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Biological Origins of Oil: Phytoplankton

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Just like coal is produced from the remains of carboniferous era plants, oil comes from the remains of phytoplankton that lived in the waters of the cretaceous period. Many of these phytoplankton were Diatoms.



Diatoms were (and are) single celled algae that live in several environments around the world. What sets diatoms apart from other phytoplankton are their skeletons. These creatures build for themselves hard glass skeletons comprised of silicates (SiO2). 

When these Diatoms and other phytoplankton die in shallow oceans, their remains are in proper anoxic conditions for the oil forming process to take place. Their silicate skeletons, however, are not broken down through the process in the same way as other remains, as they lack Carbon atoms.
 





Bibliography:
 Spaulding et al. 2021. Diatoms.org: supporting taxonomists, connecting communities. Diatom Research 36(4): 291-304. doi:10.1080/0269249X.2021.2006790 

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