Coal Flashcards
When did coal become a major energy source?
Industrial Revolution
Coal and the world’s energy needs
2 source of world energy, #1 source of electricity
Coal and US energy needs
3 energy source, #1 electricity source in US
Trends in US coal production
Was mostly in east, now it’s increasingly from West
How is coal formed?
woody peaty plant material
time, heat, pressure
What are the four types of coal?
Lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, anthracite
Rank the types of coal and state their uses
Anthracite–for heating (14000btu/lb)
Bituminous–electricity, coke (11-15000btu/lb)
subbituminous–electricity (8-10000btu/lb)
lignite–electricity (5-7500 btu/lb)
Most abundant coal?
bituminous
Coal reserves
US, Russia, china
Coal production
China by far, then US & europe
Coal exporters
Australia, indonesia
Coal importers
Japan, China, South Korea
US Coal reserves
Montana, Wyoming, PA, IL, WV
US Coal production
Wyoming, WV, KY
How is coal mined (surface/under split)?
US: 70% surface, 30% underground
World: 40% surface, 60% underground
Surface Mining (US location, % Recovery, 3)
Typical of western US
75-90% recovery
Open pit, strip, mountaintop removal
Underground mining (US location, % Recovery, 2)
Typical of Eastern US
30-75% recovery
Room and pillar, longwall methods
Open Pit Mining
surface mine of large, terraced pits; drilling and blasting rock and then removing it
Strip Mining
Surface mining where really large machinery removes overburden in strips, gaining access to seam
Mountaintop removal mining
Surface mining characteristic of Appalachia;
blasting mountain to access seam–totally changes topography
Room and pillar mining
Underground; continuous miners carve rooms from the seam, leaving walls and pillars for structural support
Longwall mining
Underground; continuous miners work back and forth along a wall of the seam; mine collapses behind machines
US Coal transportation
Mostly by rail (some truck, river)
US end use for coal
Electricity
