oil sand - oil soaked Careaga sandstone - Unit of 5 student specimens

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Oil sand from the Graciosa coarse-grained member of the Careaga sandstone - Unit of 5 student specimens
In the Solomon Hills, on Graciosa Ridge, in Santa Barbara County, California, the prolific oil producing Monterey Formation is fractured, with oil seeping up into the overlying Careaga sandstone. These oil sand specimens were collected in the Orcutt Oil Field not far from the location of the Hartnell well #1 shown here ca. 1900. The Careaga is lower Pliocene in age.
The Monterey has been richly productive for over 100 years in California. Its oil originated as the oil in diatoms, which, when they die, rain to the sea floor by the billions. The diatomaceous shales of the Monterey are difficult to develop as a direct petroleum source, but fractures often allow the oil to migrate upward into overlying sandstones.
We really don't like the tiny finger nail-sized specimens offered to students, as we feel these are too small to see rock textures and too small for examining the identifying characteristics of a mineral. We want the "Oh, Wow!" effect when students see the set of specimens they are going to work with. We collect these specimens so that five specimens, or possibly six, will fit in a small flat rate box, and we keep the price low, as we know these will be used in a classroom. For teachers we count like a baker and a dozen is more than 12, since you will always need a few spares.  If you are a teacher, let us know.
You are buying a unit of five student specimens. The photo is representative of what we ship.
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