UTAH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 81 
show the real nature of gilsonite. He first outlined pre- 
liminary work done by Boussingalt and by Kayser. Kayser 
gave formulae for a number of distillates obtained from 
various asphalts but Day doubts their correctness. 
To quote from Day’s article, “The present investiga- 
tion of gilsonite had for its object the isolation of such 
single hydro-carbons or their derivatives, as would give 
some information as to the real nature of the material 
itself.” 
He gives an outline of the physical characteristics, 
solubility in alcohol, ether, glacial acetic acid, carbon bi- 
sulphide, and petroleum ether and describes the character 
of the residues from each solvent as well as the character 
of the dissolved portion. Then follows some analyses, both 
proximate and ultimate. He found the most satisfactory 
method of determining sulphur to be a combination of the 
Carius and Eschla method, dissolving first in concentrated 
nitric acid, pouring into cold water, drying the precipitate 
formed, then heating it with magnesium oxide, etc. 
Next follow the results of distilling gilsonite, descrip- 
tion of the distillates and their action with steam distil- 
lation, with sulphuric acid and with nitric acid. From its 
action his conclusion is that the oil obtained belongs to the 
paraffin series and is a complicated mixture of different 
hydro-carbons just as is highly refined petroleum. 
From the distillate volatile with steam he obtained oils 
which seemed to correspond to those described by Peckham’ 
obtained from California bitumens. This had an odor | 
similar to quinoline and to him was evidence of the rela- 
tionship of California bitumens and gilsonite and of their 
animal origin. 
Day gives the results of the treatment with nitric 
acid and description of the products and their properties. 
From these he concludes that some members of the naph- 
thalene series are present. 
Eldredge® describes the location of the hydrocarbon de- 
posits and the geology of the district as told previously in 
®American Journal of Science. III. Vol. 48, p. 250. 
°17th Annual Report U.S. G. S., p. 330. 
