The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-01-18
OIL SHALE VALUES
Being Determined
SECOND ARTICLE

miles wide, has long been famous be-
cause of certain rich gold mines. 1t
attracted renewed attention recently
because of the discovery of immense
bodies of what is said to be the richest
Oil shaie in the world. The extent of
these deposits is not to be calculated
at the present time.
The existence of this shale has long
been known, of course, but its poten-
tial value was ~undreamed of. Indians
often use it for fires, so combustible
are certain kinds of it. Years ago
some ~prospectors believed they had
discovered coal a short distance south
of the city of Elko, and they put down
a considerable shaft following a vein
of nearly black shale, believing it
would eventually run into coal. An
other curious fact Is that some shale
was shipped from here to Scotland
80 years ago.
Several wells have been drilled in
the county during past years in a
search for oil, but none was ever
found.
John Catlin built a shale-reduction
plant there some years ago, and many
barrels Of crude oil were distilled.
The new problems encountered, how
ever, led to the demolition of this
plant as impractical.
DR.. David T. Day, consulting chemist
to the Bureau of Mines, United States
Department of the Interior, who is
now erecting an experimental shale
reduction plant near Santa Maria,
California, also is directing construc-
ton Of a plant a mile east of this
town. This work has progressed
since September 20, and probably will
be finished next Marc'l.
The system of distillation to be used
here, as in some experiments in other
states, will be copiei after that now in
use at Pumpherston, Scotland. Nearly
all materials are now on the ground.
Indians are employed as laborers.
Roughly described, this retorting
plant will consist of four upright iron
cylinders, approximately two feet in
diameter and 10 feet long. surrounded
by a circular wall of specially modelled
fire brick. The whole will rest on a
heavy concrete foundation, which is
finished. Hoppers the size of a wagon
load will be on top of the cylinders.
The plant is located on a hillside. so
much Of the work may be aceom
plished by gravity.
Shale dumped into the hoppers will
fill the retorting cylinders. Fire will
surround them. Gases from the de
structive distillation" will pass
through pipes to a condenser outside.
Residue, Or ash, will escape from the
bottom. A 12-foot well and pumping
plant to supply water for the process
are completed near the Humboldt
River. Shale will at first be taken
from Southern Pacific section No. 10,
about a mile up the mountainside.
All work on construction of the
plant was necessarily preceded by
roadmaking through the sagebrush
desert. This location is not expected
to be a permanent one. II is merely
experimental, and vas determined by
considerations of cost of raising water
to the greater height of the shale
lodges, as well as of expense of con-
veying heavy materials used in the
retort.
Oil shale virtually outcrops on the
section of land mentioned. 1t is COW
cred only by a light and recently
formed overburden, which is easily
displaced. 1t has been proved to be
very rich in gum content. Several
prospect holes are Gin" a dozen feet.
and show shale of increasing richness
all the way. What values may be
found at a depth of 300 feet. for in
stance, cannot be conjectured. There
are limitations of pure parafin. for
one thing.
Lodges so far looked at generally
lie at an inclination of about As de-
grees. At depth, of course, such
lodges flatten out. North of Carlin,
however. are tremendous vertical
lodges of shale. sometimes 800 feet
wide.
All Nevada shale seems to "air-
slake" rapidly when exposed. When
thrown out of a hole it is damp, and
varies from a light brown to nearly
black, according to distance from the
surface at which it was taken. The
darker the shale here. the richer its
volatile content is supposed to be.
1t is reavy rock when mined" but
after lying a few days on the surface
1t is reduced to an ash-like substance