Fossil Fuel Formation (Copy)
2.1 Fossil Fuel Formation – Cheat Sheet
Formation of Fossil Fuels
| Fuel | Formation Process | Key Features | Example Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | – Formed from ancient plants in swampy forests- Buried under sediments- Heat & pressure over millions of years convert plant matter into peat → lignite → bituminous coal → anthracite | – Solid, carbon-rich- Non-renewable- Used in power stations | USA (Appalachians), China, India |
| Oil (Petroleum) | – Marine organisms (plankton) die and settle on seabeds- Buried under sediments, deprived of oxygen- Heat & pressure over millions of years transform organic material into crude oil | – Liquid hydrocarbon- Non-renewable- Refined into fuels (petrol, diesel, kerosene) | Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Iraq), Venezuela |
| Natural Gas | – Often found with oil- Formed in same process as oil but at higher temperatures- Methane-rich deposits trapped in porous rock layers beneath impermeable cap rock | – Gas, cleaner burning than coal/oil- Non-renewable- Used for electricity, heating, industry | Russia, Qatar, USA |
Quick Revision Pointers
- All fossil fuels: formed from dead organisms over millions of years → buried → heat & pressure → fuel.
- Non-renewable: once used, cannot be replaced on human timescales.
- Energy dense but environmentally damaging (COâ‚‚ emissions, pollution).
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Environmental Management Full Scale Course