron to ferric iron

3. Formation of “yellow boy”

Example of AMD

Berkley Mine Pit (MT)

Superfund/CERCLA 1980

law requiring remediation of abandoned hazardous waste sites

Which state has the most superfund sites? (#1-3)

NJ, CA, PA

Coal and many shales contain

sulfides

Trees and wetlands (swamp) have ____ decomposition states, resulting in the formation of _____

low, coal

AMD in Little Conemaugh Basin

St. Michael

AMD remediation organizations

Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Stony Creel - Conemaugh River Improvement Project

Active remediation

regular inputs of labor and materials; most effective, very expensive  

Passive remediation

periodic (almost infrequent) inputs of labor and materials -> less effective, less expensive  

Wingfield Pines

Remediation of AMD by aerating the iron using a fountain

Rosebud Mining Company

Remediation of AMD by adding slurry (quicklime) to AMD to create iron oxide sludge

Centralia, PA

PA mine fires

3 major groups of geologic resources that can be utilized profitably

Nonmetallic, Metallic, Energy

Nonmetallic resources

Stone, sand, salt, limestone (things you make buildings and roads out of)

Metallic resources

Copper, gold, silver, nickel, etc. (Lights, cell phones, etc.)

Energy

fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal), Nuclear, Renewables (solar, wind, hydroelectricity)

resource

total amount that exists

reserve

amount you can get out of the ground (extracted) and still make a profit

Which geologic resource is consumed the most each year?

Stone (nonmetallic), 6 tons per person per year

Basalt is used for

aggregate

Clay is used for

bricks and pottery

Well graded aggregate

all different sizes of material, low porosity

Poorly graded aggregate

same size minerals, high porosity, less strong, concrete prone to fracture

Metallic resource uses

Lights (conducting: aluminum and copper), cell phones (conductivity, chips, connecters, batteries)

It takes ______ of ore to produce _____ of gold

one ton, one gram

Largest gold mine in the world and large producer of copper

Grasberg Mine, Indonesia

How many elements comprise 99.5% of the Earth’s Crust

13

Gangue

other unwanted minerals/materials not containing the element of interest

Steps of concentration

1. extraction (remove from ground)

2. Grind it (comminution)

3. Separate/concentrate

Concentration methods

Gravity (Sluice box), Froth Flotation, Smelting, Heap leaching

Froth flotation

Mix mineral with water, add air bubbles, because the mineral is hydrophobic it attaches to the air bubbles, while the gangue is hydrophilic and sinks to the bottom. The mineral foam is scraped off the top and collected.

Smelting

You melt the crushed mineral to produce thermal decomposition, and then separate the slag (gangue) layer

Heap Leaching

like coffee: the crushed ore is the grounds, the solution is the hot water, and the metal-laden liquid is the brewed coffee you collect

Top steel-producing state

Indiana 27%

What percent of US energy comes from renewables

7%

How did PA coal form?

Late Carboniferous: one of the big 5 ice ages, Coal swamps with higher oxygen concentrations and lots of vegetation, vegetation decomposes slowly and is overtime compressed into carbon

Appalachian Basin

An area with large coal reserves and Marcellus shale

Bituminous coal

Softer, carbon content 85%

Anthracite

cleanest burning, over 90% carbon content, luster and reflects light

Anthracite can be found in

Eastern PA

Grades of coal

peat, lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, Anthracite

______ temp and pressure going from peat to anthracite

increased

As we go from peat to lignite to bituminous _______ matter decreases

volatile

______ has the largest coal reserves at ____%

U.S., 30

______ and _____ drive coalification

heat, pressure

Natural water pH

5.7 (acidic)

Which two states have produced the most coal in the US Historically:  

PA and West Virginia

Which two countries produce the most coal  

China and USA

Most proven coal reserves in the world  

USA

Has net coal production increased or decreased in the US over the last 50 years?  

It has increased, employment has decreased

PA coal production peak

1920

Coal mining methods

Surface and underground

Surface mining

Mountain top removal, contour, highwall

Underground mining

Strip, room and pillar, longwall

What year were there 3 major mining disasters

1907

Lighting methods in the 1800’s

Whale oil, Camphene oil, Kerosene, Petroleum

How does petroleum form on Earth

Partially decayed microscopic plankton

energy =

power x time (Kilowatt x hour)

In science basic unit of energy

1 joule

Average household in U.S. uses an average of _______kWh per year  

10,000 or 30kwh per day