A black rock What is in coal?  Comes from the remains of plants that have been compressed over millions of years in the Earth.  It is about 75% carbon  Also may contain sulfur, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other substances.

 So, if coal is buried under millions of years of dirt and water, how do we get it out of the Earth?

Surface Mining Shaft Mining  Miners use earthmovers to remove surface of the earth to get the coal.  If coal is close to the surface of the Earth they will use this method.  Miners like this method because it is not as expensive.  Unfortunately, it also destroys the land at the surface.  Miners dig tunnels into the Earth.  Then they use tools and explosives to remove the coal from the rock of the Earth.  Some mines are 1,000 feet deep.

 After the coal is removed from the Earth it is loaded into mining cars and brought to the surface.  Then it is cleaned  Then it is loaded on to trains for transportation

 Let’s take a break and watch a video. › Return to the website and watch “How do they do it: coal mining?”

 Let’s review what we know so far. › Coal is a black rock made up mostly of carbon › It lies beneath millions of years of Earth › Miners work to remove it from the Earth › It is a source of energy for us › Top mining states are Montana, Wyoming, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania

 Carbon: a chemical element found in coal as well as plants and animals  Fuel: a substance that is used for heat or energy  Mine: a place where miners work to get certain materials out of the Earth  Nonrenewable: can be used up—there is a limited supply

 Where is coal mined?

 Why is coal important, and why do miners work so hard to bring the coal to the surface? › The main use of coal today is for electricity. › Plants burn the coal to create steam, the steam powers machines that create electricity.

 It is also used to help transform iron into steel.  Coal heated to make coke coke can be heated to high temperatures changes iron ore to iron iron is used to make steel  The high temperatures give steel strength and flexibility  It can then be made into things like bridges and automobiles.

 No! We get many things through mining.  Let's Do Some Cyber Prospecting! Let's Do Some Cyber Prospecting! › Click on the link and when you arrive, choose a state and click on it to see what they mine. Don’t forget to fill in question 3 as you prospect.

 Here are some other types of fuel. Make sure and jot them down in your journal. › We have already learned about coal  Do you remember that coal is a nonrenewable substance? › Other nonrenewable fuels  oil and natural gas. › Other fuels  Ethanol  Petroleum

 PROS › We have a large supply › It is cheaper to make coal into an energy source than other substances › Provides energy for plants and electricity for homes  CONS › Releases pollutants into the air › Coal ash can be highly toxic › Mixes with oxygen when it burns and creates carbon- dioxide, which increases Earth’s temperatures

 The Hopi Indians were the first people to use coal in North America.  Thomas Edison built a coal-fired electric generating plant in 1882.

 ge=coal_home-basics#coal_mining- basics ge=coal_home-basics#coal_mining- basics   making.htm making.htm  w-do-they-do-it-coal-mining.html w-do-they-do-it-coal-mining.html