FORMATION OF COAL. 20I 



coal in which they are found, as in my view an error will thereby 

 be made. To get this knowledge the actual coal must be examined. 

 Most coals are made up of layers of different degrees of blackness 

 and structure. There are bright black compact layers, soft 

 brownish black ones, and dull black coal. 



A portion of the bright black layers from the Kingswood Great 

 Vein on analysis gave : — 



Ash 1-85 



Fixed Carbon 7S'5^ 



Volatile matter ... 32-65 



lOO'OO 



Fracture, even ; very brittle ; when heat was applied in a closed 

 crucible thi mass rose, gave off a bright flame for a considerable 

 time, and a light bright black porous coke was left. The ash was 

 a pale red colour. 



The next layer was of a black colour, but not bright ; compact, 

 and fracture uneven. An analysis gave :— 



Ash 2-85 



Fixed Carbon .. ... ... ... 78*07 



Volatile matter ... ... ... ... 19*08 



100 00 



On applying heat a flame was given off, but it was not so bright 

 as in the previous example, the mass first rose a little when air was 

 excluded, but soon subsided, leaving a small lump of fixed carbon. 

 The ash was quite white. 



Lastly., the '^Motherin" Coal layer. This was very soft, of a 

 silvery black colour, and is often an inch thick. Analysis as 

 follows: — 



