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| | NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Petroleum |
 | | Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil) or crude oil is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. |
 | | Petroleum (burning water) was known in Japan in the 7th century, whilst in Europe the gas springs of the north of Italy led to the adoption in 1226 by the municipality of Salsomaggiore of a salamander surrounded by flames as its emblem. |
 | | As early as 1804, Humboldt expressed the opinion that petroleum was producen by distillation from deep-seated strata, and Karl Reichenbach in 1834, suggested that it was derived from the action of heat on the turpentine of pine-trees, whilst Brunet, in 1838, adumbrated a similar theory of origin on the ground of certain laboratory experiments. |
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