About 150 rock core specimens were extracted from two beds of the El-Lajjun oil-shale deposits with variable oil yield. Physical and engineering properties were analyzed and compared, and the oil-shale rock was classified according to several internationally known classification systems. Based on previous works by others and the extensive investigation made in this study several conclusions are reached. Most of the proven reserve of this commodity, in Jordan, can be recovered economically. For example, at the El-Lajjun site, a total of 1.3 billion tons out of 27 billion tons of proven oil shale in Jordan can yield 800 million barrels of crude oil with suitable exploitation techniques. The retorting technique, for oil yield exceeding ten percent, was recommended over the other known methods. Based on the index and engineering properties that were measured or assessed, it was shown that the rock formation is rippable using mechanical means. Also low explosive energy is needed to fracture or fragment this bituminous marly limestone which makes the exploitation of this commodity economically feasible.
