How Do Fossil Fuels Form?

Ria An ’27

Daphne Wong ’26

Fossil fuels, a term commonly associated with global warming, describe non-renewable energy sources like coal, natural gas, crude oil, and petroleum products. Their production involves a complex interplay of organic matter, heat, and pressure over millions of years (National Geographic, 2022). The fundamental source of energy in fossil fuels can be traced back to the sun. Photosynthesis, driven by sunlight, converts carbon dioxide and water into the molecular building blocks of ancient organisms, mostly composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. It is the stored energy in these fossilized hydrocarbon-type compounds that serve as fuel when they are burned (Smithsonian, 2023).

Coal, primarily originating from plant matter, was formed from the swampy forests of the Carboniferous Period. When these ancient plants perished, they sank into oxygen-deprived waters, stalling decomposition and allowing burial deep within the earth, where intense heat transformed them into coal. In contrast, oil and natural gas derive from microscopic plankton and other marine organisms that lived in ancient oceans. When they die, they settle on the ocean floor, avoiding decomposition due to oxygen scarcity, ultimately leading to their eventual transformation deep underground (Smithsonian, 2023).

The next stage of transformation occurs as these buried materials undergo increased heat and pressure. They break down into partially changed materials like peat from plants and kerogen from plankton. Peat can serve as a fuel source and is harvested from marshlands, while kerogen can become oil and natural gas when subjected to more heat. After millions of years, these processes result in the formation of fossil fuels. Plankton becomes natural gas and oil, while plants transform into coal. These non-renewable resources are extracted and used to power machinery, provide transportation, and supply electricity and essential ingredients to the chemical industry–basically, they power the world (Smithsonian, 2023).

The formation of fossil fuels is an intricate and time-consuming process that spans millions of years. The journey from ancient plants and organisms to the fuel that powers our world is remarkable, but it also highlights the urgent need for clean and renewable energy sources to keep our planet safe for future generations. As society grapples with the consequences of using these finite and polluting resources, understanding their origins and their transformations can provide valuable insight into shifting to more sustainable energy sources (Smithsonian, 2023).

References

National Geographic. (2022, May 20). Fossil Fuels | National Geographic Society. Education.nationalgeographic.org; National

Geographic Society. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/fossil-fuels/

Smithsonian. (2023). What Are Fossil Fuels? | Smithsonian Ocean. Ocean.si.edu.

https://ocean.si.edu/conservation/gulf-oil-spill/what-are-fossil-fuels#:~:text=III.-