In her kitchen, the cream-colored Corian counter by the stove has a deep crack.

CNN: Iraq's Baby Noor: An unfinished miracle

The 150ft (45m) long, 6ft (1.8m) deep crack appeared on cliffs near Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, on a clay section of coastline.

BBC: 'Large crack' opens on Dorset coastline

Fracking involves injecting water, sand and some chemicals deep into the earth to crack shale rock, which frees oil and gas.

CNN: Vermont first state to ban fracking

Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" is a process of forcing water mixed with chemicals through deep wells to shatter and crack hard shale rocks to release the gas inside.

BBC: Hydraulic fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, pumps millions of gallons of water mixed with fine sand and chemicals deep into oil and gas wells to crack gas-bearing rock.

WSJ: NY groups claim industry bias in fracking study

Fracking uses high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals to crack rock formations and release oil and natural gas deep underground.

NPR: Scenic, Struggling S. Illinois Braces For Oil Rush