30 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



decomposed than the lignite. This, however, is not neces- 

 sarily so, for the upper layers of a bed of brown coal may show 

 peat, which in all probability would not have reached the same 

 degree of decomposition as the coal beneath. This gradation from 

 peat to brown coal or lignite is shown in a deposit of brown coal 

 at Grovetown Ga. 



From this table it will be seen that the change from wood and 

 moss to lignite and peat consists in the evolution of certain per- 

 centages of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, which leaves a relatively 

 increased percentage of carbon and a decreased percentage of 

 hydrogen and oxygen. The principal products given off in this 

 change are marsh gas, carbon dioxid and water. Some nitrogen 

 is given off; but this may ordinarily be neglected on account of 

 the small amount present, and in cases where large quantities 

 may be found, it is probably due to the decomposition of animal 

 matter or to the ammonia that is brought down by rains. 

 Analyses of the gas given off from peat beds do not give data 

 that can be depended on in determining the formation of peat. 

 The evidence of this is shown by a comparison of the anajlyseS/ 

 of sphagnum, compact peat and the gas from a peat bed as 

 analyzed by Websky.^ 



Composition exclusive of ash 



Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen 



1 Sphagnum 49.88 6.54 42.42 1.16 



2 Peat 50.33 5.99 42.63 1.05 



3 Peat....- 50.86 5.8 42.57 .77 



1 Sphagnum moss from a bog at Grunewald near Berlin. 



2 Peat from same place. 



3 Peat from the high moors (Hoehmoor) of the Upper Harz, 2500 feet 

 above the North sea. 



The analyses of the gas from a peat bed by the same authority 

 gives CO2 2.97 ; €H, 43.36 and N 53.67. 



Now, granting that only half the original material in the sphag- 

 num had been evolved as gas, it will readily be seen that such 



^ The foregoing is quoted from Percy's Metallurgy, where the following 

 reference is given: Websky, Justus. Erdmann's Journal fiir Praktische 

 Chemie. 1864. 92 :98. 



