The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-01-12
NORTH IDAHO GEOLOGY
is UNAVOIDABLE TO OIL
SUBJECT DISCUSSED BY GEoLo-
elsT FROM STATE UNlVER-
SITY AT A. /. M. G. m. E.

SITY AT A. l. M. & M. E.
At the annual meeting of Columbia
section, American Institute of Mining
and Metallurgical negineers, held in
Spokane on December rs, the follow
ing officers were unanimously elected
for the ensuing year, Rush }. White,
of Wallace. chairman; Frank M.
Smith, of Spokane. vice chairman; j.
K Armstrong, of Spokane, secretary
treasurer. Upon taking the chair Mr..
White spoke briefly and among other
things said that it was his desire to
have more meetings of the section
outside Spokane as by that plan he
thought younger members could be
reached more effectively and more ac-
tive interest developed among them.
He also spoke of the interest mining
engineers have in the proposed revis-
ion of the mining laws. and that they
would probably be called together to
discuss the same in the near future.
Revision Discussed.
Earlier in the meeting the question
of revision of mining laws was dis
cussed. None of the speakers favored
the pending bill, but they generally
admitted that some changes might be
desirable. Senator Poindexter was a
guest at the meeting and displayed a
keen interest in the discussion of the
proposed revision measure, stating
that he was glad to have the opinions
of local engineers and mining men.
Senator Poindexter is chairman of the
senate committee on mines and min
ing.
THE Geology of the Northwest with
Special Reference to Economic Posi-
bilities" was the subject of an inter-
esting paper by Prof o. z. Jenkins,
associate professor of economic geol-
Ogy at Pullman
North Idaho and Oil.
Virgil Kirkham, member of the geo
logical faculty of the University Of
Idaho and assistant geologist for the
state bureau of mines and geology
extemporaneously the oil
situation in north Idaho
Mr.. Kirkham prefaced his remarks
by brief reference to the great known
metallic mineral wealth of the Pan
handle and TO the possibilities of non
metallic mineral production from the
same area. With reference to oil pos
ef,;1ftfae L., Tho coma orao tho spb
stance of MIR. Kirkham's address is as
follows:
THE Idaho bureau of mines and ge-
ology in pursuance of its policy to help
its constituents either to make money
or save money has authorized an in
vestigation of all territories in the
state that have suffered an acute oil
excitement. In each case reports have
been prepared and advanced to inter
ested parties stating the geological
and economic possibilities
Of the area.
Before launching into a discussion
Of the different areas suspected of be-
ing oil-bearing, it is probable that a
brief and general elementary discus
sion of the condition necessary for
he accumulation of oil should be adj
,anced.
Factors Essential to Oil.
Competent and conservative petro-
cum biologists recognize five factors
II conditions indispensable to the ac-
OF oil or gas in rocks
These are:
Il. A source of origin.
"2. A reservoir or containing rock,
80 An impervious Gaping.
"a A suitable structure.
80 A high water saturation.
First. as to the source of origin: A
treat number of ideas and theories !
egarding the origin of oil have been /
dvanced by BIOLOGISTS. chemists and !
on technical people. The great ma
GRITTY of biologists and petroleum en-
.ineers of the world believe that pc
roleum is of organic origin It is
generally conceded that a great deal Of |
{ comes from plants, some from ami |
nails and some petroleums from a
bAAnAA4NiOM VI DOAAl oOuA1tos NHeto anu ]
Il are Universally associated with ma /
inc formations and salt water; con-
equently the plants and animals /
orming these hydrocarbons are be /
eyed to be marine organisms.
Oil Sand Explained.
Regarding the reservoir rock. or the
econd factor: This is a rock TO act as
sponge that retains the OIL This is
known as an oil sand. and
5 a rule it is very porous. although it
lay be a sandy shale, a fractured
,ck of any kind. a loose conglomerate
porous TO allow the accu-
ulation of oil or gas, or a limestone
imposed largely Of interlocking crys-
lis Of calcite. Since oil and gas mi
ate upward the reservoir rocks are