Answer:
Oil shale is a form of sedimentary rock that contains kerogen, which is released as a petroleum-like liquid when the rock is heated. Tar sands are a combination of clay, sand, water and bitumen, which is a heavy hydrocarbon.
Additional info:
The term oil sands refers to a particular type of nonconventional oil deposit that is found throughout the world. Oil sands, sometimes referred to as tar sands, is a mixture of sand, clay, other minerals, water, and bitumen. The bitumen is a form of crude oil that can be separated out from the mixture.
The primary distinction between crude or conventional oil and shale oil is the way it collects. The oil in shale is typically found in smaller batches. As a result, shale oil often needs to be fractured so that the oil trapped within the shale can be recovered.
