OF ARKANSAS 297 
and is in good repute with the workmen. By analysis, it is found to con- 
tain, in 100 parts: 
: Moisture «+ este aes es moves 1.0 
Volatile omattetessutwst9 162 Volatile combustible matter 15.2 
Fixed carbon «sees eee seas 80.8 
ROG ts ESLER, EEE Ashes, (yellowish-red) --+-- 3.0 
100.0 100.0 
It belongs to the class of semi-bituminous coals, and is free from earthy 
impurities, as shown by the small amount of ashes in the analysis. 
As a fuel, the semi-bituminous coals are in high estimation, being rich 
in carbon; and, without any superflous volatile matter, they have a suffi- 
ciency of gas to render them easy of ignition. 
On Frog bayou this coal lies under a bed of twelve feet of blue shale, 
which has to be removed in order to get out the coal. So long as this 
coal can be reached by this amount of stripping, it can be obtained, but 
not without considerable expense, which will be greatly increased when 
it shall become necessary to follow it by a drift, as much waste material 
will have to be removed to make head room in the mine. 
The black shale forming the roof of this coal contains fossil plants, belong- 
ing to the genera lipidodcndron, sphcnopteris, calamites, and pinularia, and 
also a shell belonging to the genus aviculw, of which only a fragment was 
found, too imperfect for determining the species. 
At the Phillips bank, ihe argillaceous shale is all that can be seen over 
the coal; but the following section, taken in the hills near by, shows the 
overlying beds: 
Top of the hill, soil and subsoil----+---++++- been eens sees ? 
Thin bedded sandstone, alternating with red marly clay, (base of 
millstone grit) eA ered ert: tow aie See alice Seta, ~ eee ace Roby Bars 25 feet. 
Blue argillaceous shale with segregations of carbonate of iron 60 “ 
Black bituminous shale with fossil plants: +++++++-- seen nenee 1. 
Semi-bituminous COAL see ce reer reer ener reer eeee reer enerene ke 
Fire clay srcrerecrs cece sterner ener serensenenseseeetnen es 0.6 
87.6 
Thirteen miles from Van Buren, and about one mile north of the stage 
road, on the property of the Messrs. Herds, a mineral spring breaks out at 
the base of a hill, from beneath an exposure of bluish-colored, rough, 
sheety sandstone, with concretionary markings. The water comes, most 
likely, from a blue shale, which is concealed below the surface; as strata 
