CARROLL COUNTY. 189 



the coal shows some white streaks and more or less tendency to decom- 

 pose, so that the pyrites is pretty well disseminated. The top layer, 

 for six inches, is poor and is not removed. Partings of mineral char- 

 coal are frequent, and thin layers of it seem to alternate with those of 

 coal. The blast is seldom resorted'to in mining, and the bank is thought 

 to be one of the best in the county. At Mr. Armstrong's bank, near Mr. 

 Scott's, the bed is six feet, and yields an excellent coal, which is inferior 

 to none found in this township. 



Near Cannonsburg we obtain the following section from Mr. T. Tholy's 

 bank : 



FT. IN. 



1. Sandstone — — 



2. Shale 3 



3. Coal 2 10 



4. Clay 2i 



5. Coal 1 5 



6. Fire-clay (seen) 1 6 



Of pyrites there is a notable quantity, especially in the lower bench. 

 Streaks are numerous above, but are never so persistent as to form part- 

 ings. The coal is irregularly bedded and much "slickensided." Though 

 not very compact and apt to disintegrate upon exposure, it is quite hard 

 and is mined by blasting. East from Cannonsburg, Mr. Wilken has the 

 coal about four feet six inches thick. It is good, with much volatile mat- 

 ter, but contains enough pyrites to make it disintegrate readily on expo- 

 sure. The clay parting shows many impressions of Stigmaria ficaides. 



Near the Cross Roads, Mr. Samuel Smith has four feet six inches of very 

 good coal, but works it no longer. In the same neighborhood, Mr. George 

 Stoody's bank shows a thickness of four feet six inches, as follows: 



FT. IN. 



1. Coal 2 10 



2. Clay 2 



3. Coal 1 6 



In the upper bench there are two or three thin partings, but they are not 

 persistent. Little pyrites appears either as streaks or nodules, and the 

 coal has a good reputation. About a mile south from the Cross Roads, Mr. 

 Conrad Pearch has opened the coal, which there shows as follows : 



FT. IN. 



1. Shale 3 



2. Coal 1 6 



3. Parting i 



4. Coal 1 7i 



5. Parting | 



6. Coal 9 



» 4 2 



