Resource Consumption

Renewable vs. Non-renewableCoal Formation

Think – Pair – Share

about what makes a resource renewable or non-renewable

up with a partner and create a list of renewable and non-renewable resources

with the class

What’s the difference?

• Renewable – Can be replaced in a reasonable amount of time – Nuclear, wind, solar

• Non-Renewable– Cannot be replaced in a reasonable amount of

time, once it’s gone, humans can no longer use it– Coal, natural gas, lumber

Time frames

• Coal: 100 year supply of bituminous coal, 457 year supply of sub-bituminous coal, and 171 year supply of lignite

• Natural Gas: 60 year supply

• Solar energy: solar panels may need to be replaced every 25 years, but the sun will supply continuous energy

Coal Formation

• Environment: – A wetland/marsh, where organic material

accumulates under water– The organic material is compressed under new

layers– Peat is formed

Peat ?

• Peat is further compressed, and the wetland dries up

• Under heat and pressure, lignite forms

• Under even more heat and pressure, more water is squeezed out of lignite to form sub-bituminous coal

Lignite ?

• Once sub-bituminous is heated and squeezed, bituminous coal forms, and has very little moisture content

• This is the most abundant type of coal• More than 50% of coal production in U.S.

Sub-bituminous ?

• The last step is the formation of anthracite coal

• This is considered a metamorphic rock because of the extreme heat and pressure needed

• Most rare, burns slowly, hardest, only found in PA in the U.S.

Bituminous ?

Hilt’s Law

• In a small area, the deeper the coal, the higher its grade.

• This law only holds true if the thermal gradient is vertical.

• Horizontal/lateral changes in rank may be occur if the thermal gradient is not completely vertical

Summary

Open Discussion

• You took a walk and found a lump of peat, and a lump of sub-bituminous coal. Which one is older? How can you tell?

• The two most important factors in making coal are ______ and ______.

• What are the five types of coal? In what order do they form?

• Is coal a renewable resource? Explain.• Instead of burning coal, what are a few

alternative energy sources?

Poster

• Start working on your coal formation poster– Include arrows to show the linear progression of

the different types/grades of coal– Label each type– Include labels/arrows for heat and pressure– Include at least 2 facts about each type of coal– Include how much longer each type will last at

current rate– Include pictures/graphics/text where appropriate– Cite your facts!!!