Mineralogy and Geology of Nova Scotia. 293 
tain range, which it meets in the township of Egerton, near the 
sources of Middle and East rivers. In the village of New Glas- 
gow, there occur important beds of bituminous coal near East 
river, included between the strata of sandstone, and overlaid by 
a decayed, blackish shale. It contains remarkably perfect stony 
casts of culmiferous plants, which were shown to us by Mr. 
Blanchard of Truro. The coal is of ajet-black color, has a glossy 
appearance, and is highly charged with bitumen. It burns with 
a bright flame, and smokes much when first kindled. It appears 
to melt and cake like the Newcastle coal, and when completely 
on fire, after the bituminous matter is dissipated, it burns like 
coke. 
There have been five or six shafts sunk into the coal strata, 
in different places, under the direction of Mr. Carr, who resides 
at this place ; but at the time we visited them, these openings 
were partially filled with water, which prevented us from making 
any accurate examination of the beds of coal, and the associated 
rocky strata. The coal that had been thrown out was of a soft, 
friable nature, and would be soon ground to dust by friction in 
transporting it to any considerable distance. But preparations 
were then making, under the direction of two very intelligent 
and practical gentlemen of Pictou, Messrs. Smith and Brown, 
to explore this coal on a larger scale. We are now informed 
that the mining operations are carried on very extensively, and 
that coal of the first quality is obtained. It is shipped to the 
United States, where itis found well adapted for all the purposes 
for which other bituminous coal is employed in the various manu- 
factories of the country. 
About twelve miles northeast from the coal mines of New 
Glasgow, and eighteen miles from the town of Pictou, the sand- 
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