Mineralized organic material, similar to fossil fuels like coal and oil. Formed by the decay of the aquatic plants of Fossil Lake. This dark material gives the "oil shales" of Fossil Basin their distinctive color and odor.
The waxy molecules into which the organic material in shale transforms on reaching about 100°C. At higher temperatures, kerogen transforms into oil.
A waxy hydrocarbon found in oil shale.
Solid organic substances frequently found in shales. The organic component of an oil shale.
A mixture of organic substances found in many fine-grained sedimentary rocks and a major constituent of oil shale.
Organic matter found in rock in the form of a mineraloid which is of indefinite composition, insoluble in petroleum solvents. Kerogen is a pyrobitumen, and oil is formed from kerogen by heating. It consists chiefly of low forms of plant life such as algae, of pollen, spores, spore coats, enzyme shells, coal, and protein material. Chemically it is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon compounds of large molecules, containing hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Kerogen is the chief source of oil in oil shales.
The hydrocarbon in oil shale. Scientists believe that kerogen was the precursor of petroleum and that petroleum development in shale was somehow prematurely arrested.
A fossilized organic material present in oil shale and some other sedimentary rocks.
Solid, waxy mixture of hydrocarbons found in oil shale, with a fine grained sedimentary rock. When the rock is heated to high temperatures, the kerogen is vaporized. The vapor is condensed and then sent to a refinery to produce gasoline, heating oil, and other products. See oil shale, shale oil.
The solid, bituminous mineraloid substance in oil shales which yields oil when the shales undergo destructive distillation
A hydrocarbon that is the chief constituent of oil shale.
A solid complex organic material which yields petroleum type hydrocarbons under heat and pressure.
fossilized plant material that can be turned into petroleum
Solid, waxy mixture of hydrocarbons found in oil shale rock. Heating the rock to high temperatures causes the kerogen to vaporize. The vapor is condensed, purified, and then sent to a refinery to produce gasoline, heating oil, and other products. See also oil shale, shale oil.
the organic matter which is the base for the formation of oil or gas.
A solid organic material which yields petroleum-type hydrocarbons on heating and distillation
The hydrocarbon that occurs naturally in oil shale.
the solid bituminous substance fouond in oil shale, which yields oil when the shale is calcined. [AHDOS
Kerogens are chemical compounds that make up a portion of the organic matter in sedimentary rocks. They are insoluble in normal organic solvents because of their huge molecular weight (upwards of 1,000). The soluble portion is known as bitumen.