GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



205 



are indications of the same minerals. Several smaller 

 streams descending into this branch, and another falling 

 into the Tioga further to the north east, contain also 

 traces of coal and iron. 



On the east side of the Tioga, nearer Blossburg, are 

 the four principal ravines of East creek, Bear creek, 

 Coal run, and Moore's run, whose head waters arise in 

 the Armenia mountain. There are two or three other 

 ravines in the same direction, where the coal is ap- 

 proachable. 



On the west are the three ravines of Smith's creek, 

 Boon^s creek, and Johnson's creek, and one or two infe- 

 rior valleys, deep enough to intersect the coal measures. 



On the south and south east, they are penetrated by 

 Flower run, Mile and Half run, Taylor's creek. Carpen- 

 ter's run. Manganese run, Saynisch's run, and some 

 smaller ravines and tributaries without name. 



The first coal vein that was opened and applied to use 

 in this country, was discovered only a few years ago by 

 Mr Bloss, an early settler. 



In 1832, when I undertook the first mineral examina- 

 tion of this district, the prevailing opinion among the 

 few miners that were then employed there, was that 

 the strata were horizontal. Nothing had been proved 

 to the contrary ; and so far as the coal workings had 

 been extended, the workmen had noticed no material 

 inclination. Since then, by pursuing an extensive se- 

 ries of actual levels up most of the ravines, a material 

 departure from horizontality has been proved, and the 

 whole area, with the exception of the western extension, 

 with whose limits and details I am at present unacquainted, 

 is decidedly shown to be arranged in a basin form, rising 

 from the centre towards all parts of the circumference. 

 Whether this coal tract be detached^ forming an inde- 

 pendent basin, or it be united with, and a prolongation 

 of, the great western coal field, I have not fully decided. 



