95

On Muskeg river occasional small deposits of bituminous sands occur,
but surface features do not indicate that any of these are of commercial value,
Only low-grade deposits were observed on Pierre au Calumet creek, and none
of commercial importance on Firebag river. Exposures occur on Calumet river,
but appear to be of no commercial importance, and those seen on Tar river
are low grade and of a highly banded character.

A number of outcrops occur on Moose river, which enters the Heats
from the west 47 miles below McMurray, and some of those seen between 4 and
8 miles up stream are of sufficient promise to warrant further detailed explora:
tion. “ The valley of the Moose is for the most part narrow, with banks rising
150-200 feet. Ata number of points, however, changes in the course of the river
have resulted in the formation of occasional lateral basins and (eee areas,
which may prove of importance should development of the bituminous sands
be undertaken here .... . As on other streams of a
similar character iienapaniation. siti the als itself will present difficulties.
Owing, however, to light overburden causing fewer clay slides, the mainten-
anee of a line would not be so difficult as on most of the other tributaries of the

‘Athabaska river.”
On MacKay river sections of the bituminous sands were seen along the lower
22 miles of its course. Nine were examined in detail; these lie at distances of
3,2, 24, 74, 8, 9, 10, 12, and_18 miles from the mouth of the river. Surface
indications lead one to suppose that some of these are of commercial value.
“The river flows through a narrow valley, marked by precipitous slopes and
high cut banks” and difficulties of transportation would be encountered.

Utilization

Extraction of Bitumen from Bituminous Sands and Sandstones. “ At
various localities in the United States during the past twenty years, the com-
mercial extraction of bitumen from bituminous sands and sandstones and from
bituminous limestones has been attempted” and many hundreds of thousands
of dollars have been spent in the construction of plants for this purpose.

“ Generally speaking, commercial extraction in the past has ‘been attempted
by the use of solvents—prinecipally carbon disulphide, and the lighter petroleum
distillates—and by the use of hot water and steam. Of the first two solvents,
earbon disulphide is more expensive ‘and more volatile, while the escaping fumes
are a menace to the health of employees. In actual commercial practice, how-

ever, it appears that neither the use of naphtha nor of carbon disulphide has’

been successful. Apart from attendant danger from fire and explosions, there
is a serious loss in the solvent employed. Such a loss, due in part to evaporation
and in part to failure to fully recover the solvent from the extracted bitumen
and from the sand tailings will, at times, probably aggregate nearly 15 per cent.

“The results when hot water and steam have been used have been more
encouraging. A fairly rapid and inexpensive separation has been possible, but
in actual commercial practice the extraction has not been sufficiently complete.
Summarizing all evidence available to the writer, it appears that, as at present
understood, the use of hot water or steam, or a combination .of the two, will not
give a commercial extraction of more than 60 per cent of the bitumen contained
in average bituminous sand-rock. In attempting to secure a higher percentage
of extraction, a disproportionate increase in cost will probably result.”

15850—7

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