526 PALJEONTOLOGICAL REPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Examination of some veins in the Western Goal-fields of Kentucky, in 

 relation to their palceontblogical characters. 



As during the time of our explorations we passed over different parts 

 of the country, with a continuous change of level, any description of 

 the veins of coal, in the order in which they came under our observa- 

 tion, would be not only an arduous task, full of useless repetitions, but, 

 by constantly transporting the reader to a different geological level, 

 would confuse his mind about his exact position. The better plan,, 

 therefore, is to admit as correct a vertical section of the western coal- 

 fields, and, beginning from the bottom of the measures, take each bed 

 in the order of formation; then, describing the general characters of 

 oach of those beds, and mentioning afterwards all the places where the 

 same coal has come under our examination, with the local and peculiar 

 differences of each. In this way all will be clear, and a single glance 

 at the horizontal section No. 1, will show, at once, the localities, with 

 their true geological level, and suggest, at the same time, to the reader, 

 precise conclusions with regard to the probable position of other beds 

 of coal, and enable him to make other deductions for the greater cer- 

 tainty of future researches. 



No. 1. Yertical diagram of your first report, from Anvil Rock 

 down to Battery Rock, is certainly the best that can be made, and, with 

 some local changes, it will prove reliable in all the extent of the west- 

 ern coal-fields of Kentucky. Following your suggestions, we will ad- 

 mit the nomenclature of the veins of it, as follows: 



Beginning at the base of the measures, and omitting Battery-rock 

 coal — a view which is scarcely developed any where in Kentucky — 

 our No. 1 coal takes the place of both Cook coal, and 7th Bell's coal, 

 indicating their probable relative position by A and B — No. 1, B, 

 being the Bell's coal. The reason why both those veins are united in 

 the same number, will be apparent hereafter. Our No. 2 is a thin coal, . 

 marked on the diagram between two shales with iron stone. No. 3 is 

 the 6th, or Ice-house coal of the diagram. No. 4 the Curlew coal. No. 

 5 four foot bed. No. 6, the little vein. No. 7, a thin coal above it. No. 

 8, Well coal. No. 9, 8d or five-foot Mulford coal. No. 10, 2d or 

 middle coal. No. 11, the first coal under Anvil Rock. No. 12 the true 

 first bed below Anvil Rock, in Hopkins and Muhlenburg counties, 

 omitted in the diagram, because it is scarcely developed in Union 

 county. 



