What are tar sands?
tar sands, also known as oil sands, are a naturally occurring mineral bed found deep inside the ground. They are composed of water, sand, clay and bitumens and can be processed to create oil for fuel vehicles, machines and other types of equipment. While bitums are found in many different parts of the world, the bitumens in tar are extremely heavy and strong. The name "tar sand" is derived from their appearance, although TAR is by definition of an artificial product. Almost two thirds of the world's oil sources can be found in the form of tar. Athabasca oil sands in Alberta are the largest bed in the world in the world and is also one of the most difficult to use. Due to the large supply of this material, Canada is by far the largest supplier of oil and oil products to the US. They were used for construction and waterproofing. They were found on instruments belonging to ancient nations and the Egyptians were widely used as part of the mummification process. In fact, the word "bitumen" is derived from anciento Arabic words used to indicate these dense, sticky materials. Since the world's oil supplies decreased at the end of the 20th and early 21st century, many manufacturers turned to tar sands as a viable source of energy.
petroleum is usually harvested by the drilling process. Oil holes attract liquid oil to the surface where it is improved for various uses. TAR sands are extracted by means of strip mining techniques. Because bitumens are mixed with the soil, the entire mixture must be extracted and separated before it could be refined.
The use of sand -based sources for oil production led to a great controversy with the environment and political groups around the world. When tar sands are extracted, the by -products of this extraction similar to porridge remain and cover huge areas of soil. The separation and refining of bitumens require a large amount of energy and water. The earth is virtually unobtrotatelinen after tar sands were gathered.
In addition to land destruction, tar production is associated with a number of environmental questions that can have far -reaching effects on Earth. Toxic vapors are produced during extraction and improvement. These vapors can cause diseases of people, wilderness and plants. They can also contribute to the greenhouse effect associated with global warming and climate change.