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June, 1905 COAL AND TIMBER<br />
13<br />
in the center of these veins entirely submerged<br />
in the Gilsonite and above where<br />
the block lies embedded in the vein can be<br />
seen the place in the wall from whicli it<br />
came.<br />
These cracks or fissures all have a Northwesterly<br />
and Southwesterly trend. Gilsonite<br />
is comparatively unknown having only<br />
been discovered in recent years but it is<br />
entering largely into commercial use. It<br />
is used at the present time in making varnishes,<br />
paints, insulating substances, hard<br />
rubber goods, etc. It makes a Japanese<br />
finish that cannot be excelled. As a p;iint<br />
for structural iron, ship bottoms and the<br />
likeit is considered to excel all other paints.<br />
It is not affected by water, does not oxidize<br />
nor is it affected by barnacles.<br />
What has been said of Gilsonite may lie<br />
sMiid in general of Elaterite except that<br />
Elaterite. or mineral rubber, is not brittle<br />
like Gilsonite. It is difficult to fracture<br />
and cuts like rubber. Its quality is somewdiat<br />
higher than Gilsonite and it make-,<br />
;i better adulterant for rubber goods. An<br />
excel.ent and most serviceable rubber pulp<br />
can be made from it.<br />
It is found in veins similar to Gilsonite<br />
though the widest yet discovered is abo.it<br />
six feet.<br />
Elaterite is found almost entirely<br />
in the western part of the Uintah basin<br />
while Gilsonite lies in the eastern part.<br />
They are not found together. The uses<br />
to which the substances are being put are<br />
constantly being extended, and chemists<br />
who Mire familiar with them unite in saying<br />
that these substances wdll have as extensive<br />
a commercial use as petroleum from which<br />
latter substances in some form they no<br />
doubt owe their origin.<br />
Other substances of an allied nature, such<br />
as Lusterite and Albertite are found in the<br />
same region but only in small veins.<br />
The<br />
miners while working in the Elaterite veins<br />
often<br />
strike into pockets or holes wdiich<br />
are filledwith crude petroleum oil and wdiat<br />
is more interesting and goes to demonstrate<br />
the claim of some geologists that petroleum<br />
oil has its origin from the bodies ol<br />
vast masses of fish caught in some of the<br />
earth's great cataclysms is the fact that<br />
quite often in a fragment of Elaterite is<br />
found the clear imprint of a fish, the body<br />
seemingly having been turned entirely into<br />
Elaterite.<br />
Ozokerite, or mineral wax, is simply natural<br />
paraffine. It is found near Colton,<br />
Utah, just west of the Elaterite district. It<br />
is found in vertical veins but usually closely<br />
associated with a bluish lime shale into<br />
wdiich it has penetrated, although it is found<br />
in a pure state in varying thicknesses from<br />
one-half inch to 10 inches.<br />
It is obtained<br />
by mining the shale and boiling in water<br />
and then skimming off the paraffine as it<br />
rises to the surface.<br />
This substance is more valuable than the<br />
ordinary paraffine extracted from oil as it<br />
possesses higher qualities of resistence to<br />
acids and electric currents. It is used in<br />
transformers in high tension work, for phonograph<br />
records, oiled paper, high grade<br />
candles, etc. It takes ;i high polish. In<br />
its natural state it is dark brown or black.<br />
These hydrocarbons are Mill high priced<br />
and probably will remain so indefinitely as<br />
they are not found elsewhere and are controlled<br />
by less than a half-dozen companies.<br />
In this district are Large deposits of asphaltum,<br />
running from<br />
Cumberland Gilsonite Mine, Utah.<br />
tifteen to twentylive<br />
per cent, pure bitumen, of the very best<br />
quality for paving.<br />
after laying and<br />
It retains its elasticity<br />
does not become brittle<br />
and break up like many other asphaltums.<br />
Expert reports estimate that there are over<br />
fifty million tons of this material, practically<br />
all controlled by the Pittsburg-Salt Lake<br />
Oil Company.<br />
The price of Gilsonite is from $40 to $60<br />
per ton; Elaterite, $70 per ton; Ozokerite<br />
$240 per ton, ami asphaltum $25 per ton.<br />
vNote: Though "Coal and Timber" is<br />
devoted to the interests suggested in its<br />
title, the foregoing brief description of<br />
hydro-carbons, written by an eminent<br />
western geological authority especially for<br />
this paper, must prove of interest to our<br />
readers, as the substances described are all<br />
kindred to the coal family.<br />
Editor.)
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