250 SOME ANALYSES OF NOVA SCOTIA COALS, 



From a comparison of the later with the older analyses it 

 will be seen that those of coal from the deeper portions of the 

 seams show lessened amounts of volatile combustible matter, 

 increased percentages of fixed carbon, and diminished amounts 

 of sulphur and ash. Speaking in general terms the coal would 

 appear to have developed more into a steam fuel, the evapora- 

 tive power being in a general way proportionate to the percent- 

 age of fixed carbon. 



This would give the coals as at present mined a high calorific 

 power. From analyses by Mason and Matheson in a paper lead 

 before the Nova Scotia Mining Society, it would appear that the 

 calorific powers of coals from the Sydney coal fields vary from 

 7238 to 7623 ; of Pictou coal (sample from Intercolonial mine) 

 6963 ; and of Springhill coal 7898. 



As compared with United States coal they should 'stand 

 nearly in the rank of the best free burning coals of Pennsyl- 

 vania, Virginia, and Maryland. Those coals hold from 12 to 21 

 per cent of volatile matter, and from 69 to 76 per cent of fixed 

 carbon. The average contents of the United States coals are 

 from 29 to 35 per cent of volatile matter and from 53 to 67 per 

 cent of fixed carbon. These coals therefore from Springhill 

 should rank for steam purposes next to the class which may be 

 described as the best selected for use on the large ocean 

 passenger vessels. 



I have not at hand any proximate analyses of English coals 

 to compare with these under consideration. However, taking 

 the results obtained in the English Admiralty trials of steam 

 coals, and comparing the percentage of fixed carbon found in 

 the trials with the fixed carbon given in these analyses, it will 

 be found that the English and Scotch coals run from 49 to 88 

 per cent as compared with 68.2 per cent in the Springhill coals. 



This would give the Springhill coal about the same relative 

 position to the best Welsh coals as has already been assigned to 

 it in comparison with the best American coals. The evaporative 

 power of the Springhill coals would, from the analyses, stand 

 higher than that of the English and Scotch coals, and rank next 



