44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION, 
the opinion of some oil refiners who have tested the capa- 
bilities of the petroleum ; but Mr. Cooper, a skilful Chemist 
of Bridgetown, asserts on the contrary, that by a process 
of refining to which he has subjected the tar, its oil may be 
made to produce a more brilliant light than any foreign oil 
imported into the island. 
In passing, we may observe, that although for many 
years past the surface oil or tar as it oozes out of the rocks 
of the Scotland formation, has been collected both for ex- 
portation and domestic purposes, a solitary instance only 
exists of boring for oil. This has been undertaken on 
Springfield Estate, in St. Joseph, and the operation is still 
going on. The machinery employed is that used for Arte- 
sian wells, and the depth attained is about 150 feet. At 
the present moment an oil of less consistency and of a 
lighter color than the surface oil is pumped up ; but in 
consequence of the boring instruments coming in contact 
with a very hard shifting boulder consisting chiefly of 
quartz (greywacke), which has injured the implements and 
otherwise impeded the progress of the operation, it is likely 
that the present boring will be discontinued and another 
commenced — the indications being so favorable as to render 
the enterprising gentleman who is prosecuting his search 
for oil very sanguine as to the ultimate success of his scheme. 
The strata already traversed are as follows : — clay bed, 
loose sand, silicious sandstone, alternating with clays ; 
water has also been met with, and an evolution of gas, 
(carburetted hydrogen). 
The Alanjaclc occurs in seams or beds in many parts of the 
Scotland formation. There are several varieties of this 
deposit, depending upon the cohesion of the asphaltum 
which composes them. In some places the Manjack is 
pliable, in others more compact. It is indeed found in in- 
