1903.) MABERY—THE COMPOSITION OF PETROLEUM. 49 
peculiar interest. The older Corsicana field yields an oil that is 
adapted for the preparation of a fairly good grade of burning oil, 
but it is inferior to Pennsylvania oil, since, as Richardson has 
shown, it is composed chiefly of the methylene hydrocarbons. The 
heavier oil at Beaumont does not yield a sufficient proportion of 
burning oil distillate to make its preparation economical, but it is 
stated that a distillate can be separated in small quantities without 
cracking that can be refined into an inferior grade of burning oil. 
So far as examined the Beaumont oil does not contain members of 
the series C,H,,4,, which is essential in oils that yield the best 
grades of kerosene. The unique occurrence of this crude oil, under- 
lying beds of sulphur under rather loose beds of shale, should 
exclude any of the most volatile constituents, such as are found in 
Pennsylvania oil. As we have demonstrated, the predominating 
series of hydrocarbons include the methylenes and condensed 
series. The crude oil is very heavy; it easily decomposes under 
distillation, but by exclusion of air very heavy distillates may be 
separated without decomposition, from which superior lubricating 
oils may be prepared, especially of the heaviest type. The 
heaviest residue from Beaumont oil, if decomposition has been 
prevented, forms the best sort of petroleum asphalt, much heavier 
than similar products to be obtained from any other than California 
crude oil; in fact all the products to be obtained from Texas oil 
resemble those prepared from California oil. 
The sulphur compounds in Texas oil seem to be much less stable 
than those in Ohio and Canadian oils, perhaps on account of their 
higher molecular weight. It is worthy of note that heavy petro- 
leum, such as that from Texas and California fields, contain more 
sulphur than more volatile crude oils, like the Pennsylvania. 
Petroleum from other fields, such as Colorado, Wyoming, Japan 
and South America, all partake of the properties of the heavier 
products from the fields in this country. The Japanese crude oils 
were very carefully sampled for our examination three years ago. 
There is promise of a great development of oil territory in South 
America. I scarcely believe that the sample of heavy oil we 
‘examined some years ago represents the true condition of the oil 
fields there. The heavy petroleums are rapidly increasing in 
value as fuel. Prices have recently been advanced in Texas to 
seventy-five cents per barrel. 
PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XLII. 172. D. PRINTED MAY 9, 1903. 
