The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-12


We know that coal has been produced
by plant life. SO. whom wa extract pc
troleum from it, we naturally look to
organic matters as its ultimate source.
Nevertheless, petroleum occurs in
many geological formations where or
game life has only sparsely existed.
Nor does petroleum, when examined
by the microscope, exhibit the least
traces of organized structures. The
range of geological formations in
which it is found is considerable. In
the Caspian Sea it is found in tertiary
sands. having comparatively modern
origin in a geological sense. But in
Canada it occurs as low down as the
Silurian formation ana in the lower part
| of the slovenian, while in Pennsylvania
it is in the upper series of the Devonian,
below the coal measures. An elemen-
tary knowledge of geology shows that
these facts render it difficult to connect
petroleum with pre-existing organic
debris. Ordinary rocks result from the
waste of pre-existing systems, or are
pushed up by volcanic energy from GEN.
tral depths. Neptunists could not ex-
plain the formation of petroleum by
aqueous action, for it is so light that it
would float on the top of water. and
would not be buried by deposit. Vul-
cauists of the old school would be
equally perplexed. because petroleum
is so volatile that heat would convert it
into vapor, and it would be dissipated.
Is, then, petroleum cosmic? Perhaps
the question is not so absurd as it
appears. Recent observations on the
tail OF the great comet which adorned
the heavens not long since showed
that it contained hydrocarbons
very similar to petroleum. do
not mean to indicate that the comet was
huge petroleum lamp rushing through
space; st II, the detection of hydrocar-
bons in it is significant fact. 1t lends
considerable support to the idea that
petroleum is being continually formed
anew in the deeper parts of the earth.
In all petroleum wells water is also
found. In the depths of the earth there
is probably a large abundance of conf
pounds OF The metal with carbon, for
we find them in basaltic and other
rocks When the crust of the earth be-
comes assured, water would reach these
at high temperature and be decom-
posed, its oxygen passing. over to the
metals, while the carbon and hydrogen
would unite to produce hydro aarbons,
the most common form of which is pc
troleum. The gaseous hydrocarbons,
formed by the same action. are pent up
in these cavities, and when boring is
made for a well, force up the petroleum
frequently as high fountains. Wells OF
this substance are generally found at
the base OF mountain ranges. rs of the
Alleghenies of Am arica. or of the Cau-
casus In Russia. These elevations iE-
dictate cavities, assures or crevasses be-
low, and into these, as into a receiver,
the hydrocarbons may have been dis
titled and become condensed. This is
only theory. but it is the one which is
the most satisfactory to my mind; and
if it be true, it is comforting one, for
while we find forests disappearing from
the earth, the coal being exhausted
without being formed afresh, petroleum,
which as fuel has about twice the value
of coal. is being constantly formed and
deposited in Natures reservoirs.-Go0d
u OrdS.