DISTRIBUTION. 14' 



along the axis of the anticline. It is obvious that the presence of such 

 a structure is revealed by the gradual rise and fall of older strata to- 

 wards the surface along the axis of the anticline. The Yenangyoung 

 oilfield affords one of the best instances of this kind of structure. 

 So far as it is known at present the petroleum occurs in Burma below 

 these dome like structures. It follows therefore that at such places 

 where along the axis of the anticline only strata of the Irawadi 

 series occur, it would not be advisable to search for petroleum, this 

 substance existing at too great depths for practical exploitation, but 

 that on the other hand, when the older beds as for instance those of 

 the Yenangyoung or Prome stages are found, the probabilities of a 

 successful petroleum find are very great. 



Within the area of the Yenangyoung anticline such places as 

 Kyoukye or Pinchoung promise very little success, while at others, as 

 Singu or Yenangyat, the geological conditions are more favourable. 



The Minbu anticline. — Unfortunately I have not been able 

 to study the Minbu anticline sufficiently, to pronounce a definite 

 opinion, and the following remarks must therefore be considered to 

 be more or less speculative. It is very probable that the Minbu 

 anticline begins near Thayetmyo, where the occurrences of petro- 

 leum at Padouk-bin and Banbyin, may probably belong to the Minbu 

 oil line ; it is also quite possible that those opposite Prome belong 

 to the same oil line, but at present there is no proof of it. From 

 Thayetmyo the anticline runs in a north westerly direction towards 

 Minbu, but north of this place its continuity is interrupted on account 

 of the alluvial plain of the Son river intervening. It is very probable 

 that the petroleum springs of Yebyu are situated on the continuation 

 of the Minbu anticline as well as those of Indin and Yenan, but 

 owing to the lack of continuity of observation this must remain 

 problematical for the present. I am also unable to state positively 

 whether similar dome like elevations are formed along the axis of 

 the Minbu anticline and whether it is there that the petroleum occurs. 

 The geological features in the neighbourhood of Minbu render this, 



( i*7 ) 



