62 Mr. R. J. Moss, F.C.S. On Arctic Coal. 
I have analyzed the ash and found that it consists of :— 
Silica sun. ; ’ : ; 34°69 
Alumina, : : ; : 27°30 
Tron Sesquioxide, c : : 6°72 
Lime, . ; ; : : 7:79 
Magnesia, A ; : 1:83 
Potash, . - : : ; 7:58 
Soda, : : : 0°10 
Sulphuric Anhydride, ; : : 13°79 
Phosphoric a ae ‘ : : trace 
Chlorine, ‘ . : trace 
99°80 
The quantity of potash in the ash is unusually large. On 
comparing the composition of the coal with that of other 
coals of various geological ages it will be found that the Arctic 
coal most closely resembles those of the true carboniferous period. 
Coal from the great seam in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia,* 
possesses a chemical composition almost identical with that of 
the Arctic coal. On the other hand some lignites of the Miocene 
period bear a close chemical resemblance to the Arctic coal, if the 
composition, exclusive of water, sulphur, and ash, be compared. 
For example, a lignite from the Island of Sardinia possesses the 
following compositiont :— 7 
Carbon, < ‘x4. F Tess 82°26 
Hydrogen, . 3 . . 6:52 
Oxygen and Nitrogen, . . : 11:22 
100: 00 
It has been shown By Zincken! that it is impossible to deter- 
mine the geological age of coal from its chemical composition ; of 
this fact the Arctic coal affords a good illustration. 
* Percy’s Metallurgy, Fuel, &c., p. 836. 
ft Ibid. 313. 
{ Die Physiographie der Braunkohle. 
