stone.] COAL IN SOUTHWESTERN ALASKA. 161 
to visit the region in 1895/' but he found no coal seam of any economic 
value. The writer was detained at Cape Douglas during the entire 
month of July, 1904, and had ample opportunity to investigate the 
geology of the cape and vicinity. The report that coal occurs here 
was based probably on the appearance of some beds of black shale 
which outcrop at one or two points in the sea bluff, and at a short dis- 
tance closely resemble coal seams. The mountains on the mainland 
back of the cape are composed in part of sedimentary rocks, and show 
numerous beds which from the coast look like coal. An examination 
of the talus slopes and stream beds showed only black shale, and the 
conclusion was drawn that there is no coal seam of any value at Cape 
Douglas. 
AMALIK HARBOR. 
As time was limited and progress with the small sloop used as a 
means of conveyance was slow, it was impossible to examine each bay, 
and Amalik Harbor was passed by without entering. Dall has the 
following to say concerning it: 6 
This locality is situated on the south shore of the peninsula, in about latitude 58° 5'. 
Behind Takli Island there is a good anchorage, well sheltered from all winds. The 
coal seams are on the main shore opposite the island and close to the entrance. 
The rocks are chiefly coarse sandstone, resting conformably on an andesitic agglom- 
erate and containing andesitic pebbles. These sandstones have a thickness of 250 
feet or more and dip northeast at an angle of about 30°. Low down in the series are 
strata of stream-bedded, sharp gravel, in layers about 5 feet thick, with three seams 
of impure coal, each about 18 inches thick. About 4 inches of this is pure glossy 
coal having a bituminous aspect. Unlike most Alaskan coals, it soils the hands when 
touched, and is said to be good for use in a blacksmith's forge. * * * The small 
dimensions of the seam, however, forbid anticipating any commercial future for it, 
though it may be useful for local purposes. 
On the shore about 1 mile southwest of Takli Island there is a low 
jbluff of sedimentary rocks. These are soft sandstone and fine con- 
glomerate, with some shale. They are cut by dikes and sills of green- 
ish, fine-grained andesite and basalt, and are more or less faulted. 
|A seam of coal, exposed for 100 feet in the bluff, with shale roof and 
floor, was measured by the writer: 
Section of coal near Amalik Harbor. 
Bonv coal 
Ft. 

in. 
Clay 

•> 
Bony coal 
1 
8 
Coal 

•> 
Clav 

ft 
Bonv coal 

3 
"Coal and lignite of Alaska: Seventeenth Ann. Rept. U. S. Gcol. Survey, ]>t. 1, p. 798. 
&0p. cit., p. 799. 
Bull. 259—05 II 
