Shale Oil - the elusive energy

An early settler in the valley of Parachute Creek in western Colorado built a log cabin, and
made the fireplace and chimney out of the easily cut, locally abundant black rock. The pioneer invited 4a few neighbors to a house warming. As the celebration began, he lit a fire. The fireplace, chimney, and ultimately the whole cabin caught fire, and burned to the ground. The rock was oil shale. It was a sensational house warming!

Oil shales are reported to have been set afire by lightning strikes. The Ute Indians of northwestern Colorado told stories of "mountains that burned." Cowboys and ranchers of the region
burned the dark rock in their fires, like coal. The flammable nature of the richer oil shales is basis for the title of a fascinating book by H. K. Savage (1967), The Rock That Burns. During oil shale enthusiasms in the early part of this century, stock promoters brought pieces of oil shale to Chicago street corners and set them afire. Clouds of smoke attracted crowds, and the promoters sold stock in oil shale companies...

Published in: Hubbert Center Newsletter # 98/4
Available from: M. King Hubbert Center