The objective of research to be conducted in this activity is to define the fundamental characteristics of oil shales so that this information can be used to develop better understandings of conversation processes and effects on the environment. Particular attention will be given to determining the temperature and time behavior of bitumen during isothermal and nonisothermal pyrolysis. Very little experimental data have been reported on bitumen production during oil shale decomposition, although it is considered to be an important intermediate in practically all oil shale decomposition models. The data obtained can then be used to understand better the reaction chemistry and transport processes in retorting and environmental systems.