COMPOSITION OF COAL AND SKA MS. 321 



Aii average sample of this coal taken by the writer and analyzed by 

 Dr. H. N. Stokes, of the United States Geological Survey laboratory, 

 shows the following composition : 



H,0 3.05 



Volatile hydrocarbon 41 .01 



Fixed carbon 52.31 



Ash 3.63 



100.00 



The roof here shows 10 inches of slate between the coal and the sand- 

 rock, and the roof rolls slightly, pinching the seam. The two partings 

 are always present, the upper one varying, the lower very constant. The 

 top coal is long grained down to the lowest 4 inches, which breaks into 

 dicey bits. 



The Castner and Millard mines are in the center of the Belt basin. 

 About a mile north of the latter the Watson mine shows the seam to be 

 1 1 feet thick, the upper 3 feet 1 >ei i ig too dirty h > w< >rk. The section shows 

 the seam to be quite dirty and the coal, particularly the lower bench, 

 sulphurous. The roof is uniform and flat. The structure is as follows : 



« Top coal. 



• Slate ; very bard.' 



i2-i« ( loal. 



** Slate. 



« Coal ; dirty. 



Figure U.— Section at Wation Mine. 



North of this mine the scam is not worth working, so far as shown by 

 the prospects yet driven. 



South of Belt there are several openings at Armington, which show the 

 scam to be constant in character and to hold an excellent free coal. In 

 the old entry of the Armington mine, abandoned on account of a roll 

 of the seam, the following section of the coal was obtained 500 feet 

 under cover : 



Sandrock. 



Slate roof. 

 Top c< >al. 



c-,o Slate. 

 ,. Coal. 

 s " Slate. 

 " Coal. 



Floor slate. 



I Ml, i 



