Show i SCIENCE TRYING TO SOLVE I MYSTERY OF ORIGIN OF OIL Exact Process by Which Petroleum Was Generated Is Still Unknown to Savants r Chicago Like Like modern detectives probing a clew scientists are ure attempting attempting attempting at at- tempting to solve a year earold ear old mystery the mystery the origin of petro petro- leum Weighing evidence analyzing known facts and deducing conclusions conclusions conclusions the quest of science for tor the genesis of crude oil is as romantic a stor story as the exploits of or Sherlock Holmes or r Philo Vance says a n bulletin Issued here b by the American Amer Anier- ican lean Research foun foundation atlon Out of or the maze of or theories two to o bave have evolved which have lave beep been given most cre credence ence One Is the organic theory which maintains that petroleum originated by the accumulation of plant and animal remains in the earth The other Is' Is Ufo time Inorganic theory which sets forth that petroleum was generated ed cd by a chemical reaction In the earth Whether either hypothesis is correct Is an open question ButIn But ButIn t tIn In either case the exact pr process ess by which petroleum was generated Is still stin an unsolved mystery Another Another Another An An- other fact that has elu eluded ed detection detec tion Is why one deposit o of oil all may differ ra radically In quality from an an- other Explaining that ertIl times in is the geological past were more favorable for the formation of petroleum than titan others scientists cite the time example of the Bradford- Bradford Allegheny formations of Pennsylvania Pennsyl yh vania wh which ch yield an oil aU which Is admittedly ly superior in its inherent lubricating qualities whereas other may excel in fuel The Thc Bradford-Allegheny Bradford crude oil all for example has mellowed and years ears Science bases laseS the age o of crude oil deposits on all the current estimates estimates' esti est estimates mates mates' of the age of ot the worl world There range from to years ears Including Ing the molten I period erio Oil geologists say say belongs to the thelast last half of the era since the earth has been a solid body which is estimated estimate at at least years In the light of ot the best Informed scientific cal calr cali the thc time elapsed d since the first Pennsylvania crude oil was generated Is at least years and probably longer 3 J Jj j |