71 



Scheibler has succeeded in isolating thiophenes from oils rich 

 in sulphur obtained in the South of France to the extent of 50 per 

 cent. The present writer is not aware that the research on 

 Kimmeridge oil has revealed any such bodies in it, but it is quite 

 possible that the tetra-substituted thiophenes, with their peculiar 

 properties of refractoriness against chemical desulphurisers, may 

 occur. At any rate the search for them offers a very inviting and 

 may be profitable study, for it is just possible that it would show 

 the way to reach the goal — the complete desulphurisation of the 

 Kimmeridge oil that could be obtained in immense quantities in 

 Dorset and the Midlands to the great advantage of the Empire, 

 more particularly in time of war. 



The Mining of Kimmeridge and other Oil Shales. 



BY ALFKED J. G. SWINNEY. 



The Empire is not fortunate in an abundance of liquid 

 petroleum, yet the deficiency might be considerably met by a more 

 extensive distillation of the bituminous shales of the Kimmeridge 

 type, which occur throughout it in some considerable development. 

 In the Home country in addition to the Kimmeridge shales occur 

 the oil shales of the Lothians. In the Overseas Dominions bitum- 

 inous shales are mined in Canada; (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, 

 and Quebec), Australia (New South Wales and Queensland), and 

 in South Africa (Transvaal). Petroleum, bituminous shales and 

 coal represent the vast stores of solar energy absorbed in distant 

 geological periods and long retained, upon which the existing type 

 of civilisation, remarkable for its varied mechanical development 

 is largely based. Hence their interest and importance. 



The destructive distillation of bituminous shales for the 

 purpose of obtaining tar and oil was sporadically practised for 

 many centuries before the inauguration of the present methodical 

 shale industry, some 70 or 80 years ago. It was first established 

 in the 30' s of the last Century in connection with the shales on the 

 western slopes of the Central Plateau of France, only to be soon 

 overshadowed by the rapid and successful development of the 

 Scotch oil industry established by the enterprising genius of James 

 Young. Two early English patents are of historical interest in 

 this connection. One was granted to Becker, a German, who, 

 having successfully distilled coal in Holland, came over to this 

 country in 1681 and took up a patent (No. 217) with Henry Searle. 

 Another, No. 330, was granted in 1697 to E. Hancock and W. 

 Portlock apparently in connection with the use of some bituminous 

 shale in Shropshire. Unfortunately, though the specifications are 

 full of details as to the protection afforded the patents, they are 

 silent on the method of working the process. 



