Question

Scientists previously referred to the long-ago deposited plant and animal remains, now buried, compacted, and transformed into coal and oil, as the dead-end of the carbon cycle. Since the Industrial Revolution, that would be an inaccurate statement. Why?

Answer 1

Because humans drill for these natural resources. With the advancement of technology, we were able to extract coal and oil; thereby continuing the carbon cycle.

Answer 2

It's no longer the dead-end of the carbon cycle. Since the industrial revolution, this material has been taken out of the ground (by Oil and Gas companies) which is for the most part subsequently burned - of which the final by-product is CO2. This fossil material also goes into making plastics and other chemicals - so the "dead-end of the carbon cycle" is not quite so straight forward anymore.