German: Ölschiefer.
MineralogyOil shale is an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock containing kerogen, a solid mixture of organic chemical compounds, from which liquid hydrocarbons can be produced.
In addition to kerogen, general composition of oil shales constitutes inorganic substance and bitumens.
Oil shales differ from oil-bearing shales, shale deposits that contain petroleum that is sometimes produced from drilled wells.