COAL-FIELDS OF TENNESSEE. 323 



often intermixed with nodules of flint, and contain- 

 ing imbedded detached masses of lead ore. Salt 

 water is found on all the head branches of the Ken- 

 tuclcy River, but is most abundant on the south fork. 

 Coal is sometimes seen on the borders at the lime- 

 stone rocks, resting on slate, and covered with a 

 calcareous roof. On Green River, coal is found to 

 within 50 miles of its mouth. Salt water is also 

 obtained at a depth of 80 feet, with an abundance 

 of carburetted hydrogen and petroleum. About a 

 mile from the Cumberland River, in Adair county, 

 in boring for salt water, a bed of coal 45 feet thick 

 was struck 30 feet below the surface, and at 150 

 feet beneath the coal a vein of salt water was reach- 

 ed, into which the auger dropped, and immense 

 quantities of gas were discharged for a number of 

 days. Indeed, coal and salt water may be said to 

 abound from the heads of the Cumberland River to 

 the heads of the Licking, occupying the whole of 

 the northern and eastern borders of the State of 

 Kentucky. West of this line iron ore is abundant 



COAL-FIELDS OF TENNESSEE. 



In Tennessee, according to Dr. Troost, the coal 

 measures are confined exclusively to the group of 

 the Cumberland Mountains and subordinate ridges. 

 Commencing at the south, it first appears in Mount 

 Sano, east of Huntsville, Alabama, where it crops 

 out in several places. Following this subordinate 

 ridge till we come to the main Cumberland Mount- 

 ain, we find the coal cropping out in numerous 

 places, as near Battle Creek, 10 miles from Jasper, 

 Marion county. The coal is deposited in horizon- 

 tal layers of great extent, and probably may be 

 found everywhere in the mountains by boring. Near 

 the northern limit of the state, the breadth of the 

 coal formation seems to be the greatest ; it com- 

 prises here part of Overton, the whole of Fentress, 

 Campbell, and part of Claiborne counties. Besides 



