Pronunciation: [sˈɛnɛkəɹ ˈɔ͡ɪl] (IPA) 
Seneca oil is a type of oil that was used in medicine in the 19th century. The spelling of Seneca is [sɪˈnɛkə] in IPA. The "s" is pronounced as "s" in "sun", the "e" is pronounced as "e" in "bed", the "n" is pronounced as "n" in "net", the "e" is pronounced as "e" in "bed", the "c" is pronounced as "k" in "key", and the "a" is pronounced as "ə" in "sofa". Therefore, the pronunciation of Seneca oil is [sɪˈnɛkə ɔɪl].
Seneca oil refers to a type of natural resource obtained from the geological formation known as the Devonian shale, primarily found in the region of Seneca, New York. It is a type of crude oil that was historically extracted and refined between the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. The term "Seneca oil" is often used interchangeably with "rock oil" or "petroleum," typically to signify earlier forms of crude oil before the widespread use of the term petroleum.
Seneca oil was initially discovered in 1791 by American industrialist Samuel H. Kier, who recognized its potential for various uses. The oil served as an early source of illumination, providing a more efficient and brighter alternative to traditional fuels such as whale oil or tallow. It was also found to have medicinal properties and was used in the production of pharmaceuticals, such as liniments and ointments.
Extracting Seneca oil involved drilling wells into the Devonian shale formation, and the oil was collected via pumps or sponge-like materials. This process often required significant effort and investment due to challenges in drilling and refining techniques at the time.
However, with the advent of more efficient drilling methods and the discovery of larger oil deposits in other parts of the world, the production and use of Seneca oil declined. Today, the term Seneca oil is mainly used in historical contexts to describe a precursor of modern petroleum-based products.
The term "Seneca oil" has its roots in the Seneca Native American tribe and their use of oil extracted from rocks. The word "Seneca" comes from the Native American group of people living in what is now New York State, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. These Seneca people were known to use a type of oil-bearing rock called "Bituminous Rock" or "Seneca stone".
In the 19th century, the Seneca oil industry boomed after the discovery of oil in the vicinity of Seneca territory. Oil was extracted from Seneca stone, and the term "Seneca oil" became associated with this particular type of rock and the oil produced from it.
Later, in the mid-19th century, the term "Seneca oil" acquired a new meaning when it was used to refer to petroleum or crude oil found in the Seneca region.
