PETROLEUM
Petroleum is mineral oil, organic in origin, and occurs in the pore spaces of sedimentary rocks. It is derived from the decomposition of marine or vegetative matter. It normally occurs in dome-shaped anticilines, between layers of non-porous rocks. The oil…
COAL
Coal, comprising mainly carbon of vegetative origin, is one of the oldest forms of power. It provided the basis for the Industrial Revolution. Its importance as both fuel and raw material was greatly enhanced with the invention of the steam…
INTRODUCTION TO MINING AND POWER
Minerals are natural, chemical substances which make up the rocks of the earth’s crust. They have certain physical and chemical properties that differentiate them from one another. There are well over 2 000 known minerals scattered very unevenly throughout the…
SOME VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF VOLCANOES IN THE WORLD
In the history of mankind perhaps the most disastrous eruptions were those of Mt. Vesuvius, Mt. Krakatoa and Mt. Pelee. Mt. Vesuvius Mt. Vesuvius, standing 1200m (4000 feet) above the Bay of Naples, erupted violently on 24 August A.D.…
CORAL REEFS
In tropical seas many kinds of coral animals and marine organisms such as coral polyps, calcareous algae, shell-forming creatures and lime-secreting plants live in large colonies. Though they are very tiny creatures, their ability to secrete calcium carbonate within their…
THE FORMATION AND ORIGIN OF LAKES
Lakes are amongst the most varied features of the earth’s surface. They occupy the hollows of the land surface in which water accumulates. They vary tremendously in size, shape, depth and mode of formation. The tiny ones are no bigger…
ISLANDS
An island is a piece of land surrounded on all sides by water. It may occur individually or in a group, in open oceans or seas. Smaller ones of only local significance are found even in lakes and rivers. Generally…
LAKES AND MAN
A careful examination of the lakes of the world will reveal their immense human significance. In countries where they are found in abundance, such as Finland, Canada, U.S.A ., Sweden and the East African States, lakes, together with other inland…
FACTS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES
An earthquake is defined as a violent tremor in the earth’s crust which sends out a series of vibrating waves in all directions. Causes of Earthquakes Earthquakes occur as a result of disturbances or movements within and below the…
THE HISTORICAL ANTECEDENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WEST AFRICA
The land of West Africa consists of contrasting kinds of physical environment. The forest environment differs from the savanna environment, a mountainous area from a flat lowland area, riverine area from one away from a river, an area with predominantly…
Study Guide
