Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Report on the Geology & Gold Fields of Otago

Dunedin

Dunedin.

This shale was forwarded by Dr. Burns from Burnside, near Blueskin. It is of the same mineral nature as the Orepuki shale, described above. It yields per ton of shale 38 gallons of crude oil. This, when purified by redistillation, after treatment with sulphuric acid and caustic soda in succession, yields per ton of shale about 14 gallons of oil, fit for burning in lamps, and 9 gallons of heavy unctuous oil suitable for lubricating purposes.

If we could produce our own sulphuric acid and soda cheaply, it might be profitable to extract burning and lubricating oils from these shales. As it is, the price of imported acids and alkalis is such as to deter the proprietors of these shales from importing the retorts and other appliances necessary for this purpose.