Approximately 360 million years ago, the earth was covered with a huge amount of plant life including giant trees and ferns. As those trees and plants died, they fell into the algae laden swamp lands around them.

Over a period of years they formed sediment. Eventually the sediment turned to rock. As years roll on, the rock is covered by more sediment. The tremendous amount of weight and pressure on the sediment compressed it into oil, coal, natural gas and petroleum.

These composites of ore and minerals were created far prior to the existence of humans, giving rise to the name “fossil fuels.” They cannot be renewed in any reasonable amount of time, which is why fossil fuels aren’t considered to be a renewable resource. When these natural resources are depleted – they will essentially be gone forever.