How Does Coal Form? What Is Coalification?

[@agnelomascarenhas8990]

The process is similar to what happens in a refinery distillation column. During coal formation, at first water is volatilized, then light hydrocarbons and so on until anthracite remains. In a coke oven, all volatiles are removed to get coking coal.

[@mgclark46]

Pretty sure that coal was only formed prior to the evolution of microbes that could break down lignins. When wood, ferns etc,. first evolved, it had no path to break down.

[@dickerickson830]

Fossil evidence indicates microbes have been in existence for 3 billion years. Microbes have been actively decaying organic material for most of earth's history. The lack of oxygen in peat bogs kill aerobic bacteria, but anaerobic bacteria thrive and create low pH conditions. The low pH of peat bogs commonly preserve organic tissue and as it is buried can produce coal. Additionally, peat bogs can preserve animal tissue and many human remains have been found in peat bogs. On the other hand, unburied plant fibers were actively decomposed by aerobic bacteria, fungi, and various invertebrates. All were present in abundance during the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous in Europe). Undoubtably, most of the dead plant life decayed at the surface in the presence of oxygen. During the later part of the time period, there was a 50 million year period of time which is known as the age of oxygen when the percentage of oxygen level was at 35%.....up from the "normal" 20%.

[@walhowidi]

Great title! Great video! Great script!. Keep going👍🏻🤍

[@robertanderson809]

Forms, or formed?

[@triedzidono]

1:38 was "spliin and riftin "after pangea ? aah, Leechin am seeing a pattern here, inconsistently. g's and t's are worth a mention. Intentionally dropping them as someone so evidently well-spoken is not fair on yourself or any potential international audience. Just be yourself, Earthman

[@peterblair1759]

More koalafication and less coalification!!!

[@izmesamsung2581]

Back to school for you!! The coal was formed due to absence of bacteria able to process the organic materials, these only developed later .... and this is completely missing in your "explanation". Shoddy rather....

[@earthscienceclassroom]

Thank you for your comment, yes the ability for organic material to accumulate is important, however the ratio of organisms vs organic matter has to be considered. Whether there was enough bacterial activity acting on all the organic matter.

[@kimsmoke17]

Yes, this is generally all correct, but the formation of coal, natural gas, and oil all happened in a very short period of time. Perhaps in under 250 to 500 million years. A very short period of time in the history of our earth. Sounds like this is your bachelor’s degree thesis?

[@billwilson-es5yn]

The formation of all three started long before that and has never ended. The US, Jordan and Israel have vast deposits of kerogen which is immature petroleum. Those weren't subjected to high pressures and heat by being buried beneath thousands of feet of sediment. There are more vast deposits of it much deeper underground that are the source rocks for a number of oil fields around the world. The source rocks are replacing the older petroleum that is being pumped out. Those fields were left idle due to low production and revisited decades later after the price of oil increased. The field operators tested the wells to find the deposits now held more oil that was new (different). The USGS also has stated that the known coal reserves in the US probably are 10% of what's actually underground. Those are too deep for conventional mining techniques so the coal industry figured out ways to access those long ago to process it in situ. Coal and kerogen will power the US economy for centuries. The kerogen deposits hold 7 to 12 trillion barrels of light sweet crude. Captured CO2 from coal fired generation plants can be used to push out the estimated 297 billion barrels of oil stranded in depleted oil fields. Then the fields can be used for long term CO2 storage sites until they need the CO2 for the production of methane and methanol.

[@earthscienceclassroom]

@billwilson-es5yn thank you for the in-depth analysis, I enjoy when the videos can create discussions around the subject.

[@geoffgeoff143]

Im not happy with your explanation

[@kjnoah]

coal does not necessarily pollute, that is a myth. It is possible to cleanly burn coal. Be accurate or stop teaching.

[@earthscienceclassroom]

Thank you for the feedback, I would like to read the published scientific articles discussing the coal’s combustion and lack of pollution

[@kjnoah]

@@earthscienceclassroom Sure, I can do the homework for you, there are also many years of studies over many years measuring actual air quality at the actual smoke stacks. I personally have been at the top of several, measured myself, breathed the air an noted that riving to work on the highway was worse than standing there all day.

[@kjnoah]

@@earthscienceclassroom Key Technologies for Cleaner Coal Combustion: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): This involves capturing carbon dioxide emitted during coal combustion and storing it underground, preventing it from entering the atmosphere. Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD): This process removes sulfur dioxide from flue gases, reducing acid rain formation. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): SCR reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by reacting them with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst. Electrostatic Precipitators and Fabric Filters: These devices capture particulate matter, such as soot and fly ash, from flue gases. Advanced Combustion Technologies: These include technologies like fluidized bed combustion and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), which can improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

[@kjnoah]

@@earthscienceclassroom Carbon Capture and Storage: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control (2012) published a paper on the technical and economic feasibility of CCS in coal-fired power plants. Energy & Fuels (2017) presented research on the development of novel materials for CO2 capture. Flue Gas Desulfurization: Environmental Science & Technology (2015) published a study on the effectiveness of FGD systems in reducing sulfur dioxide emissions. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (2018) explored the optimization of FGD processes. Selective Catalytic Reduction: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (2020) presented research on the development of highly efficient SCR catalysts. Fuel (2023) investigated the performance of SCR systems under different operating conditions.

[@earthscienceclassroom]

I appreciate the detailed feedback and it’s great to hear and receive actual experience of working around the power plants. I’m aware of all the carbon capture and emission reduction technology currently being utilized. I will be sure to read the articles you mentioned regarding the emissions.