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Coal

Coal was formed as trees and plants in vast primeval forests decayed. They formed peat bogs that were, over time, buried by soil and rock. As these sediments accumulated, pressure and heat transformed the peat into coal. It's estimated that up to 2.5 meters of compacted vegetation was required to produce a coal seam 30 centimeters thick. Coal seams 10 or more meters in thickness are common.
 * What is it? **

In addition to carbon, coals contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and varying amounts of sulfur. The coal found in Western Canada started forming during the Cretaceous Period (65 - 135 million years ago). The coal deposits of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were formed during the Carboniferous Period (280 million years ago).

When coal is burned for energy, it produces exhaust thick with fly ash, which contains trace metals such as arsenic that pose potential health hazards if inhaled. The exhaust also contains nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury and other harmful pollutants.

NPR Visualizing the Energy Grid - Learn about the energy resources powering our country and our state, and find out how they are interconnected.
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Energy Explained - US Energy Information Administration. Learn about how each energy resources is found and used to provide the energy we need.

Energy4Me - Compare the pros and cons of each energy resource.

CBC News Online | May 20, 2009 [], - Additional information about energy resources.

Buzzle: Pros and Cons of Energy - Additional information about energy resources.

Estimated cost per kilowatt hour by resource:




 * Video Resources: **

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