The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-09-05
pArRoLEUM IN NORTH CAROLINA.

Il
We publish, as matter Of interest, the
following letter from w, 9. Kerr. A. NJ.
State Geoiogist, late Professor of Chemis-
try. MineraIogy and Geology. .. Davidson
College. I'll III
Ms,srs. A. c.. Brsnizcr, e r.. Jones and oihers Of
The North cavo.na Petroleum. and Mining Com.
pSay,n Greensboro, n. c.:
SrRs: In your letter asking my opinion
of the prospects and probabilities Of Pelro-
leum operations in North Carolina. you
state that your procedure will be much in
Huenced By my answer to your inquiries.
Let me say in the beginning therefore. tina,
there is set too much doubt and uncer-
tainty enveioplng the geological theory Of
that subject to make il prudent to base an
operation upon any scientifc opinion,
which in the present state Of our knowledge
Of the matter, can claim 10 be little more
than conjecture. The whole subjec. is 50
new and the facts have accumulated so rap,
idly and cover 50 wide field, and SO many
points remain still in obscurity, that u
would be unsafe to venture prediction that
oil will or will not be found 10 any given
locality. The only Satisfactory method OF
settling the question OF its presence IS 70
make an experiment by boring. And this
10 no very difficult or costly affair to such
4 degree of simplicity and perfection has
the manufacture Of the implements tor The
purpose been brought and so much skill has
been acquired 10 the use Of them. And |
was glad TO fad on visiting last week the
ground where your machinery has been
erected and the preparations nearly COM
pleted for sinking the first we'll, that com
pany of citizeas Of North Carolina have the
enterprise and public spirit to make this
exploration, which must inure TO the COM
mon benefit as wen as that Of the immediate
members of the company. For you will
decide satisfactorily and finally and in The
only way in which il can be decided, the
question Of the existence oil petroleum in
available quantity in North Carolina.
And nheIher you succeed in finding oil
Or not, your experiment, besides its general
scientific interest and the light which II
must throw upon several yexed questions,
will probably bring 10 view new resources
Of Coal and iron, and not imProbably also OF
lime. salt and gypsum, wh"se presence, IN
association with the coal, there are snod
reasons for suspecting.
la reference 10 the question oil the Propa-
bility Of your finding oil, i ! proper 70
state. as shall do briefly and frankly, 10
answer TO your inquiries, what consider
the fixed and ascertained iacts and prin.
ciples bearing that point, emitting what
ever is merely comic ctura.
Petroleum or mineral oil i Of organic
origin, being derived from the accumula-
tlons of the remains OF vegetables and
Chiefly of animals Of former ages. which
lie buried deep IN the rocks. Oil may
be expected therefore only where these
fossils abound. Ii is seldom found CT al
sil) in the rocks where il originated. but
at higher level. Ii is found chiefly in
sandstone. which is never the source Ot is
production. ltdoes not occur IN metamor-
phic or altered 80 called primary rocks.
The rocks Of North Carolina. except the
Deep and Dan River coal measures. (and
the mari regioa Of the COAST are d this
description and contain 10 fossils 80 that
you have selected the only localities IN the
State where there is any probability 81 sue
cess; because there only the rocks are not
metamorphic and there sandstones and
fossils abound. ard since these coal furma
tons are 81 no great thickness and the oil
lies above Tie horizon Of its production.
you may expect 10 find il, il At all, al No
great depth below the surface.
IL is important 10 fixing the Location 81
your wells in coal region to seek indlca.
tons Of bituminous coal. the presence 81
anthracite denoting degree Of metamor-
phism Cor alteration Of the constitution oil
the rocks) which implies the absence u
petroleum and the chances Ol success will
be further increased il you select q point
towards which the rocks incline upwards
from opposite directions. ali anlicIinal axis,