Donovan. — Distillation of Waikaia Oil-shale. 



27 



Art. V. — The Distillation of Waikaia Oil-shale. 

 By W. Donovan, M.Sc, and G. C. Burton. 



[Read before the WeUingtov. Philosophical Society, 3rd Decemhey, 1919; received by 

 Editor, 31st December, 1919 ; i-'isued separately, 4th June, 1920.] 



The following paper embodies the results of an investigation of the pro- 

 perties of Waikaia shale, conducted at the Dominion Laboratory during 

 1918, at the request of the Director of the Geological Survey. 



. Eight representative samples were received from various bores put 

 down by the Waikaia Shale Company. Proximate analyses were made, 

 and also distillation tests, to obtain the yields of oil and gas. The results 

 were : — 



Note. — There was not sufficient of No. 3 for a distillation test to be made. 



A composite sample, made by taking equal weights of the above eight 



and mixing thoroughly, was examined in greater detail. The proximate 

 analysis was — 



Fixed carbon . . . . . . 17-10 



Volatile hydrocarbons . . . . 43-03 



Water " . . . . . . . . 10-42 



Ash ... .. .. .. 29-45 



100-00 



On distillation there was obtained — Crude oil equivalent to 38 gallons 

 per ton of shale ; ammonium sulphate equivalent to 8 lb. per ton of shale ; 

 gas equivalent to 4,000 cubic feet per ton of shale. 



The sjjecific gravity of the crude oil was 0-96. 



