oil shale

noun

, Geology.

1. a black or dark-brown shale or siltstone rich in bitumens, from which shale oil is obtained by destructive distillation.

oil shale

noun

1. a fine-grained shale containing oil, which can be extracted by heating

oil shale

1. A fine-grained black or dark brown shale containing hydrocarbons in the form of kerogen. When heated, oil shale yields petroleum or natural gas.

Word History and Origins

Origin of oil shale¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Oil-shale is plentiful on the Congo River near Ponthierville and good indications of oil are recorded in other places.

From Project Gutenberg

Also it is distilled in Scotland from oil shale, from which paraffin oil and wax and similar substances are produced.

From Project Gutenberg