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Abstract

The name of the discoverer of oil shale in Tasmania
was not recorded in the annals of that time: The earliest
account appears in the "Papers and Proceedings-of the Royal
Society of Van Diemen's Land" in a paper read by J. Milligan
in the year 1851.
It was the original purpose of the writer to deal with
the two types of shale, namely, tasmanite and the so-called
torbanites or kerosene shales, but as the subject assumed
such large proportions it was decided to confine attention
to tasmanite only.
number of companies hold shale interests in Tasmania today,
one of which, the Australian Shale Oil Company, has
erected a very large plant, and has opened another area
for mining. It is expected that the plant will be put into
operation this month.
Investigation shows that the shales are found
in disconnected basins situated in the north and north-central
parts of Tasmania, associated with kerogenite and humickerogenite
coals. The most important is that extending
from Latrobe to Quamby Bluff and Chudleigh.
The first question for consideration is whether it is
advisable to market the fuel oil portion as such, or whether
it is advantageous to crack the fuel oil into benzine and
tar. Tests have shown that the straight-run benzine and
the cracked fuel oil derived from tasmanite contain oils of
the aromatic series, and that the benzine so produced has
proved an excellent motor fuel.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Reid, A Mcintosh
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, RST, Van Diemens Land, natural history, science, ecology, taxonomy, botany, zoology, geology, geography, papers & proceedings, Australia, UTAS Library
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
ISSN:	0080-4703
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	Copyright Royal Society of Tasmania
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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