Informative Essay On Coal

What does one think of when the word ‘coal’ is mentioned? Many of the United States think of it as dirty energy, as it is a prominent cause of global warming. Many also see it as a way of life. Those that grew up in the Appalachian region see it as security and a way to provide for their families. As someone that grew up in southern West Virginia, almost everyone you knew had a family member in the mining industry. I, Sophie Hurley, hope that the people of this community can find some other form of energy and way to make a living as I address how coal came to be so widely depended on. Coal has been used for far longer than one might think. Being traced to as far back as 1,000 B.C. One might ask, what is coal? Coal started forming millions of years ago as plants and animals would die. Over a long period of time rocks, dirt, and sediment pile on top of the decaying material, creating high pressure and heat underground (Society). It has been known to be found up to 1,000 feet below the surface. This type of coal, which has undergone the longest period of carbonization, is called anthracite. The most common type of coal would be bituminous. Peat, the lowest quality of coal was some of the first to be used to produce heat. Another form of coal is lignite, which is found rather close to the surface. Today coal is mined two …show more content…
So much heat is being kept in the atmosphere because of the carbon that is released from the fossil fuels. The carbon budget is necessary because we need some heat in our atmosphere to facilitate life on Earth. Mining coal is not only dangerous for the Earth because of the carbon budget, but it is bad for the environment in the way that during mining pollutants are released into the air. Also, mining can create explosions, risking the lives of those underground