User:Konniehatz/Non-renewable resource

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Coal
Main article: Non-renewable resource

Further information: Coal In sedimentary deposits, coal is primarily composed of carbon and is readily combustible. In addition to its inherent moisture (including the black hue), coal contains more than 50% by weight and 70% by volume of carbonaceous matter. Coal is classified as a fossil fuel, making it a non-renewable natural resource. In order to be officially classified as a non-renewable natural resource, the substance in question must be finite, meaning that it is extracted from the Earth and is consumed faster than it can be replaced. In the case of coal, the geological process of its formation occurs when dead plant matter buried in swamps is heated and compressed over hundreds of millions of years. During the process of decomposition, moisture-rich peat can become black or brownish-black coal, which is an energy- and carbon-dense sedimentary rock.

Coal is one of the earliest forms of energy which had various uses. Being one of the easiest resources to mine, coal was used primarily due to its high combustion rate. The energy released from this ore, made it so fuel and electricity power are readily available throughout the world. Today, coal is one of the most abundant forms of fuel with over 1.06 trillion tonnes of coal in reserves around the world. To this point, in 2016, it was confirmed that coal was used to generate energy and produce heat for approximately 40% of the world. Although very efficient, coal is also quite harmful to the environment. As coal burns, it releases a number of gaseous byproducts, among them carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and methane gas. These gases contribute significantly to negatively impact global climate change.