Studies of the Scottish Oil Shale Industry. Volume 1. History of the Industry, Working Conditions, and Mineralogy of Scottish and Green River Formation Shales. Final Report

摘要

This report (in 3 volumes) describes the now defunct Scottish oil shale industry and effects on the health of its workers. The first volume recounts in brief the technological history of the industry's mines and retorts. This is based on a survey of available documents which, together with first-hand accounts from interviews with surviving shale workers, have also been used to make an assessment of dust conditions and of safety precautions in the industry. It also includes a mineralogical characterization of Scottish shales compared with those from the Green River formation in the Colorado Rockies. This industry had a life span of some 112 years from its foundation in 1850, when James 'paraffin' Young constructed a facility to retort and refine cannel coal near Bathgate, West Lothian. At its peak, in 1913, the industry employed 10,000 people though economic factors forced its subsequent gradual decline and the final blow was struck when the differential excise duty was withdrawn in 1962. 40 refs., 16 figs., 10 tabs. (ERA citation 10:029813)