NOVA SCOTIA COALS AND OTHER MINERALS — GILPIN. 21 



From the above figures the coal is evidently of excellent 

 quality, and should be found a good steam coal. Its per- 

 centage of volatile matter and moisture are lower than is usual 

 in coals from this district, and approach those characterising the 

 typical steam coals of the United States. The coal yielded 

 during analysis a bright and fairly compact coke, and in prac- 

 tice would probably yield a merchantable article of good quality. 



2. Coal from the Sydney main seam of the General Mining- 

 Association (Sydney Mines.) 



This seam is considered the equivalent of the Victoria seam, 

 referred to in Analysis No. 1. The actual connection has not 

 yet been proved, although the levels of the Sydney Mines are 

 l)eing rapidly extended toward it under the harbor. 



The coal is bright, and fairly compact, breaking irregularly. 

 It shows little visible pyrites and spar. By fast and by slow 

 coking the following results were obtained : — 



Slow Coking. Fast Coking.. 



Moisture -420 "420 



Volatile combustible matter. . . . 84-962 37-110 



Fixed carbon 59-993 57-845 



Ash 4-625 4-625 



100000 100-000 



Sulphur 95 .95 



As compared with the analysis from the Victoria seam coal, it 

 is decidedly more bituminous, and contains less sulphur. From 

 its behaviour under analysis it should in practice yield a good 

 volume of illuminating gas, of a fair candle power. The coals 

 are alike in their moisture and ash contents. The coal yielded a 

 bright and coherent coke. In practice, small amounts of coke 

 are burned at this mine in beehive ovens, and the article produced 

 is of good quality, which would be improved if its manufacture 

 were carried on continuously. 



I put here, side by side, two analyses of the ash of these coals. 



