562 ME. W. H. MEERITT ON THE CASCADE 



5 feet to 1 foot in thickness; and at the lower exposure "C'the 

 two seams to be seen are 10 feet and 12 feet in thickness. 



The measures, except at the exposures referred to, are covered up 

 with gravel, as previously mentioned. 



The Coal has been altered by metamorphic influence from the 

 lignitic character of the coal occurring in this formation to the east 

 in the plains. It has been changed to an anthracite of a light and 

 free-burning order, which might perhaps be more properly designated 

 a semianthracite. Its specific gravity is 1*4. 



A number of analyses have been made of the coal from the 

 various seams, and a fair average of these is well represented in the 

 composition of this coal as given by Mr. Hoffman, of the Canadian 

 Geological Survey, viz. : — 



Hygroscopic water "71 



Yolatile combustible matter 10*79 



Fixed carbon 80-93 



Ash 7-57 



100-00 



Owing to the great pressure to which these seams have been 

 subjected and the distortion that has accompanied the folding of the 

 beds, the coal, in places, is friable and shows slickensides ; but else- 

 where it is of a compact laminated character ; and sometimes, though 

 more rarely, the laminated structure is not apparent in the compact 

 Coal. 



When subjected to a sudden high temperature it slowly breaks 

 into angular fragments without actual decrepitation, and in an 

 ordinary fire it burns with a steady white glow without decrepita- 

 tion, leaving in either case a white ash. 



My examination of this Cascade Anthracitic Coal-region was made 

 last summer. Some of these Coal-seams had been previously visited 

 by Dr. Dawson, of the Geological Survey of Canada, and a few 

 remarks are made about these in the Report of Progress for the years 

 1882-84. The lower exposure " C " has been since opened up. 



As those Fellows of the Geological Society who accompanied the 

 British Association to Canada are aware, lignites occur in the 

 Laramie and Cretaceous formations in places from Manitoba to the 

 Eocky Mountains. The first seam that was opened up was in 

 Manitoba, on the Souris Eiver. This I tested in Winnipeg in 1879, 

 and found it of inferior quality. The following will represent about 

 the average composition of these eastern Lignites : — 



per cent. 



Carbon 42 



Yolatile combustible matter 34 



Hygroscopic water 16 



Ash , 8 



100 



