Locality
9°49´35" east longitude, 52°40´15" north latitiude   [ map ]

Name
Wietze tar pit, Landkreis Celle, Germany, Europa

Historical relevance of location
Oilsand from the tar pit Wietze. Natural seeps of oil have been known from various places for many centuries. From these seeps the natural oil was used for medical purposes or as lubricant. During the last 150 years a huge and worldwide operating industry has developed which explores the oil resources of the world. Oil is essential for a modern industrial society: The annual global production and consumption of oil amounts to several billion tons. The small oil field of Wietze in the Southern Lueneburg Heath now is depleeted and reveals no commercial production any more. In remote parts, though, some natural oil seeps can still be found. They remind us of the local oil boom which lasted from 1853 to 1963 and give a link to the giant oil fields of Asia, Russia, and America.

Classification of the earth

Structure	bituminous sand
Colour	black to dark brown
Age	Quaternary (dunesand)

Donor

Dr. Michael Kosinowski,
 Geological Survey of Lower Saxony,
 Hannover,
 Germany