Jerry Avins wrote:
>
> Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>
> > Dutch wrote:
> >
> >> "Joseph Littleshoes" > wrote
> >>
> >>
> >>> Isn't gasoline an 'animal product"?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> No, not per se, but production of petroleum products exacts a hefty
> >> toll on animal populations.
> >>
> >>
> > I thought the oil in the ground was the remains of dead dinosaurs or
> > other animals?
>
> That's a fantasy of Sinclair Oil's. (Remember Dino the dinosaur?)
> Petroleum, like coal, seems to be of plant origin.

I actually looked this up several months ago while wondering why Alaska's North
Slope is so rich in petroleum.

As you said, coal is mostly of plant origin (ancient forests). The bulk of
petroleum reserves however come from sea life - mainly plankton and algae.
That's the common theory, at least.

Do a google search for petroleum origin and read a few of the results.