26 
collected by Mr. Ball on a previous visit. The second is an earlier analysis quoted in a report 
by Mr. Henderson.* 
Dirty Brouw Wax. 
Soluble in petrol etlier (Peti'olene) .. 
Insoluble in petrol ether but soluble in chloro- 
form (Asphaltene) 
Other organic matter 
Mineral matter . . 
Analysis No. 1 
96.9 per cent. 
2.6 per cent, 
trace . 
0.5 per cent. 
. I naly sis No. 2. 
90.0 per cent. 
4.0 per cent. 
0 . 7 per cent. 
5 . 3 per cent. 
100.0 per cent. 
100.0 per cent. 
A small amount of gas is also present, an analysis of which has already been quoted. 
The water which accompanies the oil was also analyzed, with the following results 
3 . 5 grains per gallon 
5 . 8 grains per gallon 
(35 . 0 grains per gallon 
Slight alkaline 
1 . 68 grains per gallon 
Chlorine 
Sodium chloride 
Alkalinity as Calcium Carbonate 
Reaction to Litmus 
Sulphates (S0 3 ) 
The results of this analysis show that the water is not very saline, and is, therefore, not of the 
character usually associated with commercial supplies of oil. The bore records do not appear 
to have been accurately kept or preserved. It is not known whether the oil showing is coming 
from the water-bearing strata or from some other level. The bore, however, is regarded to have 
finished in Walloon strata. Similar material has been found in association with artesian waters 
at Springleigh (5,800 feet), near Blackall, and more recently (1925) in the town bore at Longreach 
(3,275 feet). Mr. Henderson gives the composition of the Ozokerite obtained from the Springleigh 
bore in the paper already mentioned. 
Soluble in Petrol Ether (Petrolene) . . . . 65.5 per cent. 
Soluble in Turps, then in Chloroform (Asphaltene). . 16.5 „ 
Other organic matter (by difference) .. .. .. 5.2 
Inorganic residue 
12.8 
100.0 
The temperature of the water emerging from the Ruthven bore has been given as 190° F. Since 
the water has been flowing for many years, the pipes and the surrounding country rock must 
have now acquired the same temperature as the flowing water, so that very little loss of temperature 
can take place between the bottom of the bore and the surface. The surface temperature at the 
time when the temperature of the water was taken was about 80° F., so that the geothermal gradient 
of the bore must be less than 1° F. for every 36 feet. This is in close agreement with the results 
obtained by Mr. A. Moore, formerly driller in charge of the No. 4 bore, Roma. In this case he 
found the geothermal gradient to be 1° F. for 32.9 feet, which is almost exactly the same as that 
in the recently completed bore at Longreach. Such high geothermal gradients mean high 
temperatures at depth, and with such temperatures Mr. Moore considered the possibility that 
liquid oils, which may have been formerly present, at depth, may have become dissociated, the 
higher fractions being driven off as gases, leaving only heavy residues behind. Dr. Jensen also 
considered the same possibility at the greater depths, and the nature of the petroleum compounds 
obtained at Ruthven. Springleigh, and at Longreach from great depths tends to confirm these 
opinions. 
The waters encountered in the first three bores at Roma all seem to have been fresh, so 
that if again the records were accurately kept, the chances are against any of the sands encountered 
proving to be oil sands between that point and the outcrops to the north. An analysis of the 
water now flowing from the bores at Roma is appended : 
Silica 
1 . 6 gr 
Iron and Alumina 
0.2 gr 
Calcium Carbonate 
.. 0.5 gr 
Magnesium Carbonate 
0.3 gr 
Sodium Carbonate 
.. 23.0 gr 
Sodium Sulphate 
.. 8.9 gr 
Sodium Chloride 
.. 15.5 gr 
Total solids per gallon 
50.0 gr 
To test, the beds at Roma for oil something like 4,000 feet of drilling will be necessary. 
Many difficulties were encountered in the drilling of the deep bores already put down at Roma, 
though from a perusal of the history of the bores I do not think that any difficulties exist that are 
* Henderson, J. B„ Government Analyst. Note? on the Occurrence of Petroleum in Queensland. -Proc. Rov. Soc. Qmlnnd., 28.4.1020, pp. 58-160. 
