Fossil Fuels Collection

1960s paraffin heater
Paraffin heater, historical image. This portable heater, manufactured in the 1960s, was fuelled by the fossil fuel paraffin (also called paraffin oil and kerosene)

Nikolay Urvantsev, Soviet geologist
Nikolay Nikolayevich Urvantsev (1893-1985), Soviet geologist, speaking in public at his 80th birthday celebration. Urvantsev is best known for his exploration of northern Siberia and the Arctic

Soviet Caspian Sea oil fields, 1978
Soviet Caspian Sea oil fields. Road bridge connecting oil wells in the Serebrovsky offshore oil field, in the Caspian Sea, near Baku, Azerbaijan, in June 1978

Oil pump in a wheat field. This type of oil pump is commonly known as a nodding donkey or jack pump. It is used to draw crude oil from a well when the pressure difference in the well is not

Oil-springs at Tarr Farm, Oil Creek, Venango County, Pennsylvania, 1862. Creator: Unknown
Oil-springs at Tarr Farm, Oil Creek, Venango County, Pennsylvania, 1862. Engraving of Woodford and Phillips's Spouting Wells from a photograph by Alexander S. Macrae, petroleum oilbroker

The History of Gas: A modern gas works interior
3787334 The History of Gas: A modern gas works interior; (add.info.: The History of Gas: A modern gas works interior. Illustration of 1921. Liebig Meat Extract collectible card series)

COAL STOCK
Pieces of coal in Adelaide, Tuesday, September 17, 2019. (aP Image/Kelly Barnes)

Various kinds of fossils found in coal (litho)
3643725 Various kinds of fossils found in coal (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Various kinds of fossils found in coal)

Oil Series: Workers at a Pipeline, 1951 (screen print)
2622333 Oil Series: Workers at a Pipeline, 1951 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Oil Series: Refinery, 1951 (screen print)
2622335 Oil Series: Refinery, 1951 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vintage illustration of an operating oil refinery; screen print)

Oil Series: Wells, 1951 (screen print)
2622336 Oil Series: Wells, 1951 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vintage illustration of workers mainting wells at an oil field; screen print)

The story of carbon (colour litho)
3099303 The story of carbon (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The story of carbon)

The stockade of a restored coal mine in the Donets Basin region which was recently liberated by the advancing Red Army during the battle against the German Army on the Russian Front

Pumpjack In A Field, Alberta, Canada

Offshore oil rigs, Sea of Norway

Off-shore oil rig surrounded by sailing fireboat and flying helicopter, underwater cross-section depicting the rigs foundations

Doyon Oil Rig 14 on the road moving to another drill site in the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field, North Slope, Arctic Alaska, Winter

Alberta, Canada; Pump Jack In A Flowering Canola Field

Pumpjack In A Canola Field

Oil Pumpjack In A Canola Field

Silhouette Of Two Pump Jacks At Sunrise With Clouds; Alberta, Canada

Silhouette Of Pumpjack With The Orange Glow Of The Sun Rising; Longview, Alberta, Canada

Silhouette Of Pump Jack With The Orange Glow Of The Sun Rising On The Horizon; Longview, Alberta, Canada

Teesside, England; A Refinery

Lump of coal, close up

Oil pumping station, cross section

Women Screening Coals at the Pits Mouth, image from The Wonderland of Work
XJF437932 Women Screening Coals at the Pits Mouth, image from The Wonderland of Work by Clara L. Mateaux, published 1884 by Cassell & co

Coal silos C018 / 0045
Coal silos at Avonmouth coal terminal, Avon, UK

Steam locomotive driver
MODEL RELEASED. Steam locomotive driver. Museum volunteer stoking (adding coal to the engine fire) steam locomotive K563. The energy from the coal fire is used to boil water to produce steam to drive

Wankel engine principle, artwork
Wankel engine principle. Computer artwork showing the internal workings of a Wankel rotary engine. The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses an eccentric rotary design to

