Oil shale, also known as bituminous rock, is a sedimentary rock rich in organic materials, which can be processed to obtain oil and gas. The term oil shale can also be used to refer to the process of extracting oil and gas from this rock. Other synonyms for oil shale include kerogen shale, shale oil, and marlstone. The use of oil shale as a fuel source has been highly debated due to its environmental impact, including greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. Despite this, oil shale continues to be an important resource for many countries, including Estonia, Brazil, and China.