Geography presentation on coal for my project for geog class last year. It would have to be downloaded to be viewed properly because there are A LOT of transitions and animations to consider. text normally come in and exit then the pictures follow at the same time so please download

1. GEOAGRAPHY PRESENTATION
TOPIC:
FOSSIL FUELS
AIM:
THE IMPACT OF COAL ON THE ENVIRONMENT
FOCUS: USA

2. INTRODUCTION TO COAL
 FORMATION
 WHAT

IS COAL?
A fossil fuel, Coal from the English word ‘col’
coal forms
when dead plant matter is fossilised carbon is a is a
meaning a
converted into combustible black or brownishpeat, which
in turn is converted into
black sedimentary rock usually
lignite, then suboccurring in rock strata in layers or
bituminous coal, then
veins called coal beds or coal
bituminous coal, and lastly
seams.
anthracite. ThisThe harder forms, such as
 involves
biological and geological coal, can be regarded as
anthracite
processes that take place
metamorphic rock because of later
over a long period.
exposure to elevated temperature
and pressure. Coal is composed
primarily of carbon along with
variable quantities of other
elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur,
oxygen, and nitrogen.

3. COAL

Surface Mining is used to
produce most of the coal in the
U.S. because it is less expensive
than underground mining.
Surface mining can be used
when the coal is buried less than
200 feet underground. In
surface mining, giant machines
remove the top-soil and layers
of rock to expose large beds of
coal. Once the mining is
finished, the dirt and rock are
returned to the pit, the topsoil
is replaced, and the area is
replanted. The land can then be
used for croplands, wildlife
habitats, recreation, or offices
or stores.(Alppachian
mountains)


MINING
Underground
Mining, sometimes called
deep mining, is used when the
coal is buried several hundred
feet below the surface. Some
underground mines are
1,000 feet deep. To remove
coal in these underground
mines, miners ride elevators
down deep mine shafts where
they run machines that dig
out the coal.(west Virginia)

4. A.
COAL HANDLING- handling of bulky pieces of coal
B.
STOCKPILES-machinery dumping coal into piles
C.
STACKING-feeding the conveyor
RECLAIMING-reclaiming coal from stock piles
E.
SAMPLING-a routine sampling is taken at a set
frequency over a period of time or shipment
F.
WASHABILITY-the amount of physical breakage
required to separate material of diff densities
G.
CRUSHING-reducing size of coal for easy transport
H.
SCREENING-group particle size into ranges of grades
I.
GRAVITY SEPARATION-make use of diff relative
densities of coal and reject material
J.
DEWATERING PRODUCT COAL-water is removed to
reduce mass and run-off
K.
THICKENERS-used to dewater slurries of either tailings
or product
L.
CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION-measurement
of flow, density levels, ash and moisture
COAL PROCESSING
D.
After coal comes out
of the ground, it
typically goes on a
conveyor belt to a
preparation plant
that is located at the
mining site. The
plant cleans and
processes coal to
remove dirt, rock,
ash, sulfur, and in
Coal processing plantother
unwanted
Kentucky, USA materials,
increasing the
heating value of the
coal.
A coal preparation
plant (CPP) is a
facility that washes
coal of soil and rock,
preparing it for
transport to market.
A CPP may also be
called a coal handling
and preparation plant
(CHPP), prep plant,
tipple, or wash plant.

5. Coal
Transportation
Ohio river, Louisville
Transport to
thermal plant in
China
TRANSPORTATION OF COAL
Coal transport in
India
The way that coal is
transported to
where it will be
used depends on
the distance to be
covered. Coal is
generally
transported by
conveyor or truck
over short
distances. Trains
and barges are used
for longer distances
within domestic
markets, or
alternatively coal
can be mixed with
water to form a
coal slurry and
transported
through a pipeline.

6. ECONOMIC
IMPORTANCE
ELECTRICITY
 Of all known sources of
From focus usa
energy, coal is the most
important source supplying
more than 55% of heat and
energy in the world. Not only
coal is a source of energy and
heat but also it is the source
of valuable products, viz.,
gases, tar, oils, pitch, coke,
ammonia; fertilizers, synthetic
dyes and numerous drugs.
Nowadays, steam is used to
produce electric power, which
is then transmitted to the
factory by means of wires

 Coal
is also a key
component of
important industrial
processes such as
steel and cement
manufacturing both of which are
central to building
the essential
infrastructure of
growing economies.

7. IMPACT
ON ENVIRONMENT
:
AIR
Air quality reduced due to emission from vehicles,
generators and equipment. Also from coal dust
blowing from mining sites could cause respiratory
problems ( coal dust causes black lung disease)
 Greenhouse gas emissions like CO2 and the potent
methane(released during mining) that could also
result in ocean acidification.(coal fires burn for
decades)
Brandon shores power plant,
 Radiation exposure (low levels of uranium and
Maryland
thorium and other radioactive isotopes)
 Mercury emissions in form of methyl mercury which is
a potent toxic compound to wildlife
Underground coal fire, mountains of
 NOISE POLLUTION

Colorado

8. IN WATER:
There is damage to water quality due to:
 Acid mine drainage into water bodies
Colorado mountains
 Soil erosion and run-off deposition
stream
 Weathering causing leeching and oxidation
 Pesticides intoxicating water bodies
 Discharge of waste such as mercury, arsenic and nickel
into storage ponds which could then leak into
groundwater flows
 Excavation, extraction and withdrawal of water
affecting ground water flows and surface run-off
 Waste piles and ash deposited in rivers producing
sediment, unfit for use even years later


9. Stock piles at the hay point coal
terminal
ON
THE LAND
open pit mines are difficult to close and its sometimes
impossible to reclaim land
 Ecological sources (habitats) are affected due to noise,
run-off, acid mine drainage, mortality of biota,
Open cut with in the Bowen
exposure to contaminants, interference miningniche and
basin
behavioral activities
 Vandalism of paleontological and cultural sites due to
land clearance and excavation
 Possible hazards like earthquakes and landslides
triggered due to blasts and excavation which alter
drainage patterns and increases run-off and erosion
