Stevenson.] Ol4: [Oct. 7, 



posed. jN'ear the liae of the synclinal axis a canon opens from the north, 

 at whose head is a fine exposure of the higher beds. But there was no 

 opportunity to examine this in detail, and the thickness of the beds over- 

 lying the Rockvale section was estimated at 400 feet. They are chiefly 

 buff sandstones, with comparatively thin beds of shale, which vary greatly 

 in thickness and may be regarded only as partings of the sandstone. No 

 traces of coal have been observed in these higher beds. The synclinal 

 axis crosses Oak creek very near the forks of the stream. 



A boring was made some time ago by the Colorado Coal and Iron Com- 

 pany on Oak creek, at a little way below the crossing of the synclinal. 

 The curb of the boring is but a few feet under sandstone^ No. 5 of the 

 Rockvale section, and Goal bed A was reached at 571 feet. The record of 

 the boring is not accessible and the depth is given according to indirect 

 information. 



The section to Coal bed H is shown in the bluff" at the head of Oak creek 

 canon, and that coal bed was opened some years ago, by Mr. Nelson, just 

 south from the canon ; but the opening was abandoned, owing to in- 

 feriority of the coal. The condition of the pit when visited was not such 

 as to afford exact measurement. The bed is said to be 5 feet 3 inches 

 thick, with a shale parting near the middle. Drab shales overlie it, sepa- 

 rating it from the light gray sandstone, above which, at a few feet, is the 

 great j^ellow sandstone. When freshly mined, the coal is said to look 

 well, but after short exposure it slakes. The dip at this pit is eastward at 

 nearly 40 degrees. 



At nearly a mile further south along the bluff. Coal bed I was seen above 

 the yellow sandstone, showing : 



Coal 1" 



Clay V 



Coal V2" 



But the crop coal is very poor. Higher up on the hill-side, Coal bed K was 

 seen 6 inches thick, while at a few feet higher is Coal bed L, showing : 



Coal 2' 6" 



Clay 6" 



Coal VS" 



The bed makes a formidable blossom, but the exposure does not suffice 

 to indicate the quality of the coal. The great mass of shale. No. 8 of the 

 Rockvale section, contains much friable sandstone here, which breaks 

 down even more readily than the soft clay shales seen further down the 

 the creek. The sandstone, No. 5 of that section, is persistent here and is 

 easily recognized, though it is somewhat harder than at Rockvale. 



The outcrop of Coal bed A is shown in a low ridge west from the Nel- 

 son opening, and the road leading to Mr. Bishop's ranch passes over it. 

 The exposure is imperfect here and the bed is much better shown at a lit- 

 tle way further north, where it was opened by Mr. Bassick near the stone 

 cabin. This opening was abandoned because the abrupt dip, more than 



