Coal Mining

Coal can be mined by

• underground mining

• in situ mining

• strip mining

What two things are required to turn decaying plant material into coal?

• Heat and Moisture

• Pressure and Moisture

• Heat and Pressure

• Heat and Gravity

What fossil fuel is in the image?

• Natural Gas

• Steam

• Coal

• Petroleum

Which fossil fuel is the remains of ancient plants?

• Coal

• Petroleum

• Natural Gas

Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. Predict a negative effect that could occur over the next 50 years if coal mining increased.

• Coal mining could produce acid rain causing burns to human skin.

• Coal mining creates nuclear energy that causes immediate death

• Coal mining can reduce the natural environment in the surrounding land.

• Coal from mining can wash into bodies of water and cause an overgrowth of algae.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-5

NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

Surface mining is a method used primarily to extract:

• Natural gas

• Oil

• Coal

• Uranium

What strategy could be used to manage the environmental impact of coal mining?

• Increasing the depth of mines

• Replanting vegetation on reclaimed mining sites

• Using more explosives to speed up coal extraction

• Banning all forms of coal mining

Answer explanation

Replanting vegetation on reclaimed mining sites is a strategy that can help manage the environmental impact of coal mining by restoring ecosystems and reducing soil erosion.

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Which of the following is considered a fossil fuel?

• Solar energy

• Wind power

• Coal

• Hydropower

What is a nonrenewable resource?

• A resource that can be used repeatedly and does not run out because it is naturally replenished.

• A resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural means at a quick enough pace to keep up with consumption.

• A resource that is created by artificial means.

• A resource that is only found in certain parts of the world.

Which country has the largest proven coal reserves?

• China

• United States

• Russia

• India