When you think of bitumen, you might think of something that sticks to your shoes after a summer walk. But hidden in the earth’s crust is a tougher, older cousin. It’s called a pyrobitumen. This is more than just a curiosity for geologists. This is a key factor in understanding the origin of oil shale and fossil fuels.
The difference between the two substances is obvious. The bitumen is melting. It flows. Pyrobitumen does neither. It is solid. It is infusible. Insoluble in common solvents. But when you apply enough heat, something strange happens. It transforms. It is produced or converted into liquid and gaseous petroleum compounds. Basically, it’s like a dormant engine waiting for the right spark.
Asphalt type and non-bitumen type
Not all pyrobitumens are created equal. It can be divided into two different camps: bitumen and non-bitumen. This distinction is important because their origins and behavior are very different.
Asphaltic pyrobitumens is derived from petroleum. It is relatively hard. The specific gravity is less than 1.25. This means it is denser than water, but not by much. Even when heated, it does not melt and form a puddle. Instead, they expand. Then they decompose.
These substances are important components of oil shale. If you’re looking for a place to drill unconventional oil, you’ve come to the right place. Several special types fall into this category.
Elaterite, often called mineral rubber, is one such material. It lives in the lead mines of Derbyshire, England. It is elastic. Wurtzilite is different. It is also elastic and is found in northeastern Utah. Albertite is found to occur in the Albertite District in New Brunswick, Canada. Impsonite is slightly fusible and comes from Impson Valley, Oklahoma.
The story of the Vegetable Origin Story
The other side of the story concerns non-bitumenenic pyrobitumens. These are not derived from oil. They are derived from plant matter. This includes peat, lignite, bituminous coal and anthracite. Lignite shale and coal shale also belong to this category.
This difference is not just academic. It tells you where the energy comes from. One path is marine and ancient. The other is terrestrial and plant-based. Both paths produce complex solid hydrocarbons.
Why this distinction is important
Understanding this difference can help map underground resources. This explains why some shale deposits produce oil when heated and others do not. The composition of various coal deposits is clarified.
What is important is the fact that pyrobitumen can be converted into liquid or gaseous petroleum compounds when heated. This means that the potential energy is trapped in the solid structure. You just need to know how to unlock it.
Pyrobitumen generates or turns into a bitumen-like liquid or gaseous petroleum compound when heated.
This process is not immediate immediately. Certain conditions are required. It requires heat. But when it is triggered, the solid turns into a liquid. The stored potential of the earth turns into usable fuel.
The places where these substances occur are as different as their properties. From the mines of Derbyshire to the valleys of Oklahoma. From shale of Canada to rocks of Utah
