GEOLOGICAL 



SOCIETY OF 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



185 



45° S.E,, exclusive of a few points, where the silicious 

 rocks are thrown up almost vertically. 



The section of this coal region has been constrac.ted 

 from superficial data, as very little has been done 

 hitherto in exploring or working the minerals in this 

 direction. 



Within a mile of Hopewell Furnace, on the Raystown 

 branch, a five feet vein of promising coal has been put 

 in work. Its dip is about 45° to the S.E. This is a 

 glance coal; possessing bitumen in sufficient quantity to 

 burn well ; convertible into coke; of a deep black colour; 

 fracture exhibiting a brilliant jet polish, little affected 

 by the atmosphere ; burning to a white ash. The glance 

 cleavage of this coal, as in some other varieties of an- 

 thracite, crosses the original laminated planes of deposit 

 at every possible angle; presenting numerous sections of 

 convex and concave faces. The interposition and in- 

 tersection of these polished cleavages have greatly modi- 

 fied its original arrangement, and obliterated to a great 

 degree the original structure. It is remarkable for the 

 intense blackness and brilliant lustre of its planes. It 

 burns freely at first with a bright flame, which after a 

 while decreases and a strong white heat succeeds. 

 Pieces of the smallest size ignite readily; and probably 

 the most suitable mode of using it is in broken pieces of 

 small size. For the purpose of burning in open grates, 

 it is not improbable that this description of coal may be 

 held in some estimation, after its properties have been 

 fairly proved. In a grate, even of the most common 

 construction^ it affords a cheerful fire; emitting nearly 

 the same quantity of flame, attended with certainly less 

 smoke than the ordinary bituminous varieties ; and leaves 

 not more than the usual amount of ashes than those kinds. 



Specific gravity, 1.700. 



Since writing the above I have submitted specimens 

 of this coal to T. G. Ciemson, Esq,, who has favoured 

 I. — Y 



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