Gilpin observer., 1911-09-14


ceived the idea of building. The malthalined els
terms found In Egypt and at Petrea although of
unknown antiquity, are still in perfect state
of preservation and fit for practical 1t is al
80 we'll established fact that in the preparation
of material for embalming and encaustic painting
in Egypt and Mexico maltha formed the principal
part.
Many theories have been advanced to how
bitumen has been produced but no general chem
ical formula can be given for the occurrence OF
the several curious forms OF the product. There
is doubt, however. that bitumen represents
a substance that Is obtained from petroleum.
found In its liquid state in the containing rocks,
and by the process of natures laboratory has
been gradually converted into its more solid form.
This process may be described as evaporation
AS the oil seeps to the surface, generally by its
own gaseous pressure. the natural gases. spir-
ituous and light oils are evaporated by the sun,
and the resdues, asphaltum and maltha, formed.
Indications of the presence of petroleum are fire.
quently found on the surface In the form OF btu.
men, but there is no fixed rule. and recent dis
coveries seem to upset the theory that oil can
only be found under certain conditions. Wells
have been sunk and oil found along the coast Of
California where the operations have
tended for some distance into the sea. In
variety OF climates and from the sea level up
through the lofty ranges of the Andes has this
remarkable light of the world" been secured
Petroleum also known mineral oil, crude
OIL and stone oil, may be described as liquid
form OF bitumen, found seepng from the crevces
of rocks and floating about on the surface OF the
water. Its color varies from a light straw,
through amber red and brown. to dark green
and black. 1t is mixture of hydrocarbons or
compounds of hydrogen and carbon. varying con
sderably. according to the locality in which It is
found In both composition and consistency, and
OF two distinct varieties, asphalt base and parafn
base, with many constituents.
The more volatile and inhammable portions OF
the raw product are separated by refining each
constituent being taken of and collected sep
arately by gradually raising the temperature Of
the oil and passing the consequent vapors
gases through series OF condensers. The prod
ucts from the parafin bases are usually taken of
follows: Gasolines and naphthas kerosene or
standard white. as 1t is now known, other illumi
mating oils. light and heavy lubricatng oils par.
affn and greases OF various descriptions. The
percentage OF each product recovered from the
crude varies according to the character OF the
crude. fair average OF Pennsylvania crude oil
ran as follows: Gasoline, u per cent: naphthas.
II per cent; kerosene, 55 per cent: lubricating
oils. 17h per cent parafin. per cent; and residue
Of pitch, etc., 10 per cent. Many varieties Of
petroleum require special treatment in order to
eliminate sulphur and other Objectionable ele-
ments. From the aspbalt-base petroleum is de-
prived OF a resduum employed In the manufac.
ture OF insulating, water-proonng and roofing ma.
terials reslduum known coke" Is also
used as fuel and In the manufacture Of carbons
for arc lights and electric batteries.
Along the banks of stream in Pennsylvania,
now known under the prosaic title Of OIL Creek.