ANTHEACITE COAL. 141 



m 



which were alone visible. SLales, stones^ and debris, covered 



tlic remainder. 



— Analysis of Placek Anthracite Coal. 



i 



H ■ Fixed carbon . 88-91 



Volatile materials . . ..... 



K '' ■ Water 



Ash 



3-18 

 2-9 

 62-1 



\> 



[i^^ 



oving it to be by far the best coal yet found west of tlie 

 ississippi. Since our visit, more anthracite coal veins have 

 en discovered. Tlie new superintendent (Mr. A. L. Ander- 



!r oOth he exnosed 7 feet of a new 



m^ 'on) ^Yiitcs that on Novemb 



miles 



\^ aill ; and discovered another narrower one, which he traced 



: one and a half miles along the Galisteo Creek. 



Anthracite coal may be described as a natural coke. It is 



'medj no doubt, from ordinary bituminous coal, or from 



^nite, by the action of heat, and is always found in close 



proximity to well-marked signs of A^olcanic disturbance. In 



"-'_^is locality it has been altered by contact with a porphyretic 



j^yke, which has brousrht un to the sui-face the carboniferous 





^ 



permcumbeiit 



xack, as well as the coal itself, vliicli crops out in many 

 )laces besides that visited hj iis. The coal has a beautiful 

 nstre, fractures easily into blocks, docs not blacken the 

 ingers when touched, and gives no smoke. The advantage 

 )f anthi-acite over bituminous coal is well known to those who 

 mjoy the clear air and exquisitely clean interior of the houses 

 n. Philadelphia, where anthi-acite alone is used. If the 

 mthracite of the Placer Mountains shall be found, as is most 

 probable, well-suited for smelting the iron ore which abounds 

 n its immediate neighbourhood, its value will be gi-oat 

 ndeed. It is, in fact, impossible to speculate upon the 



