168 ALEX. L. DU TOIT. 



Tara No. 3, Eromanga Nos. 1 and 2, Portland Downs, 

 Ruth ven Downs, Dagworth, and particularly Roma. Indeed 

 evidence has been led to show that it is commonly tapped 

 just before the water is struck. 



The fact, as already noted, that carbonaceous matter is 

 not unusual, and that coal seams have been intersected in 

 quite a number of bores in this State, generally above the 

 water, would explain the presence of methane; the huge 

 evolution at Roma in the Mineral Company's well came 

 from an horizon far below the water-bearing zone, and 

 from its composition has been surmised as not improbably 

 originating from an oil-sand. 1 



As regards the nitrogen, Symmonds' analyses show that 

 it most frequently forms the sole constituent of the gas 

 evolved in New South Wales; though not reported from 

 the other States, it is doubtless represented there as well, 

 for its presence would easily be overlooked. David, 2 though 

 realising the high temperatures involved, suggests the 

 derivation of the nitrogen by the action of anaerobic bacteria 

 on organic matter, such as lignite or coal. 



The nitrogen discharged from the bores of the Kharga 

 Oasis in Egypt has been considered by lSeadnell 3 to be 

 mainly of atmospheric origin, on account of the presence 

 of a small amount of argon. The New South Wales cases 

 have been regarded by Pittman and Pawsitt as analogous 

 to the Egyptian, but their argument is inconclusive, when 

 it is realised that in Gautier's experiments, to be cited 

 below, argon accompanied the nitrogen in proportion of 

 from l/40th to l/110th, along with a little helium at times. 

 Moreover, there are many hot and deep seated springs from 

 which N, Ar and He are being evolved, that have been 



1 Queensland Geol. Surv. Pub., 247, 1915. 



2 T. W. E. David, Handbook for Australia, B.A.A.S., p. 281, 1914. 



3 H. J. L. Beadnell, The Cairo Scientific Journal, No. 52, v, Jan. 1911. 



