Oil Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that contains a solid organic material known as kerogen. This kerogen can be converted into oil and gas when the rock is exposed to high temperatures. Unlike conventional petroleum, which is already in liquid form and can be pumped directly from the ground, oil shale must go through a heating and conversion process before it becomes usable fuel.

Oil shale was formed millions of years ago from the remains of algae, plants, and small organisms that settled at the bottom of ancient lakes and seas. Over time, layers of sediment buried this organic matter, and heat and pressure transformed it into kerogen. However, the process did not go far enough to create liquid oil, which is why additional processing is required today.

Large deposits of oil shale are found in different parts of the world, including Jordan, Estonia, and the United States. In fact, Jordan is considered one of the richest countries in oil shale resources relative to its size. These reserves make oil shale an attractive option for countries that want to develop their own energy sources.

Despite its abundance, oil shale is not widely used compared to conventional oil because it is more expensive and technologically demanding to extract and process. However, as global energy demand continues to grow and traditional oil reserves decline, oil shale is becoming increasingly important as an alternative energy resource.