The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-06-02
SECOND BULLETIN FROM
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY

Bulletin No. 2. preliminary report
on the rock asphalt, asphaltite, petrol
cum and natural gas in Oklahoma by
l.. L. Hutchison, has recently been
published by the state geological sur.
vey at Norman. For convenience, the
book is divided into two sections; the
first hal deals with the solid residual
bitumens, while the latter part treats
in detail the more volatile maItha pro.
ducts as oil and gas. A brief and
general summary will serve to out
line and emphasize the more import
ant topics as developed in this study.
The report is briefly prefaced by
several statements concerning the
various sources OF information, to-
gether with a classification of the
hydrocarbons and allied substances.
A discussion of the general geology
of the area in which asphalt may be
found, (that portion of the state lying
between the 35th parallel or north
latitude and Red river and from the
Arkansas line west to Granite) fol-
lows. The asphalt bearing region is
divided into five main divisions, name
ly, the Arbuokle, Wichita and Ouach-
ita mountains. the Permian Redbeds
and the Cretaceous Slope. In con-
else form each is treated in reference
to its Typographical and geological
features. Conclusions regarding the
deposits or rock asphalt are the re-
suit of Mr., Hutchisons personal field
work The Introductory remarks to
this chapter reveal some interesting
facts, relating to the occurrence of
bituminous beds in Oklahoma. In ad-
dition, definite locations and data are
given of all the known maltha deposits
In the following areas; Wichita
mountain region, and Jefferson, Ste
phens, Garvin, Carter, Murray Love
Marshall, Johnston, pontotoc, Atoka
McCurtain, LeFlore, Bryan, Ottawa
and Craig counties. Asphaltite is de-
fined as the solid minerals of asphal-
tum. sometimes called coal asphalts. I"
Deposits of this nature are discussed
in full in relation 10 the locality in
which they are found; t. e. those near
Page, Tuskahoma, in Simpson and Nc
Gee valleys around Atoka and the
Williams and Loco beds In summary
the writer has treated the occurrence.
association and physical properties of
the commercial asphaltite. Part one
is concluded by short treatise on the
advisability of natural asphalt pave
ments.
The latter half of the bulletin is
opened by a resume of the history of
petroleum and natural gas. The re-
view includes several biblical and class
ical references. together with a short
outline of the modern development of
petroleum in United States and Rus
sia. The following chapter deals with
the distribution of oil and gas, geo
graphically. geoIogically, physically
and in respect to time and space The
chemistry of petroleum and natural
gas follows. The theories of origin
and assimilation are fully treated.
IN conclusion it is clearly defined that
where oil is found 1t is due "a Ito
gentle anticlinal folding; or (2) to an
arrest of the normal dip of rocks; or
CD to accidents of sedimentation by
which great sandstone lenses were i'm
bedded in petroliferous shales;" and
not to oil lines. In developing the
stratigraphy of the main oil and gas
field Mr.. Hutchison treats with the
region situated in northeastern Okla
homa, north of town s. and east Of