Question

How is coal and petroleum formed?

Answer 1

Coal and petroleum have been formed from the remains of dead animals and plants which has been subjected to various biological and geological process.

Coal is formed from the remains of trees, ferns and other plants that lived millions of years ago. These were crushed under the earth by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. They were pressed down under the layer of earth and rock and slowly decayed into the coal under the high temperature and pressure.

Oil is the remains of millions of tiny plants and animals that lived in the sea. When they died, their bodies sank to the sea bed. Bacteria attacked the dead remains and changed them into oil under high pressure.