Natural+Resources

=__PA Resources__= PA has a bountiful supply of natural resources. Some of these resources include coal and the Marcellus Shale. __ Coal __

Pennsylvania's coal is a valuable asset in the modern energy industry. It is Pennsylvania's largest resource of energy, and has been most beneficial to the nation. In the past, instead of creating electricity, coal was used primarily for the powering of steam-powered engines, and steel production. Today Pennsylvania houses some of the nations largest coal mines, which produce coal that is used in generating electricity, and heating homes and buildings. Pennsylvania coal can be found in the regions depicted by the map below:





__ Marcellus Shale __

The Marcellus Shale is a layer of soft shale that is deep beneath Pennsylvania and some surrounding states. This layer of shale contains millions of dollars worth of natural gas and other valuable materials, which are extracted from the ground using a type of drilling known commonly as fracking, or fracturing. Natural Gas, once extracted and refined, is sold commercially for central heating systems, cooking (stoves, burners, etc.), and electricity production in natural gas powered power plants. The Marcellus shale stretches throughout most of northern and eastern Pennsylvania.