432 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



mountains becomes more fully known, it is probable that numer- 

 ous additional outcrops will be discovered. 



At the Government Indian Farm, south of Pincher Creek, a 

 seam of coal occurs about one mile from the farm buildings up 

 the valley of the small stream on which they are situated. The 

 rocks in the lower part of the valley belong to the St. Mary 

 Kiver subdivision ef the Laramie, and dip toward the north- 

 north-east (mag.) Their angle gradually increases from about 

 20'^ till the beds become nearly vertical where the coal occurs. 

 Beyond this point the rocks are concealed, but the coal very pro- 

 bably occupies a position very near tlie base of the Laramie. 



Near the coal seam, the beds have been much disturbed, and 

 the coal itself is slickensided and broken throughout in such a 

 way as to cause it to crumble easily by handling. The seam i& 

 two feet in thickness where exposed, but it is said to have been 

 considerably thicker wh^re followed into the bank. The opening 

 made on the coal has, however, since boeu filled in. This seam 

 should reappear on Pincher Creek, above the crossing place of 

 the road, but the horizon at w^hich it should occur appears to be 

 covered. 



An analysis of the coal from tiiis seam by Mr. Hoffmann is^ 

 given in the Report of Progress for 1878-79. p. 12 H. It may 

 be quoted iiere tor comparison with those of the other seams, and 

 illustrate> the improvement in quality of the coals on their 

 approacli to the base of the mountains: — 



Water 6-26 



Volatile combustible matter 29-31 



Fixed carbon 55-70 



Ash 8-73 



100-00 



On the middle fork of the Oldmau River, a few miles below 

 the falls, and nearly north of the mill on Mill Creek, two miles of 

 good coal occur in a scarped bank on the north side of the stream 

 The beds are each about three feet in thickness, and are folded 

 in a very remarkable manner, illustrating the intensity of the 

 force which has acted in crumpling the rocks near the base of 

 the mountain. It is probable that these beds occupy a horizon 

 near the base of the Laramie. They approximate in character 

 to true bituminous coals, and would yield coherent cokes, but 

 no analysis has yet been made of them. 



