tar sand
noun
: a natural impregnation of sand or sandstone with petroleum from which the lighter portions have escaped
Examples of tar sand in a Sentence
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Indeed, the study found that an electric car is likely worse than a car fueled exclusively by gasoline derived from Canadian tar sands!
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IEEE Spectrum, 30 June 2013
Suncor’s crude oil comes from the tar sands in Canada, which are heavy oils and have higher residue (asphalt), and the local Denver-Julesburg Basin crude, which is a sweet, honey-like domestic crude.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 19 May 2025
Most Canadian oil comes from Alberta’s tar sands region, where the oil looks like asphalt, molasses or coffee grounds.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
American companies that work there—in the Canadian tar sands or in the North Sea’s oil fields, for example—will still have to make these disclosures.
—Matt Mossman, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2017
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IEEE Spectrum, 30 June 2013
Suncor’s crude oil comes from the tar sands in Canada, which are heavy oils and have higher residue (asphalt), and the local Denver-Julesburg Basin crude, which is a sweet, honey-like domestic crude.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 19 May 2025
Most Canadian oil comes from Alberta’s tar sands region, where the oil looks like asphalt, molasses or coffee grounds.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
American companies that work there—in the Canadian tar sands or in the North Sea’s oil fields, for example—will still have to make these disclosures.
—Matt Mossman, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2017
See All Example Sentences for tar sand
Cite this Entry
“Tar sand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tar%20sand. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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