OF CANADIAN FOSSIL FUELS. 



43 



the lignites' (and peat — which, in this regard, comports itself like a lignite) ranges from 

 2-50 to 5'00 {-s-iS to 5-12) per cent., whilst that retained by the lignitic coals' ranges from 

 I'OO to 2-00 (110 to 2-09) per cent., and that retained by the coals' (together with the 

 authracitic coal, semi-ajithracites, and anthracite, which, in this particular, behave 

 like coals) from O'lO to I'OO (003 to 111) per cent., also— that the amonut of water reiibsorbed 

 by the dry fuel, ranges, in the case of the lignites' (and peat, w^hose behaviour, in this 

 regard, is precisely similar to that of a lignite,) from lO'CO to 14-50 (lOOG to 14-45) per 

 cent., in that of the lignitic coals ' from G-50 to 900 (6-G2 to S'SO) per cent., and in that 

 of the coals (together with the authracitic coal, semi-anthracites, and anthracite'') from 

 1-50 to 600 (1-66 to 6-19) per cent. ; or briefly :— 



Liguites retain from 2-50 to .5-00, and reabsorb from 10-00 to 14-50 per cent, water. 



Lignitic coals „ „ 1-00 to 2-00, „ „ G-.50 to 000 



Coals , „ 0-lOtol-OO, „ „ 1-50 to O'OO „ „ 



Comparing the results given in column 8, with those recorded in column *7, we find 

 that the degree of alteration of the fuel as indicated by the ijotash reaction, is further 

 evidenced by its relative hygroscopicity. Thus, we see that whereas — 



The coloration imparted to a solution of caustic potash, 



by 



LiGKiTES — is dark to intense brownish-red, and that by 

 LiGKmc COALS — most frequently brownish-yellow, but 



occasionally brownish-red, the 

 Coals — in many instances give no coloration, at other 

 times a faint yellowish one, or one ranging 

 between that and pale brownish-yellow. 



The percentage of water reiibsorbed ranges, in the 

 case of 



Lignites from 10-00 to 14.50 



LiGKlTIC COALS „ 6-50 to 9^00 



Coals „ 1-50 to 6-00 



The considerations which led to the aiTangement of the fuels, here treated of, under 

 the headings mentioned, were alluded to in a previous paper (Report of Progress of the 

 Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada, 1882-83-84, Part M, p. 5, et seci-) It 

 was there shown that : — 



1. Whereas the Lignites all have a greater or less tendency to disintegrate on exposure 

 to the air; contain a large amount of water; communicate an intense coloration to a 

 solution of caustic potash ; yield (by fast coking) a non-coherent coke, and have a chemi- 

 cal composition very similar to that of many foreign lignites. 



• Excluding No. 3, which stands out conspicuously from all the rest, in that it retained an exceptionally large 

 amount of water. 



- Omitting No. 33, which forms the connecting link between the lignites and lignitic coals, and retained a much 

 larger percentage of water than any of the other fuels of the latter class. 



'■' Disregarding No. 44, which forms a connecting link between tlie lignitic coals and coals, and retained a 

 larger percentage of water than any of the other coals- 



* Passing over No 37, in which it was found to be exceptionally low. 



" Omitting No. 42, wliich forms the connecting link between the lignitic coals and coals, and reabsorbed a 

 somewhat smaller amount of water than any of the other lignitic coals. 



«^ The anthracite, it will be observed, contrary to what might have been expected, reabsorbed far more water 

 (the experiments were repeated, and with the same results) than any of the semi-anthracites or more altered coals, 

 and in this regard, takes rank with some of the least altered of the latter ; its capacity for retaining water is, how- 

 ever, as may be seen, very slight. 



