46 ANALYSIS OF A PICTOU COAL SEAM—GILPIN. 
found the purest coal, and that it gradually deteriorates each 
way. The presence of “barren” intervals is of importance, 
for much money has been spent in examining and proving these 
marginal districts, when a step further might -have resulted in 
the discovery of workable beds. 
The coal from this seam presents a finely-laminated appear- 
ance, with a fairly bright lustre, and breaks readily along the 
deposition planes, which are of a dull black colour, and hold a 
good deal of mineral charcoal. It is strong and forms little dust 
or slack. The coal is divided by two cleavage planes, obliquely 
inclined toward each other, causing it to break into rhomboidal 
pieces. It is comparatively free from iron pyrites, which is 
' present in small nodules in several divisions of the seam. 
The following proximate analyses were made by me on the 
fresh mined coal carefully sampled as it came from the face. 
The seam was divided into two portions,—the top comprising 
34°4 inches, the lower 89°9 inches. 
Top Coal. Low'r Ceal. 
NE OUST UO). ces ayencaehs ue lee as Se ee ee 1:24 95 
Volatile combustible matter.—Fast coking... .31:00 PES | 
2 ‘3 Slow . “i op 2aaoG 20°52 
imed) Carbon simran ae oo eee Hast  °“""...46Za 60°29 
A PE OPT 2» LOM) | SEs oon 63:08 
AS i Nr, no's) spa vntite y's) ARNE (ore eee neg Rates 21°53 15°45 
Sulpbur (rom, pyeies).\.). i a1 ei stele bee ‘63 939 
NECINC, OTAVIEV: coy = eras fee a Sep seeene 1:50 1:390 
Theoretical evaporative power—Fast coking... 6°35 8:28 
i ‘ i Slow)" .. 083 8°66 
The ash from both divisions is the average of two determi- 
nations, and is silicious, and of a light gray colour. The specific 
gravity is from the average determined for each larger layer of 
coal. The coal in each division did not coke by slow heating, 
that from the lower division was fairly coherent by fast heating. 
It may be remarked that an opinion as to the economical coking 
values of coals formed on their action in the crucible cannot be 
relied upon for a guide as to their yield in practical coking. 
It will be noted that the percentage of ash in the top coal 
