QER is acknowledged for providing assistance with this resource. Oil shale is composed of between 17 and 25% water and before the oil can be extracted, this moisture needs to be removed. To achieve this, the oil shale passes through a drying plant, like an enormous pizza oven,…

QER is acknowledged with providing assistance for this resource. “Exploring familar objects and materials” Plastics are made from oil. The wide array of types of plastics makes for an extensive diversity of properties. In this lesson students will classify a range of plastic objects according to their properties.…

QER is acknowledged for providing assistance with this resource. Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts (‘fractions’) by heating them to a temperature at which several components evaporate. As the temperature of crude oil increases, different hydrocarbons are separated. Those with the lowest…

Discover what oil shale is and where oil shale resources can be found in Australia. Learn about oil shale’s potential as an alternative fuel for Australia, given our decreasing supply of crude oil resources. Discover how oil shale was formed and learn about the process of mining oil…

Petroleum is used as a source for fuel and in the making of petroleum products such as oil, chemicals and plastics. In this fact sheet some fast facts on this resource are provided.   Australian Curriculum content statements Science: ACHASSK090 (4); ACSSU032 (2); ACHASSK182(7); ACHGK037 (7); ACSSU153 (8)

Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is the process of gasifying coal in situ, that is, where it is lying under the surface, so that it can be used as a fuel or chemical feedstock. This fact sheet explores a number of elements of the UCG process including technology and…

QER is acknowledged with providing assistance for this resource. “Caring for the Environment” Caring for our local environment is important, whether it is a mine site, a school ground or a neighbourhood park. In this lesson, students will explore the circle of life and ways in which they…

QER is acknowledged with providing assistance for this resource. “Everyday objects made from minerals”   Objects of all kinds can be described using a rich vocabulary encompassing all of the senses. Many common and useful objects around us are made from oil. In this lesson, students will question,…

QER is acknowledged with providing assistance for this resource. “Fossils in oil shale deposits” Fossils are the remains of animals from long ago. The QER shale oil mine near Gladstone is the source of fossils up to forty million years old! In this lesson, students will learn the…

QER is acknowledged with providing assistance for this resource. “Properties and uses of common materials” Properties help us to understand many of the common objects around us. Understanding what they are made of helps us to appreciate where they come from. In this lesson, students will participate in…