El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-25
MINING NEWS.
Ground Formations Similar,
According to Log of Well,
as in Other Fields Theor-
es of Origin of Oil.

4
miles south of AIamOgOrdO, is on thu
eastern side of the great basin, named
by biologists the "Hueco Bolson-" IL
the FL Paso folio of the T. s Geological
survey, Dr. G. B. Richardson describe:
this bolsOn as a broad wasJe-filled low
land, bordered on the west by the mar
| row north-south Franklin range on
the east by the HuecO mountains, and on
| the south by the valley Of the Rio
Grande.
Bounded by Mountains.
The Hueco bolson is one of the larg-
est of the intermediate. waste-filled
plains of the Trans-Pecos region, says
Richardson. Together with its north
ward and southwark combinations it is
| II lying each side of the Texas-NeT
/ Mexico boundary 1t varies in width,
| averaging possibly % miles The greater
/ part of the bolson has an elevation ap-
pIoximating 1000 feet and it is bordered
| by mountains which rise from 1000 to
| 500 feet higher On the west are the
| San Andres Organ. franklin ranges
and others in Mexico; on the east are the
| Sacramentos, Hueco, Finlay and Quit
man mountains
Formation Not Determined.
In the HuecO bolson the deep cover Of
uEconsolidated material conceals the
structure of the underlying rocks Pos
laid by practically flat lying beds which
the bolSon along the eastern base of the
Franklin mountains.
The record of the well warranted the
expectation of ultimately striking oil
even if the real thing has not yet been
encountered. Although the site is near
the western slope of the Sacramento
range, no solid rock has vet been met
Rur f-aU "a T1O har hnI
son Of alluyium where the we'll Is bored
overlies the solid rock formation cor
responding to the great uplift of the
Sacramento mountains. In other words
the western face of the Sacramentos IS
a great fault line, which separates the
original strata under the valley and
the strata of the mountains which have
doubtless been lifted from their original
position to an elevation of several thou
sand feet. Whether the floor of the
valley is undisturbed and level in its
qualification or has been folded into
synclines anticlines is undetermined
but probably the latter is the case.
Geological Survey Pertinent.
The observations of experienced ex-
perts and geologists are at this time
of deep interest on the subject of pros
pccting for oil and gas in the inter
montana region. and the results of OBJ
servations made in various localities
where they have been found by going
out into a new field and opening I'D oil
and gas fields
Sustained by Authorities.
The first general conclusion, based
upon experience and observation" says
Erasmus HawOrth. a high authority On
the subject, rs that oil and gas are
almost always found In a porous rock
rather than in genuine fissure veins.
Sandstone is the most uniformly porous
ooh I'M oil Ill
gas known TO man have been found in
sandstone.
Another fact is that in oil fields thus
far developed in other fields. bed OF
fine grained, compact shale or clay
overlies the porous stone. which serves
as a blanket or covering to hold the
materials In and keep them from es-
Gaping"
Surface Indications Good.
Oil fields in general have been dis
covered by prospectOrs attracted by sur
face indications Usually leaks or
springs bring oil 10 the surface and
prospectors have placed their drills
nearby.
In the Kansas and Oklahoma fields I
oil Is found in sandstone, not in one !
individual sandstone, but in many. The /
field IS much more spotted and IN I
certain than some others. There is an /
almost total lack of structural rela-
lions. In the Pennsylvania region there /
are broad anticlinal ridges and syn I
ciinal troughs which in a measure con-
troll the location of oil and gas.
Origin Of OIL and Gas.
The origin Of oil and gas is the most
important question and one that il it
were positively known. We should bets err
know where TO prospect for them. At
present there are two main and con-
flictipg theories regarding it. One ia
IL
the working biologists who are familiar
With field conditions in oil and gas re-
yions The<fother is held by chem
SITS.
The Organic Origin Theory.
The first theory assumed that oil and
gas represent products of decay of or
yanic matter. which was imbedded in
-ock masses at the time they were
orned.
This explanation IS in general fairly
but the trouble is that
I is not assuredly correct. According to
Z oil and gas should be found close
o where nature made and deposited I
he organic matter. Therefore the search
hould be made in porous rock masses
urrounded by black bftuminous shale
II by other rocks which could have pro- !
iuced them by decomposition of con-
aimed organic matter, either vegetable
IT animal or both.
The Chemical Theory.
The chemical view OF the origin of
ii and gas has been advocated for MANY :
ears. II assumes that at one time
I least a portion OF the earth was in
molten condition. and that while In :
hat condition, carbon united with diff
erent metals, forming carbides similar
o that known 10 exist in cast iron.
through geologic time. wafer
as come in contact with these metallic ,
arbides, and has brought about de-
imposition of the carbides. producing
hides Of the metals and hydro carbons
The chemical theory OF the origin OF
Il and gas apparently is gaining favor '
it could only be determined which |
leory Is correct or get some other cor
ect and YET TO be discovered theory
lat would solve the origin of these '
tneral oils and gases We would have
lies 70 lead our prospecting 10 ulti-
ate success
Condition FavOrs Organic Theory A
Eugene Caste, the Canadian oil geolo-