THE 
AMERICAN GEOLOGIST 
Vol. X. DECEMBER, 1892. No. G 
A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SO-CALLED 
CANNEL COAL FROM THE KOOTANIE OF 
BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
By D. P. Pen-hallow, F. R. S. C, F. R. M. S., McGill CoUeg<-. Montreal. 
TPlate X. 
During the past year a nuin])erof specimens of a coaly mineral 
having the general properties of a cannel coal, and locally recog- 
nized as such, were olitained from the Kootanie and Lower Cre- 
taceous formations of British Columliia. Their peculiar physical 
constitution, and the great ditliculty of ascertaining association 
with any of the materials ordinarily known to contribute to coal 
formation, made their examination a matter of more than ordi- 
nary' interest. The specimens at first placed in my hands, con- 
sisted of a slide by Mr. Weston of the (Geological Surve}', to- 
gether with a small fragment taken from a characteristic hand 
specimen. They were submitted to me by Sir Wm. Dawson, who 
had received them from Dr. George Dawson of the Greological 
Survey. A preliminary inspection satisfied me that a more ex- 
tended examination of the original material was desirable. Dr. 
Selwyn, of the Greological Survey, kindl}' supplied me with five 
characteristic hand specimens from as man}' ditferent seams, some 
of them widely separated. These were submitted to a critical 
examination, and from some of them, a number of fresh slides 
were prepared. 
So far as their general characteristics ari' concernetl, these 
coals are all of the same nature, ditfering chiefiv in degree of 
