Did oil really come from dinosaurs? Find out the truth about 'black gold'

O Petroleum, often called “black gold”, is one of the most valuable and essential substances in our modern world. However, its origin and the myths surrounding it may surprise many people.

Contrary to popular belief, oil is not the result of the decomposition of dinosaurs. So where does it really come from?

The scientific revelation

Geology professor Reidar Müller, from the University of Oslo, Norway, explains that oil has its origins in trillions of tiny algae and ancient plankton.

Although the idea that oil is derived from dinosaurs persists in many minds, science reveals a different truth.

(Image: Reuters/reproduction)

The organic theory of petroleum

The fact expressed by Müller is part of the so-called organic theory, which is widely accepted regarding the origin of oil.

It suggests that this valuable substance was formed over millions of years by the decomposition of remains of

animals and microscopic algae accumulated at the bottom of seas and lagoons. It is a complex process that involves pressure, temperature and time.

Professors Darío Solano and Iza Canales, from the Faculty of Engineering of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), explain that this process can be imagined as cooking a mixture of materials in a pan of pressure.

Under specific pressure and temperature conditions, the original matter breaks down into carbon and hydrogen chains. Once ready, the oil migrates from the rocks where it was formed to the rocks that will store it.

And this story that oil came from dinosaurs?

The myth that oil is made from dinosaur fossils probably arose due to the period in which Most petroleum deposits were formed – the Mesozoic era, which occurred about 66 to 252 million years ago back.

This period is widely known as the age of reptiles, due to the dominance of dinosaurs. Some of the rocks that produce hydrocarbons are associated with this era, which may have contributed to the erroneous idea that dinosaurs are linked to the origin of oil.

Debunking these myths is crucial, not only to combat misinformation, but also to advance understanding of this substance vital.

As we expand our knowledge of the true origins of oil, we open doors to new technologies and applications that can boost our development and our understanding of the world around us return.