54 GEOLOGICAL SUKTEY OF ALABAMA. 



This seam as observed at many other places is always in 

 two benches. It has always a clay parting near the middle 

 of the seam. The small slate parting in the upper bench in 

 section 19 was not seen at any other place. It was hence 

 inferred that it was only a local peculiarity, and would not 

 continue far. The seam may therefore be considered as a 

 two-bench seam, carrying 16 to 18 inches of coal each, and 

 separated by 3 to 4 inches of clay, which is easily removed 

 and will much facilitate the operation of mining and work- 

 ing this seam. 



This coal has a fine reputation as a good shop coal. It 

 cokes well and easily, is low in sulphur, and possesses a 

 large amount of fixed carbon, giving it free combustion and 

 endurance in the furnace. 



At some places where this seam has been opened the 

 upper bench has been found too bony for good blacksmith 

 coal, and better suited for grate coal, yet this peculiarity is 

 also local and does not obtain universally. Where this seam 

 was opened by the Survey there was very little difference in 

 the grade or quality of the coal in the two benches of the 

 seam, the upper one being just a little more splintery, and 

 mining out in larger blocks than the lower one was the only 

 observable difference. 



This is doubtless a fine seam of coal, thick enough for 

 mining, and occupying a position in the field high above 

 water level, and lying throughout its extent almost horizon- 

 tal, will give all desirable facilities for easy mining. 



The Woodward Seam is the upper one over a large extent 

 of this field. It may be regarded as the top seam of the 

 Blackburn Kiver basin, so far as it extends. It is found on 

 all the high lands to the north and northwest of the Black- 

 burn Fork. It may extend through the divide between the 

 two basins, but has not been seen or recognized in the 

 Locust Fork basin. It probably exists there also, but is 

 thinner and less prominent than in the Blackburn Eiver 

 basin. 



Above the Woodward Seam the strata are mainly fine ar- 