Oil pump and drought C013 / 9478
Oil pump and drought. Landscape of baked and cracked mud surrounding a jack pump or nodding donkey oil pump. This type of oil pump is used to draw crude oil from a well when the pressure difference

Oil transport train C014 / 0146
Oil transport train. Train carrying oil ready for unloading. Photographed at the Kozimino seaport terminal of the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean Pipeline (ESPO), Primorsky Krai, Russia

Mined coal at colliery museum, Rhondda Heritage Park Museum, Trenafod, South Wales, june

Oil pipe flow rate meter. This meter measures the rate of flow of oil through the pipe (right). Oil is a raw material that is refined into fossil fuels and other products

Natural gas compressor station machinery. Natural gas is a fossil fuel obtained from underground oil and gas deposits. Here

Natural gas liquefaction chambers. Heat exchangers used at a liquified natural gas plant to cool natural gas into liquid form so that it can be more easily transported for use as a fuel

Natural gas storage tanks. These tanks are used to store natural gas, a fossil fuel obtained from underground oil and gas deposits

Natural gas compressor station. Natural gas is a fossil fuel obtained from underground oil and gas deposits. Here, it is being compressed for distribution in pipelines to industry and homes

Gazprom control room, Russia
Gazprom control room. Computerised dispatch control room of the Russian natural gas company Gazprom. The large screen shows its network of pipes distributing natural gas from Russia into Europes

North European gas pipeline construction. Also known as Nord Stream, this is a natural gas pipeline being built from Russia to Germany, passing under the Baltic Sea

Oil wells and natural gas storage tank. Natural gas storage tank (right) and oil wells (left) near a compressor station. Natural gas is a fossil fuel obtained from underground oil

Power station, thermogram
Power station. Thermogram of emissions from cooling towers and a chimney at a power station. The object at lower right is a car

Gas pipes

Chimney at a glass factory, thermogram
Industrial chimney. Thermogram of smoke issuing from a chimney at a glass factory. A thermogram shows the variation in temperature on the surface of an object

Carbon footprints, conceptual image

Carbon footprint, conceptual image. Coal footprint on cracked earth representing global warming

Carbon footprint of aeroplanes, artwork
Carbon footprint of aeroplanes. Conceptual computer artwork representing the environmental impact of aeroplane emissions. The combustion of aviation grade fuel produces large quantities of carbon

Transport pollution. Fumes emerging from a boat burning fuel as oil. Photographed in Manokwari harbour, West Papua in Indonesia, Asia

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"Fossil Fuels: Unearthing the Power of the Past" In the 1960s, a paraffin heater warmed homes, reminding us of our reliance on fossil fuels. Little did we know that these ancient remnants would shape our world in unimaginable ways. Nikolay Urvantsev, a Soviet geologist, played a pivotal role in uncovering the potential hidden beneath Earth's surface. His exploration led to the discovery of vast oil fields in the Soviet Caspian Sea region in 1978. The sight of an oil pump rising from a wheat field became synonymous with progress and prosperity. Coal stocks piled high as this black gold fueled industries worldwide. Within its depths lay various kinds of fossils preserved for millions of years – litho evidence connecting us to prehistoric times. The Oil Series screen prints from 1951 captured both the allure and labor behind this energy source. Workers at pipelines showcased their dedication while refineries symbolized transformation and wells represented hope for future discoveries. "The story of carbon" unfolded through vibrant color lithographs, showcasing how this element shaped civilization's destiny. From powering vehicles to generating electricity, carbon-based fossil fuels propelled humanity forward but also brought environmental challenges that demanded solutions. Amidst it all, coal stocks remained steadfast reminders of our dependence on this fuel source throughout history - an undeniable part of our industrial heritage. As we navigate towards cleaner alternatives today, let us remember how these they have driven progress while urging us to find sustainable paths ahead.