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Meet
the team
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A
free public resource dedicated to showcasing the prehistoric world.
© 2008.
Discovering Fossils is fully independent and works in partnership with
JuniorGeo.
What
are fossil fuels? How do they form?
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Fossil
Collecting Code
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Oil rig - pumps oil from deep underground
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Coal
mine - Large quarry diggers carve out the resource
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What
is a fossil fuel?
Fossil Fuels are hydrocarbons such as coal, oil and natural gas, sourced from
the organic remains of prehistoric organisms.
When these fuels are burnt, the energy released
can be harnessed to produce electricity, power vehicles, heat homes, cook food
and much more. They are also used in the production of important materials such
as plastics.
How
do fossil fuels form?
In order to answer this question, we must first
distinguish oil and gas from coal. Generally speaking, oil and gas are formed
from the organic remains of marine organisms which become entrained within
sea-floor sediments. Coal, by contrast, is typically formed in non-marine
settings from the remains of land vegetation.
Oil and gas formation begins with the accumulation
of organics on the sea-floor; these are the dead remains of organisms living in
the water column, such as microscopic plankton, which rain down on the sea floor
below. This will only occur in rather unusual settings, where the sea floor is
stagnant such that there is no oxygen present to break the organic remains down
and no sea-floor dwelling organisms present that might feed on the organics. A
high sediment accumulation rate of may also help to bury the organics before the
action of decay can break them down. As the sediment pile becomes deeper the
organics within it are subjected to heat and pressure which leads to formation
of oil and then gas. For oil and gas extraction, it is important that the source
rock is not 'over-cooked' or the hydrocarbons will be destroyed. There must be
suitable reservoir-rock, such as a porous sandstone, into which the hydrocarbons
can migrate and accumulate. This must be overlain by an impervious cap-rock,
such as a clay, which prevents the hydrocarbons from escaping to the surface.
Finally, the geometry of the reservoir and cap-rock bodies must be such that the
hydrocarbons become trapped; usually folding will suffice.
Diagram
explaining the generation and entrapment of oil and gas.
Fossil
ferns within a sheet of coal
Coal typically forms on land from vegetation in
lowland, swampy, mire environments. Stagnant waterlogged soil prevents the
accumulated plant debris from breaking down. The recognisable remains of
plants are often visible within coals and associated shales, confirming their
plant-origin.. The picture above shows a piece of coal containing a
network of fossilised fern leaves - clear evidence that it was formed from
vegetable remains.
More
recent peat deposits
The accumulated plant debris initially forms a
material known as peat. The geological processes of burial beneath later
sediment and alteration by heat and pressure convert the peat to coal; a process
known as coalification.
For the peat to become coal, it must be buried
by sediment. Burial compacts the peat and, consequently, much water is squeezed
out during the first stages of burial. Continued burial and the addition of heat
and time cause the complex hydrocarbon compounds in the peat to break down and
alter in a variety of ways. The gaseous alteration products (methane is one) are
typically expelled from the deposit, and the deposit becomes more and more
carbon-rich as the other elements disperse. The stages of this trend proceed
from plant debris through peat, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal,
anthracite coal to graphite (a pure carbon mineral). Source: www.uky.edu
How
are fossil fuels used?
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Oil is refined to produce Petrol and Diesel
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Power stations
burn fuel to produce energy
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Gas
is used for everyday cooking
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Fossil
fuels are burnt to release energy in the form of heat. This energy can be
used to power cars, produce electricity, heat homes, cook food to name but a
few.
What
are the advantages of fossil fuels?
Straightforward
combustion process
Relatively
inexpensive
Easily
transported
What
are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?
Thought
to be a major cause of global warming
Cause
of acid rain
Not
sustainable in the long-term
Politics
and Economics can cause major price increases
Extraction
can be very damaging to the landscape
Will
fossil fuels run out?
Fossil
fuels are essentially a non-renewable energy source. The geological processes
which create them take millions of years, so they cannot be replaced within
human timescales once they have gone. It is impossible to estimate when fossil
fuels will disappear, but within the next 100 years it is widely believed that
the cost of finding and extracting new deposits will render them too expensive
for everyday use.
What
are the alternative renewable energy sources?
Renewable
sources are the future of energy production.
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Wind Turbines generate electricity
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Solar
panels convert sunlight into electricity
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Geothermal
plants utilise underground heat
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Renewable
energy sources can provide comparable energy production and heating. At present,
some technologies are cost inhibitive, but the rate of technological development
is making them more affordable with time.
Other
examples of renewable energy sources include: water powered turbines, tidal
generators, nuclear, compost and rape seed oil.
Join
us on a fossil hunt...
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Portland
dinosaur hunt
- Sunday 13th July '08 |
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Ever
wished you could walk with dinosaurs? Now you can!
Discover
the hidden secrets of Portland (Dorset), on a quarry tour with local
expert and geologist Chris Pamplin, accompanied by the
Discovering
Fossils & JuniorGeo team. Participants will see dinosaur
trackways and foot prints, fossil trees, giant ammonites,
prehistoric beaches and the Portland Sculpture park.
There
will be some opportunities to collect fossils, but the main
attraction of dinosaur footprints cannot be collected except with a
camera!
This
event requires driving between quarries. Full
details will be provided to participants prior to the event.
