THE BLOUNT MOUNTAIN COAL FIELD. 13 



AREA.. 



The area of this coal field is a little over one hundred and 

 fifty square miles, exclusive of the sub-conglomerate meas- 

 ures, and of those that are vertical along, and near to Straight 

 Mountain, and which for that reason may never be available 

 or productive. 



VERTICAL MEASURES OF STRAIGHT MOUNTAIN. 



Much coal is shown to exist in the vertical and highly in- 

 clined measures of Straight Mountain, but its connection, 

 or identity with the workable seams of this field has not 

 been found, and it is not believed ever can be. Only the 

 leading, prominent rocks of this vertical formation are 

 distinguishable. Of these, the first prominent hard rock on 

 its northwest side is the Loicer Conglomerate, and its under- 

 lying shales and rocks of the sub-conglomerate formation 

 lie between it and Murphree's Yalley, making the north- 

 western slope of the mountain. The next and most promi- 

 nent rock near the centre of the mountain and standing 

 vertical is the Second Conglomerate. This is the most prom- 

 inent and conspicuous lock of this uplift. Towering far 

 above all its associates in this compressed mass of vertical 

 rock and strata bold and naked, like an artificial wall, from 

 twenty-five to one hundred feet above its congeners, like 

 the caruncle, or comb of a rooster's head, and hence popu- 

 larly called the Cock's Comb. (This is the great massive 

 rock which makes Bud- Ridge, and part of Bee Ridge here- 

 after to be described, and farther to the northeast, makes in 

 many places the crest of Blount Mountain.) Between this 

 rock and the Lower Conglomerate (which makes the falls on 

 all the streams cutting through Straight Mountain,) is the 

 place for the Caskie, Howard and Peacock seams of coal ; 

 but they have not been found, except in detached fragments, 

 and pockets in the rocks. So great has been the contortion, 

 and pressure, brought on this uplifted section, that all soft 

 material, shale and coal seams, have been squeezed out, and 



