DIATOMS AND CARS

Millions of years ago dead animal and plant matter – especially of diatoms – decomposed as they sank to the bottom of oceans and lakes. This decomposed matter is called organic material because it used to be alive. In the course of thousands and thousands of years the sand and silt covering this organic matter became solid rock.

Because of the heat and pressure on this organic material it eventually turned into coal, oil (petroleum) and natural gas. Today we mine these energy sources to help power our modern world.

An oil platform at sea extracts the remnants of diatoms that have transformed into oil over millions of years.