The vast majority of the petroleum we extract today was formed from the microscopic organisms that lived in ancient oceans, not from the large reptiles that once dominated the land. The Source Material: Plankton, Not Tyrannosaurus To understand where oil really comes from, you have to look millions of years before the age of dinosaurs.
The Role of Ancient Plankton in Oil Reserves Formation
Without oxygen, the material does not fully decompose. Furthermore, the locations of oil reserves correspond directly to ancient sea beds that existed millions of years before the dinosaurs evolved, providing further evidence that the giant lizards played no significant role in the fuel that powers the modern world.
The sheer volume of oil consumed globally could not possibly be supplied by the rare carcasses of a Triceratops. Types of Organic Matter The specific type of organic material dictates the quality and characteristics of the resulting oil.
How Ancient Plankton Created Today's Oil Reserves
Over geological time, this biomass became buried under layers of sand and silt, creating the perfect conditions for heat and pressure to transform it into hydrocarbons. Type II kerogen, derived from a mix of plankton, bacteria, and algae, is the most common source of petroleum.
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