20, 3 Schenck: Physiography and Geology of Samar 261 
Coal has been reported from various localities. Becker 
says: 1° 
In Samar, according to Centeno, the coal deposits of Sorsogon continue. 
He gives a locality, Loquilocon, and Mr. Abella mentions Gandara and 
Paranas. The last two towns are on the west coast, at a considerable inter- 
val. A line drawn through them would pass near Gatbo, and its direction 
would be very like the strike of the bed at the last-mentioned place, 
differing some 60° from the prevalent strike in Cebi.” 
Residents of Samar report coal from Borongan; Catarman 
River, near Lope de Vega; and other localities, making it ap- 
parent that Becker based his conclusions upon too little evidence. 
Petrolewm.—Samar, in the part visited by us, is considered 
an unfavorable field for the accumulation of a commercial supply 
of petroleum. This is based upon the following: First, no seep 
was seen and none was reported to us; at places where one 
might expect to find seepages, nothing is seen resembling petro- 
leum or even suggesting it. Second, structure suitable for the 
accumulation of a commercial supply of petroleum was not en- 
countered. Furthermore, the conditions of quiet, shallow, and 
stagnant water deposition during much of the history of the 
island, and the presence of resin and lignite in the different 
beds, make it improbable that petroleum exists in Samar. 
Stone.—The cost of stone depends, among other factors, upon 
its availability and its workability. In Samar, as has been 
noted, the most probable markets for any stone are the towns 
along the coast, which are situated at some distance from the 
Supply; that is, the neighboring islands or the interior of the 
island. There is no sandstone that would serve as a good build- 
ing stone, no roofing material, and no granite. The limestone, 
with a probable life of twenty to forty years in a drier climate, 
is frequently too soft to be of much use and, furthermore, it 
Probably would be difficult to quarry. Coralline limestone and 
fragments of coral have been utilized as building stone in the 
construction of some of the churches. Because these materials 
weather rapidly, a false impression of great antiquity of the 
building ig produced. Samar in its present stage of develop- 
ment would offer a poor field for the quarryman, since the stone 
that is found there is not readily available and is not of excellent 
quality. 
“Becker, G. F., Geology of the Philippine Islands, Annual Rep. U. S. 
Geol. Surv, 21 # (1899-1900) 571. 
” Strike at Gatbo, north 20° west. 
