Table of Contents
Fast Facts
Quizzes
fossil fuel
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- Related Topics:
- petroleum natural gas coal oil shale asphalt
Recent News
Jun. 7, 2023, 3:36 PM ET (AP)
Campaigners want fossil fuel firms to pay into climate calamity fund; diplomats dubious
Jun. 7, 2023, 11:50 AM ET (AP)
Shell's clean energy advertising campaign is misleading, UK watchdog says
Jun. 6, 2023, 4:54 AM ET (AP)
Japan earmarks $107 billion for developing hydrogen energy to cut emissions, stabilize supplies
Jun. 5, 2023, 4:52 PM ET (AP)
Amount of warming triggering carbon dioxide in air hits new peak, growing at near-record fast rate
Jun. 5, 2023, 3:39 PM ET (AP)
Agenda spat at UN climate talks as top official sees chance to ask 'difficult questions' in Dubai
fossil fuel, any of a class of hydrocarbon-containing materials of biological origin occurring within Earth’s crust that can be used as a source of energy. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils. All contain carbon and were formed as a result of geologic processes acting on the remains of organic matter produced by photosynthesis, a process that began in the Archean Eon (4.0 billion to 2.5 billion years ago). Most carbonaceous material occurring before the Devonian Period (419.2 million to 358.9 million years ago) was derived from algae and bacteria, whereas most ...(100 of 562 words)