THE 
AMERICAN GEOLOGIST 
Vol. XVIII. JULY, 1896. No. 1. 
OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE OCCURRENCE 
OF ANTHRACITE, WITH A NEW THEORY 
OF ITS ORIGIN. 
By W. S. Geesley, F. G. S. (L. and A.), Erie, Pa. 
(Plate I.) 
CONTENTS. Page. 
I. StevciLsoii's theory of Pennsylvania anthracite 1 
II. Evidences of metaiii()ri)hism in Penus.ylvania anthracite 2 
III. Objections to Stevenson's theory :j 
1. Chemical con s if li- rat ions i ;{ 
2. Composite stratified character of Pennsylvania anthracite seams.... 4 
'A. Debitnminizatiou of coal a stajEje in metamorphosis 4 
4. .\nthracite, otiier than in seams, in the Coal Measures of Pennsylva- 
nia f) 
ft. .\renaceous or gravelly character of the Coal Measures of Ponnsylva- 
. nia () 
6. Fish horizons on coal seams and their bearing upon the origin of 
Pennsylvania anthracite ti 
7. Lamination or "grain" present in anthracite 7 
IV. Pennsylvania anthracite had a metamorphic origin, but is not a product 
of folding 7 
y. Sequence of geologic events producing Pennsylvania antliracite 8 
yi. Evidence of former liydio-thiTina) action in the region 11 
VII. Anthracite artificially iirodiiced from ordinary coal 12 
VIII. Wood change<l into coal hydrothermally 12 
IX. The anthracite region of Pennsylvania a typical one V.i 
X. Other .\merican anthracite regions l:< 
XI. Euroi)ean anthracite regions 15 
XII. Asiatic and other anthracite regions 19 
XIII. Conclusions lit 
I. vStevenson's Theory of Penn.syj.vania Anthuacite. 
Dr. J. J. Stevenson has recently criticised all the leading 
theories* of the Pennsylvania anthracite and found theni 
more or less wanting.! He then proclaims a novel one, con- 
sidering it to explain observed facts. The author of the 
*E.Kcept the electrical one propounded in 1870 by Mr. Joseph before 
the S. Wales Inst, of Entrineprs. 
fBull. Geol. Soe. Am., vol. .">. pj). ■5'.) 70, 189.3. 
