The energy resource contained in the oil shale of Ohio represents a significant reserve for future development. These black shales were deposited during the Devonian and Mississippian Periods beneath a deep equatorial inland Kaskaskia sea that accumulated detrital organic sediments at the bottom. The oil-rich shales of Ohio are the lower and upper Huron members, the Cleveland Member of the Ohio Shale, and the Sunbury Shale. Thermal maturation of the vitrinite in the Ohio shale averages 0.54 Ro in Ohio. The present distribution of the oil shale in Ohio is in the north-south central and northeastern parts of the state. The shale oil industry to develop these energy resources began with the pioneers, and in 1886 with the St. Louis Shale Oil Co. Financial and technological in erest continues today.

End_of_Article - Last_Page 586------------