Q.1. How is the process of coal extraction different from oil extraction?
Coal is usually in solid black or black brownish in color and it is the mineral formed beneath the earth through sedimentation process from remains of death plants. Geologically it takes millions of years for the formation of coal and need of heavy expenditure for the extraction process since coal can only be found several feet beneath the earth. The depth of the coal reserve determines the method of coal extraction. Surface mining method is more convenient if the reserve is less than 200 feet beneath and underground mining method is opted if the reserve lies beyond 200 feet below the surface. Surface mining involves removing of shallow coal over a wide area where the
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Surface mining can also lead to the drastic changes of landscapes, destruction of habitat, damages to water supplies, and air pollution thereby causing huge environmental effect. Also the loss or degradation of forest added degrades groundwater because coal are often serve as underground aquifers, and the removal of coal beds may result in drastic changes in hydrology after mining has been completed. Moreover, green house gas is one of the causes in emission since mountaintop removal releases large amounts of carbon through clear cutting and burning of trees. Beside, liquid coal known as sludge is generated by washing coal. It is naturally disposed of at impoundments located near coal mines, but in some cases, it is sometimes directly injected into abandoned underground mines. Since coal contains toxins get leaks or spills etc can cause danger to underground and surface waters. The coal mining activities have exposed rocks containing the sulphur-bearing mineral pyrite that reacts with air and water to form sulphuric acid and dissolved iron, and as water washes through mines, this compound forms a thin acid, which can afterward wash into nearby rivers and streams called Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). The transportation of coal is another issue (disadvantages) because coal is often transported via trucks, railroads, and large cargo ships, which release air pollution such as soot and can lead to disasters that ruin the environment. (Environmental Impacts of
Mr. Flint’s comments were discussing what could happen during collective bargaining with employees’ pay and benefits, which is his opinion. Moreover, David Walsh writes, “Employers can make predictions about the likely consequences that unionization will have for the business—consequences that are objectively because of economic reality that is beyond the employer’s control.” (Walsh, 2013-2016, pg. 511) However, Mr. Flint’s comments were discussing a decrease in pay and less benefits, which could be construed as a threat.
Our existence depends on how well we plan and implement policy through international cooperation. As our population continues to increase in the twenty-first century, it will provide us with the clue about how government makes sustainable plans about our future generations. Our present generation continues to consume more resources than what is presently in production, thus increasing the consumption level which has created water shortages, forest depletion for urbanization, more energy consumption, and food crisis, diseases and many more environmental problems. As the result of this, an evolution of transboundary effects are occurring. Our needs are changing to focus on environmental pollution and natural resource management, soil erosion,
The earliest aerial photograph reviewed for Phase I ESA purposes was taken in 1943. The previous alignment of Highway 101, now called Santa Maria Way (or Business U.S. 101), is bordering the site to the west. An unpaved road had been constructed through the southern portion of the site that appears to be the access road to oil well Holmes No. 1, which is just east of the site, connecting it to Highway 101. The unpaved road through the site is looped with what appears to be four round tanks in the center of the loop. These structures are presumed to be oil storage tanks for the nearby oil well Holmes No. 1. Based on this photograph, it appears that one or more of these tanks are on the subject site and they are considered an environmental
Coal is considerably one of the most important sources of energy in nature and is one the most significant sources for power generation worldwide. The excavation and importance of coal became mainstream and apparent during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries.
West Virginia is a land of natural beauty. Often described as “wild and wonderful,” the state’s fall foliage, scenic rivers, and abundant wildlife inspired the composition of a ballad. The song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” portrays West Virginia as “almost Heaven,” and the phrase is difficult to refute (Danoff, Denver, & Nivert, 1971). According to the West Virginia Department of Commerce (2009), the state ranks among the lowest in the nation for the cost of living, the employee turnover rate, average home prices, and instances of violent crime. Nestled among the rolling hills and winding rivers, one could certainly be convinced that West Virginia is simply a modern day Garden of Eden. However, the mountain state is not without its share of problems. Just as the deceitful serpent perpetuated Adam and Eve’s banishment from paradise, mountaintop removal poses a serious threat to the ecosystem and economy of West Virginia.
