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oil shale |
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oil shaleAny fine-grained sedimentary rock that contains solid organic matter (kerogen) and yields significant quantities of oil when heated. This shale oil is a potentially valuable fossil fuel, but the present methods of mining and refining it are expensive, damage the land, pollute the water, and produce carcinogenic wastes. Thus, oil shale will probably not be exploited on a wide scale until other petroleum resources have been nearly depleted. Estonia, China, and Brazil have facilities for producing relatively limited quantities, and the U.S. government operates an experimental plant in Colorado. oil shale [′ȯil ‚shāl] (geology) A finely layered brown or black shale that contains kerogen and from which liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons can be distilled. Also known as kerogen shale. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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s own development of oil shale reserves in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, in part by tapping into Alberta's expertise. Expand the development of oil shale in the western states. In the new study, published in the June 23 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Miller and Cleaves focused on a class of UV-screening polymers called tholins, which resemble kerogen, a gunky material in oil shale that yields petroleum. |
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