114 



GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



stones, whicli are followed by coarse, gray sandstones. When the bed was 

 first opened there were several seams of clay in it, but as the shaft pene- 

 trated deeper they gradually thinned out, and at present there is only 

 Pig 28. ^"^ ^^ ^^^ center of the coal, 



having a thickness of about 

 twelve inches. The coal is a 

 lignite, and is well adapted 

 for blacksmiths' purpos'es. 

 It is used, I believe, by black- 

 smiths of Bozeman, who like 

 it very much. Some of the 

 coal was taken to Helena, 

 and is said to have yielded 

 I five cubic feet of gas to the 

 pound. As the shaft goes 

 deeper the quality of the coal 

 seems to improve. Up to 

 the present time there has 

 been but little demand for 

 coal. One reason of this, 

 c, Opening perhaps, is the abundance of 

 timber in the mountains 

 near Bozeman, and another reason, perhaps, is that hitherto there 

 liave been few facilities for transportation, the road through .Spring 

 Caiion having only lately been completed. There is but little doubt, 

 however, that ultimately this coal will be extensively used. When the 

 Northern Pacific Railroad is built through this region the utility of the 

 coal-beds near Fort Ellis will become more and more apparent. 



I have made the following analysis of the coal. No. 1 is a poor speci- 

 men, No. 2 medium, and No. 3 the best. The coal is black, (brown in 

 powder,) has a high luster, irregular fracture, specific gravity. Th.e 

 coke is moderately good, and has a high luster: 



Analysis Ko. 1. 



Per cent. 



Water... 6.00 



Volatile matters 32. 90 



Coke 44.10 



Ash 17.00 



100. 00 



a a, Sandstone; 



V V, Coal ; d, Seam of clay 

 into coal. 



Analysis No. 2. 



Per cent. 



Water 3.00 



Volatile matters 41. 50 



Coke 43.50 



Ash 12.00 



100.00 



Analysis No. 3. 



Per ceiit. 



Water 7.00 



Volatile matters 34.50 



Coke 50.50 



Ash, (white) 8.00 



100. 00 



