22 PASCOE: GEOLOGICAL NOTES ON MESOPOTAMIA. 



also and probably reaches 2 — 3 feet in places. 1,000,000 cubic 

 feet is probably not an excessive estimate of the quantity here, and 

 there is considerably more thick oil and gas. In a small water-pool 

 sulphur in some quantity has collected at the bottom ; it and the 

 water are disturbed by a curious ebullition, although very little 

 gas reaches the surface, the bulk probably being dissolved by the 

 water, which smells strongly of hydrogen sulphide. Oil was collect- 

 ed here by the Turks, or by the Germans who were in control of the 

 place before the War,. and a stone oleoduct has been built out into 

 the middle of the area, with an open channel sloping down towards 

 the margin, along which the oil flowed after being pumped up or 

 raised in some way into the head of the duct. 



The third locality is along the river bank close to the military 

 post. This is largely mixed with gravel and mostly dry and " dead," 

 but a few small vents can be found here and there. 



The fourth area is of no intrinsic importance and occurs on the 

 north-eastern flank of the range opposite Qishlah. This consists of a 

 little bituminous earth with a faint but distinct smell occurring in two 

 or three places in a small stream-course north of Qishlah Pass. A 

 little sulphur is also present and an odour of hydrogen sulphide. 

 A few yards further down is a spring of water tinged with sulphur. 



The question has been raised whether the Qaiyarah bitumen 

 can be used with advantage as fuel. If the supply of oxygen 

 could be regulated by some sort of chimney-device as in an oil-stove, 

 no doubt the smokiness of the flame, which renders it useless for 

 cooking in the open, would disappear, but it would seem more eco- 

 nomical to reserve the material for the usual purposes to which 

 bitumen and tar are put (see p. 76). Although much of it is mixed 

 with earth, this would not interfere with its fitness for use on 

 roads, and although the supply is limited and perhaps not so great 

 as many are inclined to hope, it should repay exploitation. It 

 could not compete with the liquid oil as a fuel, and of this there 

 is every prospect of large supplies. The bitumen question is a purely 

 minor one and bears no comparison with that of oil. 



Prospects of Boring. — Seven borings were made by the Germans 

 before the recent British occupation. Of these, four are producing or 

 capable of producing oil, but to what extent is at present unknown. 

 The other three are " dry," but this may be due to their not having 

 reached the oil horizon through accidents to the holes or other causes. 

 Of the four producing wells, one was still in process of construction 



