Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-01-05
Mineral Oils.

The american Gas-ligM Journal, thus
interestingly discourses, on the subject
of those hydro-carbonaceous products
known as Petroleum or coal oils:
The geological position of the rocks
yielding petroleum, is often in the coal
measures, and although the chemical
processes by which it is produced are
little known, it is undoubtedly of veg
etablc origin. The precise nature Of
the methods of its generation is envcl-
opcd in mystery. NJ. Baroulers eXpcr-
iments, recorded in the Complies Ren-
dus for February Is, 1858, arc intere:t-
ing in themselves, and peculiarly SO as
throwing light upon some of those
hidden processes in the great laboratory
of Nature, by which liquid and gaseous
hydrocarbons are produced beneath
the surface of the earth. by some wri-
ters the changes are supposed to be due
to fermentation only, while others as
cribc them to processes Of distillatiOn
by heated vapor.
The oil of Pennsylvania, which has
lately caused so much excitement, diff
crs in some important respects from
ordinary varieties Of Petroleum. Its
chemical composition appears to be al
most entirely identical with that of coal
gas. This oil is of a brownish-grcen
color, and has strong bitHminous
odor. When exposed to the air, it
docs not thickcn or skin over, and it
can easily he poured from bottle when
cooled to the temperature of $50 below
zero. Its density has been stated ut
1912 to 1882, and though its boiling point
is very high, a vapor begins to come
over ut about 22Oo. AS atmospheric
action does not cause this oil to thicken,
or grow hard and rcsinous like mineral
pitch or bitumcn, the surface Of the
ground near the springs has no crust or
deposit such as is usually found else
where in the ncighborhood Of tho Pc
trolcum Springs. Its lubricating and
illuminating properties are SO great
that the large quantity which is at pres
cnt being pumped from the numerous
wells, cannot fail to contribute greatly
to develop the resources and to increase
the material prosperity Of the district
in which it has been discovered.
Mineral oils are observed in many
places to issue from the earth, and often
in considerable abundance. In Persia,
on the northwest side of the Caspian
Sea, near Baku, extensive beds Of mari
are found saturated to such an extent,
that when wells arc sunk to the depth
of about ten yards, large quantities Of
naptha and water collect which arc
easily cvaporatcd. In some parts OF
that district, SO much combustiblc gas
or vapor rises from the ground, that
when set OH fire, it continues burning,
and even affords heat for economical
purposes. A considerable quantity of
an impure variety Of petroleum is cx-
ported from Burmah, In the East In
dies. The country consists Of sandy
clay, resting on series of alternate
strata of sandstone and shalc. Beneath
this rests bed of pale blue shale, rich
in petroleum, which lies Immediately
on coal. Petroleum springs have also
been found in the coal districts of
Shropshire and Derbyshilc. In England.
The sea near the Cape de Verd Islands
has been often seen covered by film
of rock oil. The finest specimens,
however, are said to be obtained in It.
ally, where petroleum is found i'll sew
cral places.
The discovery of mineral oil is by no
means of modern date, for in various
parts Of the world springs Of bitumi-
nous fund have been discovered in
times very remote from our owu. IIc-