38 ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 



Ft. In. 



No. 23. Brownshale 10 



No. 24. Gray slate 14 



No. 25. Slate and shale 8 



No. UC. Shale and sandstone 23 



No. 27. Sandstone 9 



No. 28. Coal (Litchfleld seam) Nx>. 2? 4 



No. 29. Gray slate and sandy shale 50 



No. 30. Coal Upper division of No. 1 2 6 



No. 31. Clay shale and flre-clay 5 6 



No. 32. Coal Lower division of No. 1 - 2 4 



No. 33. Sandstone and shale 90 



Ne. 34. Brown sandy shale 10 



No. 35. White sandstone, with strong flow of brine and oil 13 



Total depth !>5 1 



When I visited this locality in October, 1882, there were four wells 

 in operation, producing about two barrels of crude oil per day each. 

 The product is a heavy lubricating oil, worth considerably more in 

 thejnarket than the common petroleum. It comes, apparently, from 

 about the base of the Coal Measure Conglomerate, or possibly from 

 one of the Upper Chester sandstones. 



Nothing definite is known as to the extent of the area over which 

 this oil basin extends, as no boring has been made in the county 

 deep enough to reach the oil-bearing strata, except in the immediate 

 vicinity of Litchfield. The well commenced at Irving some months 

 ago may throw some light on this question if carried to the depth 

 of 1,000 feet, which I understand to be the requirement of the orig- 

 inal contract. 



SALT WELLS. 



After the publication of the report on Perry county, a boring was 

 made at St. Johns, for the purpose, mainly, of determining whether 

 there was a coal seam of any practical value below the DuQuoin 

 coal. At the depth of 970 feet a sandstone saturated with salt water 

 was reached, that extended to the depth of 1,050 feet, the brine ris- 

 ing to various heights from 150 to 250 feet below the surface. There 

 are now six wells in operation here, with a flow of about 16 gallons 

 per minute to each well. The present yield of merchantable salt at 

 these works is stated at 3,500 barrels per annum, and the product 

 is manufactured into the various grades of salt in common use. No 

 record of the boring could be obtained, but two thin coals were re- 

 ported as occurrring below the DuQuoin seam. 



