Microthermal Studies of Some “Mother Rocks” of Petroleum from Alaska

ABSTRACT This paper contains preliminary results of studies of supposed “mother rocks” of petroleum from northern Alaska by means of a microfurnace, with the object of determining (1) the relative values of the various visible components of the rocks as sources of oils, and (2) the qualities of the oil yielded by each and the temperatures at which the yield takes place. It describes the physical and optical properties of each rock, and records the observed changes of state in the different visible components as the temperature rises under close control and with measurement to ½° of accuracy in an inert atmosphere at normal pressures. These records of critical temperatures are in effect constants newly established in this work. General results are discussed at the end of the account of the microthermal studies.