25. 
and analysis of four dredge samples off the coast of Africa, The purpose 
of the study was to gain knowledge of the conditions and processes in- 
volved in the formation of petroleum deposits, Ina letter to Mr. Bi C. 
Heezen, Dr. Smith came to the following generalizations: 
1, The continental shelf sample had more carbonate carbon and 
less organic carbon than any of the three slope samples, 
2. The amount of extractable organic matter increased with in- 
creasing water depth, 
3. The percentage of hydrocarbons in the extracted organic 
matter decreased with increasing water depth, 
4, As a consequence, the total hydrocarbon content of each of the 
four samples is just about the same, 
5. Paraffin-naphthene and aromatic hydrocarbons were present 
in all four samples, 
Chemical and spectographic analyses. A complete series of 
chemical and spectographic analyses has been made by Dr. G, E,. Hutch- 
inson, Yale University, on samples from three cores taken in the western 
part of the Atlantic Ocean, Some of the results have been submitted to the 
Committee on the Chemical Composition of Sediments. 
About 40 samples from different cores were sent to Dr, W, W. 
Moorehouse, University of Toronto, On these samples Mr. Bradshaw has . 
made spectographic determinations of nickel, chromium, cobalt, vanad- 
ium and boron. 
California Research Corporation is making a spectographic 
