300 ArgilUte, embracing Anthracite Coal. 



also often intermixed, and grains of quartz frequently enclos- 

 ed. The anthracite is always between the layers of argillite, 

 and these layers are considerably inclined, dipping at their 

 south eastern edges. On traversing these layers in a south 

 easterly direction, they are found to pass into talcose slate, 

 sooner or later — generally at the distance of about twenty 

 miles from the Hudson. In some localities of the glazed argil- 

 lite, on the banks of the Hudson, we find remains of bivalve, 

 moluscous animals and chambered univalves, which are in 

 some cases, intermixed with the anthracite. Troy and Water- 

 ford, in N. Y. aftbrd the best localities yet discovered. No 

 beds of anthracite have hitherto been discovered in the argil- 

 lite on the Hudson, of sufficient extent to promise a reason- 

 able reward to the miner. 



Between two and four miles west of Bellow's falls, on the 

 Connecticut river, in the town of Rockingham, Vt., there is 

 also a north and south range of argillite. The position of its 

 layers, is perfectly vertical ; and it passes into talcose slate 

 at its eastern side. But it has not yet been thoroughly ex- 

 amined, and no anthracite has been found in it, in the state 

 of Vermont. Its extent north and south, is not precisely 

 known; but it has been traced about ono hundred miles. 

 Anthracite has been found near Hadley falls, in Southamp- 

 ton, Mass. which may have some connection with it. This 

 last range is nearly parallel to the first, at the average dist- 

 ance of forty miles, east of it, in a straight line. 



Another range of argillite, in all its characters, precisely 

 like that along the Hudson, runs in a direction parallel to the 

 other two, about forty miles east of the last mentioned ; but 

 the dip of its edges, is in the contrary direction. It pass- 

 es on through Worcester in Mass., two miles east of the vil- 

 lage, to Providence in R. L, exactly under Brown college ; 

 and probably dipping under the waters of the Narraganset, 

 passes through the island of Rhode Island, on which New- 

 port is situated. Its northern exten4^ is not ascertained. Like 

 the two other ranges, it passes into tahtose slate every where 

 on the eastern side. Like the Connecticut river range, its 

 breadth is very limited. Larger beds of anthracite have been 

 discovered in this range than in either of the others. One bed 

 is now wrought in Worcester, which is five feet wide, sixty 

 feet deep, and five hundred feet long. About one hundred 

 and sixty tons of anthracite coal have been already taken 

 from it. It often contains asbestus, plumbago, and grains 



