180 KIMMERIDGE SHALE. 



smell which, however, is lost on exposure to the air, Avhcn the oil 

 becomes darker. This oil is acted on by sulphuric, nitric, and 

 hydrochloric acids, especially by the first. The remaining portion 

 of the oil, when washed with water and afterwards distilled with 

 steam, furnishes a perfectly colourless oil with the properties of 

 paraffin. This last, which forms but a sinall portion of the 

 original oil, behaves in all respects like the paraffin oil obtained 

 from Boghead Cannel, and is applicable to lubrication and all 

 the other uses of that liquid. 



The following is an analysis of the Kimmeridge Blackstone by 

 Dr. Hoffman, of the Koyal School of Mines :— 

 f Mineral Matter 



Coke ... 43-0 (cavbon 



Oily and Solid Volatile Light Oil (Naphtha) ... 



Products ... ... 39-0 "^^^^ ^'^ containing 1 



1^ cent, of Paraffin ... 

 Gas, Water, &c 18-0 Gas, Water, Ammonia, 



100-0 1000 



And of the Kimmeridge Shale (which is of an inferior quality) 

 Dr. Hofi'inan's analysis runs thus : — 



[ Insoluble residue 34 1 



Coke 71-5 i Carbon 15-0 



\ Hydrogen 24 



{Naphtha 27 

 Heavy Oil containing 1 -3 per 

 cent, of Paraffin 295 

 Pitch 2-4 



Gas, Water, &c 13-9 Gas, Water, &c 13-9 



100-0 100 



Mr. Patterson, of Warrington Gas Works, in his report dated 

 June, 1876, says — "The fossilized oil constitutes the chief 

 value of the shale, and I cannot but think that it may be used in 

 a satisfactory and profitable way in the manufacture of paraffin- 

 oil and other products incident to its distillation. The result of 

 several processes of this kind conducted at a temperature of about 



