370 



GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OP THE TEERITOEIES. 



of the lignite becomes impaired at a greater distance from the mount- 

 ains, in beds of the same age. 



The companies and proprietors of lignite-beds make constant inquiries 

 of the possibility of reducing or smelting iron ore with their coal. I 

 think that this could be done with lignite, producing good hard coke, 

 which then could be used as charcoal. But scarcely any of the lignites of 

 the West have been as yet so far deprived of water that their bulk may 

 be left compact by combustion. I know only of the Placiere anthracite, 

 (lignite,) and of the Chicosa coal, as having given such result ; all the 

 other lignite gives dust-coke. In confirmation of this assertion, and to 

 end this subject, 1 a])pend a few analyses made from specimens selected 

 by rnyself as representing the' average value of the beds where they 

 were obtained. ' These analyses have the merit of being carefully made* 

 all with the same process and by the same chemist, and therefore offer 

 perfectly reliable points of comparison. They complete the table of 

 analyses given by Mr. James T. Hodge in his excellent i^aper on the 

 Tertiary coal of the Kocky Mountains. Put in opposition, as they are 

 here, they present a reliable account of the essential comiDounds and of 

 the comparative value of* the more important deposits of our western 

 lignitic coal. It is to be regretted that no more care is given to the 

 preparation of documents of this kind. Comparative analyses should 

 be made by the same chemist, and the result published under a well- 

 known authority, to prevent frauds or impositions by the publication of 

 misrepresented or often false statements. 



Aiiahjses of coals hy Mr. C. Leo Mees. 





1 a. 

 1.315 



1 c. 

 1.304 



2. 

 1. 2303 



3. 



1.26 



4. 

 1.288 



5. 

 1.273 



6. 





1.315 









8.10 



5.55 



34.70 



51.65 



6.10 



5.80 

 38.80 

 49.30 



6.25 



9.55 



31. 75 



52.45 



1.15 



4.20 



37.05 



57.60 



5.40 



3.50 



36.40 



54.70 



12.90 



2.00 



39.10 



40.00 



0.90 



Ash 



29.20 





23.. 50 



Fixed carbon 



55.40 









100. 00 



0.91 

 0.22 

 0.3S5 

 3. 929 

 Pulv. 

 Gray. 



100. 00 



100. CO 



100. 00 



100. 00 



0.782 

 0.384 

 0.06 

 4.327 

 Pulv. 

 Tel'w. 



100. 00 



100. 00 





0.917 

 0.343 

 0.623 

 3.926 



Pulv. 



Gray. 



0.941 

 0.439 

 0.708 

 3.61 

 Pulv. 

 White. 



0.851 

 0.017 

 0.991 

 4.21 

 (*) 

 Gray. 



0.576 

 0. 302 

 0.512 

 4.088 



Pulv. 



Fawn. 



0. 90G 





0. 522 



(. forminij; per cent, of coke 



Msec! gas, cubic I'eot, per pound of coal 



0.688 



3.24 



Pulv. 



Color of ash 



Gray. 



Register of Samples. — l a, Carbon, Union Pacific Eailroad ; 1 c, Carbon, Union Pacific Eailroad. 

 2, Rook Springs, Union Pacific Raili'oad ; 3, Fifteen miles north of Trinidad, New Mexico ; 4, Canyon 

 City, Colorado Territory ; 5, Colorado Springs, Gehrung ; 6, Kiiton Mountains, New Mexico. ^ 



Columbus, Ohio, January 20-25, 1873. 



* Hacd metallic. 



* By a young friend of mine, already an experienced chemist, Mr. Leo Mees, of Co- 

 Inmbus. The analyses were made in the laboratory and under the supervision of Pro- 

 fessor Wormly. 



