The New Albany Shale: Source of Fuel for the Future? (IM-06)
Thick black shales, deeply buried under much of southwestern Indiana, appear at the surface in south- central Indiana, where they are called the New Albany Shale. Similar shales are also found buried in northern Indiana. Their black appearance is due to abundant organic material.

Indeed, test by the Indiana Geological Survey show that 1 ton of certain parts of the shale can yield 7.5 to 10 gallons of crude oil. Although at present extraction of oil from the shale is not profitable, the New Albany Shale represents a large potential source of fuel. Survey geologists also are investigating the radioactive content of the formation to determine if it contains uranium in sufficient amounts to serve as a future source of nuclear fuel.

Our Hoosier State Beneath Us: Industrial Minerals