Abstracts. 



University Geological Survey of Kansas. By Erasmus Haworth and 

 Assistants. (Vol. I, 320 pp., pi. XLI. Topeka, 1896.) 



This report covers the whole of the Carboniferous of the state and 

 includes notes on various detailed sections across the area, studies of 

 the stratigraphy and lists of characteristic fossils. Economic geologists 

 will be especially interested in chapters XI and XII, relating to the 

 coal and oil and gas fields. In all some twenty counties have pro- 

 duced more or less coal and the output for 1894 was valued at $4,889,- 

 774.62. Nearly 90 per cent, of this was won from the Cherokee 

 shales, the basal portion of the Coal Measures. Near the middle of 

 these shales is the heaviest vein occurring in the state. It is known as 

 the Weir City-Pittsburg coal. It outcrops to the southeast and dips 

 northwest at a rate of about 17 feet per mile. It is remarkably uniform 

 in thickness, averaging 40 inches with an occasional maximum of four 

 feet or more. Thinner veins occur both in the Cherokee and other 

 shale beds. The heating power of a number of Kansas coals as deter- 

 mined by Professor Blake of the State University ranges from 9.90 

 pounds of water evaporated per pound of coal, to 14.43; most of the 

 coals evaporating from 12 to 13 pounds. In volatile matter Professor 

 Bailey, also of the University, finds a range of from 35.32 to 46.14. 

 The water ranges from 1.31 to 13.70 with the larger number of analy- 

 ses below 7 per cent. The fixed carbon runs from 28.52 to 54.17 

 and the ash from 7.46 to 13.96. 



Dr. Haworth thinks there are good reasons for believing that coal 

 mining in Kansas will increase with comparative rapidity during 

 coming years, and that the amount of coal present has been very 

 greatly underestimated. 



Gas and oil have been suspected to occur in the state since its first 

 settlement, and from time to time wells of more or less volume have 

 been opened up, till in J890 a dozen towns and cities were principally 

 or wholly supplied with light and fuel from these sources. The major 

 development of the field has been in the last six years and has been 

 brought about largely bv the systematic prospecting carried on by the 

 large eastern companies. At present gas is used wholly or partially in 



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