GEOLOGY. 30T 



compensates in some measure for its absence. These results fully con- 

 firm the value of coal-ashes and their applicability as a manure. 



ALBERT COAL, HILLSBORO', NEW BRUNSWICK. 



Ix the Annual of Scientific Discovery, 1851, p. 307, the mineral 

 deposit at Hills'boro', New Brunswick, was described as asphaltum. 

 Further investigations, carried on by Drs. Jackson, Kayes, and others, 

 show conclusively that this curious mineral product, although resem- 

 bling asphaltum in its external features, is yet a true bituminous coal. 

 The strata in which it occurs are inclined at an angle of from 70 to 

 80, the coal seam being parallel to the strata. The depth of the shaft 

 now worked is about fifty feet. The coal occurs columnar and loose, 

 so that it cannot be worked in the usual way by undermining it, but is 

 taken out by a series of horizontal grades. It requires no blasting, 

 but may be easily detached with a pick. The mine affords evidence 

 that the strata were once horizontal. Black and white gypsum are 

 found in the adjoining rocks. 



The strata adjoining the coal beds are a very fine-grained shale. 

 They contain rounded masses, like pebbles, principally made up of 

 scales of gaoid fishes and coprolites. Many of the most beautiful 

 impressions of fishes and of plants, belonging to the coal formation, 

 which we have ever noticed, have been taken from these shales, by 

 Dr. C. T. Jackson. In the vicinity of this coal deposit, very numer- 

 ous specimens of fossil trees, such as stigmaria, sigillaria, <tc., of great 

 size, have been found. Editor. 



ELECTRICTY OF BITUMINOUS COAL. 



AT a meeting of the Boston Natural History Society, February, 

 1852, Dr. C. T. Jackson stated that an attempt had been made to 

 confound the highly bituminous coal of Hillsboro', New Brunswick, 

 with asphaltum, on the ground that it possessed electric properties 

 when rubbed with woollen or silk. It has been also asserted that 

 asphaltum alone possessed this property, and that true coals did not. 

 In order to test this hypothesis, Dr. Jackson had made numerous 

 experiments. Several varieties of canriel coal, from Virginia and Ken- 

 tucky, on being rubbed, readily attracted and repelled light substances, 

 as paper, cotton, &c. The electric properties of these coals were in 

 no way diminished by roughening their surfaces, or increased by polish- 

 ing. Digested for a considerable length of time in pure benzole, and 

 in alcohol and ether, they were found to be wanting in any soluble 

 bituminous or resinous matter. Their electric properties, therefore, 

 do not depend upon the presence of bitumen in the state of asphaltum. 



On trying Scotch cannel coal, it was found to be non-electric, as 

 were also several varieties of Nova Scotia and Ohio bituminous coals, 

 and the Pennsylvania anthracites. The electric coals from Virginia 

 and Kentucky break with a broad conchoidal fracture, are very 

 tough, and possess a laminated structure, which corresponds to the 

 stratification of their beds. Their lustre is dull on the broken sur- 



