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The Formation Of Copper And Oil Deposits Essay

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Gas and oil deposits are typically found inside sedimentary rocks because of decomposing plants and animals trapped in layers of rocks. These rocks being usually consisting of clay pieces, sand, and mud. These rocks are layered and deposited on sediment layers. The remains of small organic materials such as zooplankton and algae form petroleum. Vast quantities of these remains settled to sea or lake bottoms, mixing with sediments and being buried under anoxic conditions. The heat and pressure over millions of years have turned the mud to rock and the organic materials to petroleum. The formation of petroleum occurs in two steps. The first step is Diagenesis, the second step is Catagenesis.

Diagenesis is the process of compaction on the low pressure and temperature conditions. This process includes any chemical, physical, and biological changes in sediments after the initial formation. However, the result of weathering and metamorphism is not considered. The organic materials contain proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and they are rich in water. When they are deposited, as a result of chemical reaction, microbial action, and compaction the water is forced out and the proteins and carbohydrates are broken down to form waxy substances called “kerogen” and “bitumen”. Catagenesis is thermal degradation of kerogen due to increase in temperature in deeper burials. Catagenesis or cracking will turn the kerogen to hydrocarbon chains. Gas and oil is found underground trapped inside

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