Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-17

strategic position. economically. No
well petroleum is produced either in
England or Scotland. 1t is all imported
Consequently, the price of petroleum
and all its products arc abnormally
high. Add to this the natural con-
sumption of a. large local population
and the economic condition becomes
very advantageous.
C. In Scotland the primary product
sought is not oil but ammonium sui
phate, and the retorts are so construc-
tod and operated as to obtain the max
imum of ammonium sulphate from the
nitrogen in the shale. Most American
shales contain comparatively little nj
trogen and the primary object of re-
tortinS is oil-not ammonium sulphate.
The Scotch type of retort, therefore,
Is not Immediately applicable and
numerous inventors are experimenting
to produce some other form that will
be adapted to average American shales.
d. To produce ammonium sulphate
100 gallons of water, in tho form of
steam. are required. Unless an ample
supply Of water is available the Scotch
retort would be useless no matter what
tho nature of the shale might be. In
the semi-arld regions of the west n
lack Of water is noted characteris-
tic.
In Scotland the problem is primarily
cost of supplies, cost OF labor, good
market, high selling prices, and a gen.
oral low cost of production so as to
leave a satisfactory margin between
the cost of production and tho selling
price.
ENGLAND
Tho oil shale deposits in England
arc extensive. They have been deter
mined in many places from Dorset
shire to Norfolk but they arc best ex
posed in Norfolk county, five miles
south of Kings Lynn. and on the
English Channel. Here they form
distinctive feature of the English cliffs
near the village of Kimmeridge from
which the formation derives its name.
Both these deposits. unfortunately,
contain from five to eight per cent. or
more of sulphur. This makes the re-
sultant oil Objectionable and unsafe
able. To remove this sulphur, and not
destroy the oil, is the serious techni-
cal problem before the English scien-
list. Until that is solved tho English
oil shalc deposits will remain nom
coT'oercial. The ablest English chem
lists are seeking to solve tho difficulty
but as yet no solution has been found.
In rctortinG, tho most notable results
have been made on the n. NJ. G. rctort.
Liberal support has been given to
the appeal OF tho Birmingham univer-
sity. England. for funds wherewith to
continue to carry on its work in con-
noction with the training OF students
in oil technology. Among tho largest
donations arc Anslo-Persian Ill Co.
Ltd, G25.0oo; Sir Marcus Samuel,
Bart Ecsooo; Lord Cowdray. E2o,O5o:
Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co, E25, 900;
d. + Mves. Efc.5Oo: Anglo Ameri-
can Oil Co. Ltd. El0.nco; making a to-
tai of E122. 500 or $s12 500. co. This speaks
volumes for the substantial interest in
and appreciation of, tho Importance OF
the oil industry to tho economic status
of the British Empire.
FRANCE
oil shalcs occur in Autun, Allier. the
Midi. tho central plateau. and in tho
Nandce- At Autun there arc ten seams
OF which have been worked: the aver
ago yield in is gallons of oil and from
the average thickness of the seams is
hve feet: the dip so degrees: the
ground is badly faulted. improvements
consist OF vertical shaft 500 feet
deep with drifts following tho vein to
a depth of 1000 feet. The Scotch method
is followed. At BcauIiore les Mine. in
the province Of Allier. the deposits are
similar to those at Autun. but OF a
lower grade. Tho Var Coal and oil
company. in the south OF France, is
doing experimental work under the
OF DR.. II. V. Dunham of New
York and expects to install retorts and
develop its oil shale deposits in the
near future.
OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES
In Norway oil shale deposits arc
found on the island of Audcn. in the
northern part of Norway, where they
are closely connected with coal depos-
its and also at Kings Bay on the is
land OF Spltzbergen. In Chile extensive