this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2025
126 points (98.5% liked)

interestingasfuck

7084 readers
2 users here now

interestingasfuck

founded 2 years ago
all 26 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 91 points 6 days ago (2 children)

At the risk of dispelling the magic, it was very likely just cheap asphalt around Caracas. Over time or under specific conditions, the asphalt separates or undergoes a chemical transformation, and now the road's covered in slime.

They repaved the roads and the problem disappeared.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 70 points 6 days ago

Believe it or not, cheap asphalt.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

This is just another fascinating thing about earth I never knew about, thank you for sharing. That's pretty cool, I like lightning, incredible to watch

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago
[–] [email protected] 17 points 6 days ago

One report stated that it "was a mixture of used engine oil and highly corrosive brake fluid" but was not able to ascertain its origin.[4] The most accepted theory is that La Mancha Negra is the result of countless leaky, old cars spraying their fluids over the roadway.[2][5]

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 days ago

“Swamp gas.”

—Scully, probably

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 days ago

Beware of timefall.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Considering Venezuela sits atop large reserves of low grade oil I would not surprise me it’s some sort of seepage.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Somehow the oil only seeps from road asphalt, and not from the surrounding porous ground...?

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

But the asphalt has been placed on some excavation and experiences constant compressions?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

That's not how compression works. At any reasonable depth below ground level the force would have been dissipated. For what you're suggesting, the entire country would have to be living in a literal oil bog.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Don’t know. Oil is known to seep out of the ground and perhaps the only place it is noticed is road since that’s where people actually transit. A few cracks on the aging asphalt and a semi truck pressing down on or underneath while driving on top could easily force it out the cracks.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Dude. Instead of wildly speculating, maybe just read the article? They've spent millions doing lab analysis. If it were crude oil they'd have figured it out and be drilling.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago

Well, no one wants their oil. It’s very low grade and the only country really equipped to refine the stuff is the US, which is not really interested in trading with them.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago

Almost as bad as the Mancha Negra in my chones

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

I am going to blame this as on Juiblex.

I don't know how to stop the Faceless Lord but I think its going to be an epic adventure