Oil sands are a mixture of sand, clay, water, and a thick, sticky form of oil called bitumen. This natural resource is found in large deposits, primarily in places like Canada and Venezuela. Extracting oil from these sands is more complex than traditional oil drilling, as it requires special techniques to separate the bitumen from the sand.
The process of extracting oil from oil sands can have significant environmental impacts, including habitat destruction and greenhouse gas emissions. However, oil sands are an important energy source, contributing to the global oil supply and providing jobs in regions where they are located, such as Alberta.