Our land is rich in resources. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is itself capable of creating the substances necessary for human life. For example, we constantly use fuel generated from dead plant debris. But what exactly relates to such resources and how are they formed? These two questions may interest not only schoolchildren who study geography, but also all people who use heat.
Classification and types of fuel
The formation of fuel is possible in two ways - natural and artificial. The first is when it is mined and used without processing for the benefit of man. Another type is when natural fuel is processed by people and only after that it is used. In addition, there are solid fuels, liquid and gaseous. Each of them is divided into two groups: natural and artificial. Their compositions are very similar, but they differ in the concentration of certain elements. In particular, it is hydrogen, oxygen and carbon, these substances are able to burn on their own. Also in the fuel there is water with nitrogen. These components cannot ignite on their own, but are able to sustain combustion. Let us pay attention to solid fuel formed from dead plant debris.
Peat: building
In places of swamps and former wetlands, you can find loose rock - peat, which is considered to be valuable fuel. It appeared due to the long period during which parts of plants accumulated. Due to waterlogging (lack of oxygen and a high level of moisture), they could not go through the process before the final decomposition, contributing to this formation of fuel. Peat is the basis for the formation of coal. This fuel, formed from dead plant debris, has a high moisture content. In nature, this figure reaches 95%. In addition, it contains visible plant debris. Peat differs from coal by these two main factors.
Types of peat
The properties of this fuel directly depend on the quality of decomposed substances, on the amount of solid phase that is present in peat, and on the degree of its moisture. It can also have different colors - from a yellowish tint to an earthy one. This indicator indicates the degree of decomposition of substances and their acquired qualities. There are two types: high and low. Each of them has its own structure, which is characterized by density and viscosity. The first can be spongy, spongy-fibrous or plastic-viscous. The lowland type of fuel has a slightly different consistency and is felt, tape-layered and granular-lumpy. These indicators depend not only on the percentage of moisture and the level of decomposition, but also on what organic and mineral particles it contains. The amount of peat formed directly depends on the plants that appear annually, on the access of oxygen and the level of moisture.
Coal: structure
To understand what coal is, scientists conducted thorough research, studying it under a microscope. Facts have shown that this is actually fuel that is formed from dead plant debris. He took his beginning in peat bogs. Most often, you can find humus coal. It appeared due to the humus of herbs, shrubs, leaves, and even mosses. Another species is sapropelic coals, which arose from dead animals and decayed silt. The first variety is more common. Over the course of centuries, many swamps gradually became dusty with sand, after a while covered with abundant vegetation. Gradually, the process was repeated several times, accumulating peat layers, which, in turn, were formed in coal deposits of various shapes. Thanks to this, today we can extract fuel from dead plant debris.
