171

That they may occur is not regarded as impossible; but nothing
to indicate their existence has been seen by the writer; and until
some further and more satisfactory natural indications are found,
prospecting blindly with the drill is discouraged.

OIL-SHALE.

The fact that many bands in the Maude formation are rich
in bituminous matter suggests that some may be oil-shales of
value. Ojil-shale is a rock containing bitumen that can be
extracted by distillation in retorts. The “shale oil’’ industry is
well established in Scotland, and extensive tests have been made
there on Canadian oil-shales from New Brunswick!.

In general, oil-shale is dark brown or black in colour, usually
rather light in weight, with a ‘‘curly’”’ or a massive structure.
Many of the bands of argillite seen in the Maude formation
resemble some of the New Brunswick shales, especially those
from Albert Mines of which the analysis is given under No. 3
on page 17, Part I, of Ells’ report. The Graham Island shales
are denser and heavier, however.

The writer was shown a sample of typical curly oil-shale by
a prospector, which was said to have come from the vicinity
of Rennell sound. It was markedly lighter in weight than any
rocks elsewhere seen, but it is possible that such shales occur.

A 3-pound sample of argillite from the Maude formation
on Hidden creek, analysed for the Northern Oil Company by
the Vancouver assay office, gave 2-8 percent of ‘‘aqueous extract.”
What this extract consisted of was not stated in the copy of the
analysis furnished the writer—presumably it was hydrocarbons,
Ete.

To compensate for the disappointing prospects of deposits
of liquid petroleum being found on Graham island, the attention
of prospectors is directed to the Maude formation as the prob-
able home of commercial oil-shales.

1 Ells, R. W., “Joint report on the bituminous, or oil-shales of New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia, also on the oil-shale industry of Scotland,” Department of Mines, Canada, 1909.