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Adults
£10 / Children £5
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Charmouth
to Seatown fossil hunt
- Sunday 20th July '08 |
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A
classic Jurassic fossil hunt!
Join
local expert and geologist Chris Pamplin to explore one of the most
famous stretches of the Jurassic Coast, from Charmouth to Seatown,
taking in Golden Cap.
This
classic fossil locality is where Mary Anning found many of her
remarkable fossils around 190 years ago! The day will include an
informative talk with Chris followed by the fossil hunt
(approximately 4 hours) to Seatown in the east, where you can catch
a bus or taxi back to Charmouth. Participants will all have an
opportunity to find and keep a selection of Jurassic fossils,
including ammonites, belemnites and even marine reptile bones with a
bit of luck!
Full
details will be provided to participants prior to the event.
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Adults
£10 / Children £5
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Cotswold
quarry fossil hunt
- Saturday 26th July '08 |
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Join
local fossil expert Dr Neville Hollingworth on a guided visit of
Colne Gravel Quarry in Gloucestershire to examine and collect from
the highly fossiliferous Jurassic deposits. Recent finds include the
bones and teeth of Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs and crocodiles!.
Uncrushed fossil tree trunks and branches are also common. In
addition the Ice Age river gravels yield common Mammoth and other
remains including horse, mammoth, deer and straight-tusked elephant
bones.
This
trip will provide everyone with an opportunity to find something
rare or unusual. Following an introductory talk, participants will
be able to spend a whole day on site and advice will be given on
collecting and conservation techniques.
Full
details will be provided to participants prior to the day.
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Adults
£10 / Children £5
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Quantoxhead
(Somerset) fossil hunt
- Saturday 9th August '08 |
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Join
geologist Bill Verkaik on a guided tour of the famous Jurassic coast
of north Somerset. Quantoxhead has yielded some of the largest and
well preserved ammonites and marine reptiles in the country. The day
includes an introduction to the geology and fossils of the area,
followed by a guided fossil hunt along the coast. Everyone will have
an opportunity to find a variety of fossils.
Suitable
for all ages and levels of experience, including families.
Full
details will be provided to event participants prior to the day.
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Adults
£10 / Children £5
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Charmouth
to Lyme Regis fossil hunt
- Sunday 17th Aug '08 |
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Join
local expert and geologist Chris Pamplin to explore one of the most
famous stretches of the Jurassic Coast, from Charmouth to Lyme
Regis, taking in Black Ven.
This
classic fossil locality is where Mary Anning found her remarkable
fossils around 190 years ago! The day will include an informative
talk with Chris followed by the fossil hunt (approximately 4 hours)
to Lyme Regis, where you can catch a bus or taxi back to Charmouth. Participants
will all have an opportunity to find and keep a selection of
Jurassic fossils, including ammonites, belemnites and even marine
reptile bones with a bit of luck!
Full
details will be provided to participants prior to the event.
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Adults
£10 / Children £5
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Bracklesham
Bay fossil hunt
- Saturday 27th Sep '08 |
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Bracklesham
Bay is one of the lesser known, but highly productive fossil
collecting locations in the UK.
Discovering
Fossils and JuniorGeo will be joined by local expert and author
David Bone for a guided fossil hunt along the 46 million year old
coast towards Selsey.
The
day includes a 45 minute presentation at the nearby Fishbourne Roman
Palace, which introduces the geology and fossils of the local area
and provides an opportunity to see some of the best fossils
recovered from Bracklesham over the years. Participants will be
shown where to find a range of fossils, including: shark and ray
teeth, fish vertebrae, and if we're lucky, turtle carapace and
crocodile bones and teeth.
Full
details will be provided to participants prior to the event.
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Adults
£10 / Children £5
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Hastings
dinosaur hunt
- Saturday 22nd Nov '08 |
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A
prehistoric experience with local expert Ken Brooks along the famous
dinosaur hunting grounds at Hastings.
During
this event we'll be looking for fossil teeth and bones from animals
that lived in the area from 140 to 120 million years ago. Molluscs,
fish, crocodiles and turtles inhabited lakes and rivers, while the
land was dominated by dinosaurs such as Iguanodon, Polacanthus and
Baryonyx. The sandstones and clays also contain the fossilised plant
remains of ferns, horse-tails, cycads, conifers and tree-ferns - as
well as footprints left by dinosaurs.
Full
details will be provided to participants prior to the event.
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Adults
£10 / Children £5
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Future
fossil hunts - register
your email for event notifications
CLICK
HERE |
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Printing
guidelines: Discovering Fossils is designed to be printed in
landscape (horizontal) format; printing in portrait format will
result in text being missed. To print selected pages, simply
select print from your internet browser and specify landscape from
the printer's 'Properties' menu. Printing is permitted for
non-commercial use and is subject to international copyright law. If
you experience any difficulties printing or have a question
regarding the use of printed materials please contact us for further
information. |
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Safety
notice: Fossil hunting can at times pose a risk to personal safety, in
particular within environments close to the coast, cliffs or in quarries
and when using the tools and equipment illustrated. Discovering Fossils
provides a free resource to inform you about this fascinating subject and
does not accept any liability for decisions made using this information.
We recommend all individuals abide by the 'National Fossil Hunting Code'
and independently research the potential dangers before and during the
visit.
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Written
and designed by Roy
Shepherd
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