74 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA. 



preceding prospectors." For the first time the coal seams 

 were traced out and their relations shown. 



Now, with the limited means and time of the survey de- 

 voted to this work, it is not probable that a full develop- 

 ment of any one of the coal seams was obtained. Work had 

 to be stopped on every opening before the full thickness or 

 best quality of the coal had been reached. Only in one or 

 two openings was any penetration made beneath the cap 

 rock, and in every instance the coal seam was sensibly thick- 

 ening when the work was stopped. Hence any estimate 

 based on the measurements of seams thus obtained would 

 necessarily be too low. Nothirg but practical mining on 

 each one of its important coal seams will disclose the full 

 value and importance of this coal field. 



It is shown that the productive measures at the thickest 

 part of this field have a volume of over 3,400 feet, and that 

 the sub-conglomerate measures have a thickness of at least 

 800 feet, making the whole thickness of this coal formation 

 over 4,200. It must, however, be understood that this im- 

 mense thickness of coal measures is to be found only adja- 

 cent to the Straight Mountain. 



This part of the coal field is an unsymmetrical synclinal 

 basin with its axis close to its northwestern edge, hence the 

 deepest part of the measures lie adjacent to the mountain 

 above named, and they thin out gradually towards the south- 

 east, or towards the top of Blount Mountain overlooking the 

 great Coosa Valley. 



Only the great industrial developments of the future will 

 fully expose this important coal field. 



