CONVERSION OF ORGANIC MATTER INTO OIL. 20 



in the next 1,000 feet, there being but little bituminous slate in thai 

 interval, and probably none for an interval of 3,000 feet more, or until 



the horizon of the Marcellus slate of the Hamilton series is reached. 



Does it appear probable that this petroleum has ascended through 

 nearly a mile of close-grained slates and sandstones, and simply stopped 

 on its upward course at the horizon in which we find it? I think not : 

 but rather that the organic matter deposited with and in the sandstone- 

 has been converted into petroleum and gas within the rock itself, and 

 that the tilting of the beds has permitted the small quantities of water, 

 oil and gas in all the porous portions of the rock to rearrange themselves 

 in the order of their several specifie gravities under the artesian pressure 

 to which the rock is subjected, so that merchantable quantities of each 

 have been accumulated. This seems to he the more probable origin of 

 the Mount Morris-Mannington oil pool, at least, though of course the 

 particles of oil, gas and water would rearrange themselves in the manne: 

 found however they might have come into their present reservoirs. 



X W'l I C. i \m . \ ..i I ISSl, 



