114 ALASKAN MINERAL RESOURCES IN 1900. 
Considerable variation in the thickness and in some places ime: 
pected interruptions of the seams are disclosed in these tunnel 
Whether faulting or pinching out of the coal be the explanation, fu 
ther work must show. The rocks in the near vicinity are closely f olde< 
and faulting, with the added difficulties of mining which it incur 
should be expected. 
On Kings Creek, 1\ miles above its junction with the Matanusk 
coal seams are cut by the creek, on both sides of which they were mea 
ured. A seam of impure coal 6 feet 6 inches thick, overlain by 5 fe< 
5 inches of dense impure coke, is seen on the east bank. On the we 
bank coal occupying a stratigraphic position approximately 6 fe 
lower than this seam measures 10 feet in thickness. In it are sever 
streaks of bone 4 to 8 inches in width. The strike is N. 42° W. (ma 
netic) and the dip 42° NE. A short distance upstream from the expo 
sure on the east side the sandstone beds are considerably disturbe< 
Folding or faulting, or possibly both, has occurred. 
On Young Creek, a tributary of Kings Creek from the west, 1 foot 
inch of coal was seen by Martin, and below it a 6-inch seam was four] 
Workable seams are reported on this creek. The strike of the beds i 
this locality is N. 15° E. (magnetic) and the dip 20° NW. 
WESTERN DISTRICT. 
The coal of what has been termed the western district — i. e., thtii 
occurring on Tsadaka and Eska creeks — is a bituminous coal of lo 
grade. Its physical properties are much the same as those of the coa 
farther east. Most of it is bright and hard, though dull shaly banc 
are numerous. On Eska Creek, at an elevation of 875 feet, 7 feet 
inches of coal in which are included four shale streaks and some bon 
coal was measured. The strike is N. 30° E. (magnetic) and the d 
44° XW. 
About 300 feel farther upstream 7 feet of coal is exposed, 15inches 
it being made up by the shale streaks. This coal dips to the north wes 
About 600 feet above the section first cited 2 feet 6 inches of cleei 
coal and 1 foot or more of dirty coal may be seen dipping 32° SE. 
On the west bank of the creek, at an elevation of 1,030 feet, a stec 
bluff made by stream erosion reveals a number of seams of coal, 
marked fault cuts this bluff. The strata above it, in which the co 
was measured, strike X. 40° W. (magnetic) and dip 40° SW. Belo 
the fault the beds strike northeastward and dip to the southeast. J 
the top of this section are three seams, none of which exceeds 2 fei 
3 inches in thickness. They are separated by small intervals of ^Aial 
About 12 feet lower in the bluff follow coal and shale bands aggreg 
ting 12 feet in thickness, but containing no solid coal thicker than 
feet 1 inch. Two 1-inch seams separated by 2 feet of ehale occur 
feet lower. 
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