Investigation 3: How Fossil Fuels are Formed

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To learn more about peat and how it is used, visit the following web sites:

Peat, USGS
Learn about peat, how and when it develops.

What is Peat?, International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau
This site provides a more-detailed look at peat and its depositional environments.


To learn more about the varieties of coal, visit the following web sites:

Coal Resource Classification System of the U.S. Geological Survey, USGS
Learn how the USGS classifies and tracks coal resources in the United States, including rank of coal, thickness of beds, distribution, etc. Maps and data are available at this site.

Types of Coal, Kentucky Educational Television and the American Coal Foundation
This site explains how coal "rank" is determined and defines the different types of coal.


To learn more about how are natural gas and petroleum related, visit the following web sites:

Fossil Fuel Formation,
Utah State Office of Education
Explore this university's online resource for an overview of depositional environments and characteristics of oil, gas, and coal. It also provides an interactive illustration showing how oil is drilled.

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AGI/It's About Time
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AGI's professional development programs for teachers are supported by generous contributions from corporate contributors of the American Geosciences Institute Foundation and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation.