black gold

Valuable underground liquid

Black gold is a nickname for crude oil, emphasizing its value and the wealth it generates.

The term evokes the riches that oil brought to regions like Texas and the Middle East: They struck black gold on the old family ranch.

Less commonly, black gold refers to other valuable dark substances like coal or rich soil.

oil

petroleum

Natural underground hydrocarbon liquid

crudeUnpolished, raw state
barrelHooped cylindrical vessel
drillingHole-making by rotation

refinery · pipeline · OPEC · fossil fuel · derrick · offshore · fracking · shale · tanker · hydrocarbons

coffee

espresso

Concentrated pressurized brew

arabicaDominant coffee species
robustaHardy, bitter coffee species
brewSteeped or fermented drink

caffeine · roast · barista · latte · cappuccino · americano · mocha · macchiato · crema · beans

Categories

petroleumcrude oil, crude, petroleum, oil wells, oil fields
oil industrypetroleum, oil fields, oil well, oil rig, oil production
caviarsturgeon, roe, beluga, osetra, fish roe
Oil Historypetroleum, crude oil, oil wells, oil derricks, derricks
Color Idiomsblue moon, green light, red flag, white lie, gray area
gold24 karat, vermeil, karat, carat, electrum

Opposites

resource value and scarcity

black goldwaste

Unwanted discarded material

dross · refuse · slag · dregs · valueless

environmental and energy paradigm

black goldgreen energy

Environmentally sustainable electricity

renewable energy · clean energy · solar power · wind power · sustainable fuel

color/material metaphor

black goldgold

Element seventy-nine

yellow gold · white gold · precious metals · liquid sunshine · blue gold

Family

black, gold, golden, blacken, blackness, blackish, gold mine, blackened, gilded

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G