1. Finite News
We live on a planet with finite resources.
How much do you know about coal?
Coal can be collected in 2 ways. 1 is surface mining and other is
underground mining. When we collect coal by surface mining, we should
use machines to move layers. Then, we should collect the coal. At last,
we should put the layers back. When we collect coal by underground
mining, first we should make a deep underground tunnel. Then miners
reach the coal by riding tunnel elevators. At last, miners use machine to
dig out a coal. Surface mining is used when coal is buried less then 200
feet underground. We use underground mining for coal that is in a very
deep place. Coal can be changed to electricity when it is burned in power
plants.
A Grade 4 Publication Summer 2013
How is coal collected & modified?
Coal is a black mineral formed from the
remains of ancient plants. It is
combustible. Coal is made when swamps
and bogs are buried under water and
squashed under rocks and dirt.

2. ;
Summer 2013
2
A Grade 4 Publication
Fast Facts
Why do we depend on the coal industry?
We depend on coal industry, because 40% of electricity come from coal.
The world uses more than 5.3 billion tons of coal every year. Australia
sells more than 240 million every year. Also, coal is mined in more than
100 countries. We depend on coal industry, because 1/3 of coal we mine
is used for electricity. Also, mining coal is an important job for many
people.
How could this resource be managed
better?
What is the impact of this industry?
This is industry is not sustainable because it makes
the water, air and land polluted. Also, they use a lot
of energy like coal, oil and gas. But these energies are
finite resources. This industry also harms the
environment because when industries burn coal, it
makes bad gas for environment. For example, carbon
dioxide, which causes global warming, sulpher
dioxide, which causes acid rain and nitrous dioxide,
which causes smog.
We could reduce our use of this resource by
reducing use of electricity by turning of the light
and computer, riding bike except car and
unplugging machines. Alternatively, we could
use solor energy, hydropower, wind power,
geothermal power, biomass power and nuclear
energy.
• Coal will only
last 200 years
• Sometimes coal is
called dirty
resource
• Coal makes the
most carbon
dioxide among
fossil fuels
• Ash left over
from buring coal
can be recycled,
to make cement