Coal

Question 1

Bituminous coal

Answer 1

• dense black and solid
• bright bands of lustre
• 78 - 91% carbon content
• 1.5 - 7% water content
• used for gas making, steam rising and coke making

Question 2

sub-bituminous coal

Answer 2

• dull black and waxy
• 71 - 77% carbon content
• 10% moisture content
• valuable fuel

Question 3

coal grades

Answer 3

• peat
• brown coal (lignite)
• black coal (sub bituminous, bituminous and anthracite)

Question 4

how does coal form

Answer 4

• formed in stagnant swamps with little oxygen
• plant material being partially decayed by defferent bacteria and evenually forming peat

Question 5

attitude considerations

Answer 5

over 50% support banning new mines - urban residents being more likely along with regional and rural Australians. others thinks its good for Australia’s economy and way of life

Question 6

underground mining (two main ways)

Answer 6

vertical hole called a shaft being sunk down or sloping tunnel driven from the surface

Question 7

open-cut mining (procedure)

Answer 7

rocks and soil is broken down with explosives and removed with large mechanical excavators or trucks and shovels. coal is drilled into when exposed and fractured and mined in strips

Question 8

open-cut mining (benefits)

Answer 8

• employed when coal is closer to the surface
• more economical then underground
• lower accident rates
• less exposure to coal dust

Question 9

brown coal (lignite)

Answer 9

• formed from peat after exposed to heat and pressure
• dries out and crumbles when exposed to air
• 60% moisture (high)
• high oxygen content
• low heating value

Question 10

coal extraction process (two main methods)

Answer 10

underground mining and open cut mining

Question 11

environmental considerations

Answer 11

• removal of massive amounts of top soil leading to erosion, loss of habitat and population
• causes acid mine drainage into ground and water
• release chemicals into environment

Question 12

underground mining (method 2)

Answer 12

longwall system - two main tunnels cutting into coal seams joined by a 3rd

Question 13

underground mining (method 1)

Answer 13

room and pillar system - electronically powered machine extracting coal from face and gathered by steel arm into shuttle cars

Question 14

black coal (+ three distinguish ranks)

Answer 14

formed after greater heat and pressure applied for longer - sub bituminous, bituminous and anthracite

Question 15

peat

Answer 15

• first stage of coal formation
• develops from partially decomposed plant remains
• either spongy and light brown or dense and black
• 90% water content (reduced to 30% before being burnt)

Question 16

anthracite

Answer 16

• jet black
• over 92% carbon content
• low moisture content
• difficult to ignite but high heating value and burns slow
• conducts electricity