Hobbies And Interests
Coal
The most abundant fossil fuel is coal, and it is formed by the compression of dead plants over thousands or even millions of years. As plants became covered with earth and water they decomposed, and since the remains were submerged in environments lacking oxygen, most of the hydrogen matter was eroded away. This resulted in carbon-rich material, which was eventually covered in silt and compressed over time to create coal. This fossil fuel is available in several grades, ranging from "dirty" to "clean" coal, and the purest coals offer a higher carbon content, which means it will burn more cleanly, and fewer bi-products, such as sulfur or nitrous oxide.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel typically found in deposits of petroleum, though wells recovering only natural gas exist as well, throughout the western hemisphere, Europe and Africa, and recovered via pipeline. Cleaner to burn than coal or oil, natural gas is formed by decomposed marine microorganisms and is fairly abundant, as this fossil fuel has only been used as an energy source in the automotive industry and to provide heat during the past few decades.
Petroleum
Petroleum, more commonly known as crude oil, is a liquid fossil fuel that can be found across the globe. Like coal, petroleum is produced from the remains of biodegraded organic material, namely sea creatures that died and decomposed underwater over millions of years. Over time, those remains were covered by a fine dirt called silt, and pressure from these layers of dirt compressed the organic material to form what we know as crude oil. Available in many different viscosities, or thicknesses, petroleum is the world's most widely-used fossil fuel, and it takes one of three main forms based on its chemical make-up: asphaltic, mixed-base and paraffin. It is used today to generate electricity, make medicines, manufacture plastics, fuel automobiles and make tar for roads and roofs.