Recommendations for the study and appraisal of oil-shale deposits in Jordan

A geologic-geochemical evaluation conducted October 5-24, 1968, both in the field area and in the laboratories has shown the Upper Cretaceous oil shale in the El Lajjun area of central Jordan to be one of Jordan's major natural mineral resources. Continued but slightly modified investigations are strongly recommended to determine the exact volume and quality of this oil shale. Further, a study to determine the most efficient processes of extraction of the oil and possible co-products should be initiated.

The economic potential of the oil shale is excellent, but the actual exploitation of this rock will depend on national economic and political factors that cannot be interpreted at this time. From a realistic point of view, regardless of these factors which inevitably change with time, systematic investigations and planning for construction of extraction plants for domestic production of fuel and/or other products from the oil shale should be completed at the earliest possible date, to assure rapid utilization of this mineral resource when necessary.