Section IV., 1909. [ 3S ] Trans. R. S. C . 



IV. — Notes on the Geology of the Oil-shales of Scotland, and their rela- 

 tions to someichat similar oil-shales in eastern Canada, 



By R. W. Ells, LL.D. 



(Read May 26, 1909.) 



For more than half a century a group of shales and sandstones, 

 grey, black and brown in colour, often with masses of intrusive igneous 

 rocks, has been recognized in that part of Scotland surrounding the city 

 of Edinburgh, or more especially to the north and west. In places the 

 shales are rich in hydrocarbons and portions of them yield, by distilla- 

 tion, a large percentage of crude oil and ammonia. Their economic 

 value as a possible source of supply for these substances was early re- 

 cognized, and their manufacture by distillation of the shales of this 

 formation was commenced between 50 and 60 years ago. The industry 

 tlien inaugurated has gradually expanded, till at the present time, the 

 manufacture of crude oil and its by-products from shale is one of the 

 most important commercial enterprises found in that country. 



About the same date (1848-49), a series of very similar rocks was 

 discovered in the provinces of îfew Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Like 

 the shales of Scotland portions of these were found to be very rich in 

 hydrocarbons, and to yield a high percentage of crude oil and ammonia, 

 even exceeding in this respect the celebrated oil shales of Scotland, which 

 have been mined for so many years. In New Brunswick at one place 

 these bituminous shales, as they are usually styled, contained veins of a 

 peculiar black glossy mineral resembling pitch, which was for a time 

 known under the name of Albert coal, but which was found on examina- 

 tion to be a hardened or inspissated petroleum, resembling in general 

 appearance the manjak of Barbados and Trinidad, the derivation of 

 which from the asphaltic petroleums of those countries can be easily per- 

 ceived. This mineral in New Brunswick received the name Albertite, 

 and on being tested was found to be of great economic value, especially 

 for the production of gas and oil. The mining of this mineral speedily 

 developed into a great commercial industry which was carried on with 

 much profit for more than a quarter of a century. The general similarity 

 of the rocks of these two groups on both sides of the Atlantic has long 

 been recognized. In Scotland the formation in which the oil-shales occur 

 is known as the Calciferous sandstone series, while in Nova Scotia it re- 

 ceived the name " Horton series " and in New Brunswick it has usually 



