ORE'S FEATURED GEMSTONE: Oil

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ORE FEATURES

A Monthly publication of Ozark Rock Exchange

Vol. 9 Issue 2 November 7, 2007

 

Contents:

ORE'S FEATURED GEMSTONE: Oil

Subscriber Special: FREE Fossil

Sky Notes through December 5, 2007

Article: Thank You (and plug for Holiday Gifts)

Special Announcement for: Birthday Subscription Contest Winner!

What's Happening at Ozark Rock Exchange?

 

ORE'S FEATURED GEMSTONE: Oil

by Stephanie Pflumm

 

This gooey yellow to black blood that oozes from our Mother's deepest heart

does not sparkle or inspire like a brilliant gemstone. In spite of this

glaring difference, more death results from the greedy pursuit of this

precious fluid than from any rare, priceless gem.

 

Oil shares a sort of ancient lineage with crystals and gemstones. Many of

the same forces and pressures that are required to spark the growth of crystals

are also critical to the formation of this illuminating liquid.

 

There are two theories trying to define how Oil forms. The most popular

theory is the Fossil Fuel story, known to geologists as biogenics. Biogenics

describes a complex organic process that produces fuels from the decayed

remains of primal life forms.

 

During the Carboniferous Period much of the planet is covered in giant trees

and luxuriant plant life. This rich plant life feeds off a myriad of lakes,

swamps and oceans as well as drinking in rich, unfiltered sunshine. Powerful

stores of hydrogen and carbon are reserved in these titan plants from their

unrestrained photosynthesis.

 

As leaves fall and plants die, they inevitably sink to the bottom of the

surrounding waters. Slowly, over the next 360 million years their decay is

cut off from oxygen, succumbing to greater pressures as silt and sediment

build over the top of it. In addition, bacteria is introduced that adds heat to

the pressure, literally cooking the goo in the Universe's slowest crock pot.

 

The final recipe yields a chain of hydrogen and carbon molecules bursting

with energy called Hydrocarbons. Pressure works on the energetic liquid until

it comes to rest against an impenetrable rock bed, usually called a " cap

stone " . Faults and internal pressures frequently allow the Oil to flow freely

back

to Mother's surface.

 

There are three energy sources that geologists call Fossil Fuels; Oil, Coal

and Natural Gas. While it is popular to attribute these resources to the

dinosaurs, the Fossils responsible for them are millions of years older.

Reserves of the liquid gem were already forming by the time dinosaurs began

roaming the Earth.

 

Another theory states that Oil is abiotic, or does not come from organic

decay. This newer thought theorizes that Oil is one of the by-products of

magma (melted rock from the Earth's center). Heat and pressures from the

core push the Oil towards Mother's surface.

 

Many of the proponents of this theory hope to use it to lull us into

believing

that Oil is a renewable resource, not finite. The lack of molecular

connections between magma and Oil along with the overwhelming evidence of

molecular

connections between plants and Oil, keep the abiotic group a

minority.

 

Our greed and exploitive abuse of this liquid gem is fairly recent. In the

beginning, it was respected as a tool for healing and making our lives safer.

It was used in salves to heal wounds and soothe sensitive skin. We also used

it to seal roofs or prevent boats from leaking. For those first five thousand

years we simply skimmed what Oil we needed from what had seeped through to

the surface.

 

Things began to change for Oil around the mid 1800's. Yale Chemist Benjamin

Silliman Jr. discovered a method for distilling raw crude Oil into various

lighter fuels. At the time, the group of investors backing Silliman were only

interested in Kerosene for lamps. Because Whale Oil was becoming expensive,

these investors were hoping to exploit the growing demand for light by

harvesting this cheaper resource.

 

By the time Edwin Drake's famous well struck Oil in August of 1859 the

world's appetite for this liquid jewel was already growing. Within a few short

years the quiet Pennsylvania creek where Seneca Indians had first gathered the

resource for healing, became a noisy, muddy, over-run ecological disaster.

Foreshadowing our future irresponsibility in our unquenchable search for Oil.

 

Even worse, many of the early so-called by-products like gasoline were

thrown back into the environment. Until the dawn of the automobile, the money

men

only exploited Oil for the kerosene. Eventually they would learn to get

something from every drop in a 42 gallon barrel.

 

It is no wonder that Earth and Sky are finally getting angry with our

shameful abuse of this magical gift left for us by our most ancient ancestors.

 

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SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL: FREE Fossil (of your choice)

 

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This Subscriber Special expires December 5, 2007

 

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SKY NOTES

 

New Moon, Friday November 9 6:03 pm (ET)

Second Quarter Moon, Saturday November 17 5:32 pm (ET)

Thanksgiving (US), Thursday November 23

Full Moon, Saturday November 24 9:30 am (ET)

Fourth Quarter Moon, Saturday November 1 7:44 am (ET)

Hanukkah begins, Wednesday December 5

 

 

 

" Codail, suaimhnigh i nge/aga nadragain "

" Sleep, rest in the arms of the Dragon "

 

 

 

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