ABSTRACT
Oil shale is, an organic marlstone--a sedimentary rock containing solid organic materials in a mineral matrix. It is these organic materials which are the source of crude shale oil. Oil shale is actually a combination of several organic and mineral elements. The findings of R. J. Hite and J. R. Dyni suggest the recovery of minerals, along with shale oil, may be of advantage for oil shale processing and production. As the grade of oil shale increases, Colorado's percentage of both in-place and recoverable reserves also increases. The Piceance Creek Basin has three separate oil shale zones: a rich, upper mahogany zone; an intermediate porous zone; and a rich, lower zone. The intermediate oil shale zone, buried more deeply than the mahogany zone, is less thoroughly explored. Water requirements could be a major obstacle to the large-scale development of an oil shale industry in Colorado.