The loss of a life is the ultimate tragedy, and over the thousands of years of mining history, the industry has had its share of casualties. Mining deals with the extraction of raw materials like coal, diamond, iron-ore etc. Mining industries can be both open cast mining and underground mining. Although we have improved in the technology and study of the earth, mining industry is a very dangerous job. One of the most dangerous work of mining has been mentioned to be coal mining in which they extract coal from underground. Coal mining hazardous mixture of gas and coal dust can form a fatal explosion. As a matter of fact, I reviewed an article that mention the worst coal mining known as the Benxi Hu colliery disaster in China in 1942. “Cost 1,549 lives and is believed to be the worst coal mining disaster ever.” (Limited, 2014)
Coal is one of the world’s most abundant fossil fuels. Coal was formed during the Carboniferous Period when dead plant material was buried and subjected to high pressure and heat. Coal is classified by moisture content and composition. There are four d...
Roughly 68 percent of the electricity generated in the United States of America is produced by fossil fuels. That includes petroleum, natural gases and coal. Although coal contributes around 37 percent to the factor, it is by far not the cleanest of them all. Some might argue that it is good for the economy because it is cheap and it creates jobs.. But the other side of the story portrays coal mining as a process that kills thousands of coal miners a year and that it practically destroys the environment around the mining with soot and air pollution. Mining now days is a big part of urbanization; due to how cheap the process is. There are different ways that coal mining is done. Mainly mountain top removal is done but there are many other
Coal has a very negative impact on the environment, one of the main impacts on the environment is the actual process of extracting the coal from the ground. The two ways that coal is mined, underground and surface, both have different effects on the environment. The first way that coal is mined is by digging tunnels and creating mineshafts underground and then removing the coal from th...
What comes to mind when you think of coal mining? If you're like me, coal mining means living in darkness and a cold hearted industry. Other words that come to mind are poverty and oppression. Coal mining is not a job that you dream about or get a degree for. People who are coal miners do not chose a life full of danger and repression, they get stuck with it. There are many dangers that come along with coal mining, not only for the workers, but for the environment. Coal mining and the coal industry have caused irreversible damage to our environment and has killed innocent miners.
It is most commonly associated with coal mining, especially with soft coal, coal that has high sulphur content. The pyrite that is present in coal seams will be accessible after surface mining when the overlying surfaces are removed or in deep mines that allow oxygen access to the previously inaccessible pyrite-containing coal (D.E.P. 1, 1997). The. After pyrite is exposed to air and water, sulphuric acid and iron hydroxide are formed, creating an acidic runoff (D.E.P. 1, 1997; 2, 2002). When the water comes into contact with the pyrite, the chemical reactions that take place causes the water to increase in pH, which will dissolve heavy metals which stay in solution.
Burning and mining coal for fuel is harmful to the environment, but because of how cheap and easy it is to find, many people are unwilling to give it up as a fuel source. One of the problems with coal is that they are limited and are non-renewable, so once it has been used we won’t be able to use it again. When coal gets burned, they start to release harmful, dangerous toxins such as mercury, lead and arsenic that will then escape into the air. It also releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. These emissions increase the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere and lead to global warming.
There are three types of fossil fuels- coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Coal was formed very slowly. Even the “newest” coal we use today was formed a million years ago. Most of the coal we use was formed 300 million years ago, when the Earth was covered with swamps. When plants and trees died, they sank to the bottoms of the swamps. These plants and trees were layered on top of each other, forming a substance called peat. Peat is considered the first stage in coal formation. It is a mixture of water, leaves, braches, and other plant debris. Over time, the Earth changed, and deposits of sand, clay, and other minerals were formed, burying the peat. Sedimentary rock...
Greenhouse gasses that are released into the air when mining are harmful to the environment and the release of dust particulates negatively affect the ecosystems around the mines. As well as the air pollution there is usually a large amount of noise. In Gauteng large scale mining has caused the dolomite rock to cave in which has resulted in large sinkholes forming and earthquakes.
In our days, mining for resources is inevitable. The resources we need are valuable in everyday life. Such resources mined up are coal, copper, gold, silver, and sand. However, mining poses environmental risks that can degrade the quality of soil and water, which can end up effecting us humans if not taken care of and many of the damages are irreversible once they have occurred.