COAL  IN  SANPETE  COUNTY,  UTAH.  288 
A  sample  collected  in  the  mine  by  crosscutting  the  seam  was  sent  in  a  sealed  can  to 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  coal-testing  plant  at  St.  Louis  and  analyzed,  under 
the  direction  of  Prof.  N.  W.  Lord,  by  F.  M.  Stanton,  with  the  following  results: 
Analysis  of  coal  from  Wales  mine. 
Moisture . 
2.17 
Volatile  combustible 33  50 
Fixed  carbon 50  94 
Ash 13. 39 
100. 00 
Sulphur 4  62 
Air-drying  loss gg 
Fuel  ratio j  52 
This  coal  has  a  lower  percentage  of  volatile  matter  and  a  greater  amount  of  fixed  car- 
bon, and  consequently  a  higher  fuel  ratio,  than  the  Carbon  County  coals,  but  its  higher 
content  of  ash  and  sulphur  makes  it  generally  less  desirable.  The  coal  is  too  thin  and 
bony  to  make  it  very  valuable,  yet  it  is  used  locally  for  domestic  purposes  and  sells  at 
$2.50  a  ton  for  lump,  and  $1.80  a  ton  for  fine  coal,  in  competition  with  the  Carbon  County 
product  brought  to  the  valley  by  the  Rio  Grande  Western  Railway.  The  coal  has  a  local 
reputation  for  blacksmith's  purposes. 
The  Wales  mine  is  opened  on  the  outcrop  and  the  workings  extend  about  200  yards  along 
the  strike.  The  coal  in  the  mine  dips  S.  50°  W.,  magnetic  15°.  The  mine  was  dry  when 
visited  in  August  and  the  operator  reported  no  trouble  from  water.  Apparently  the 
limestone  roof  is  largely  responsible  for  this  condition. 
This  coal  can  be  traced  up  the  hillside  north  of  Wales  Canyon  for  a  distance  of  about 
2  miles,  where  it  thins  out.  To  the  south  it  is  reported  to  have  been  traced  somewhat 
farther,  but  on  account  of  the  varying  stratigraphy  it  is  difficult  to  follow  any  particular 
stratum.  The  development  of  this  mine  is  comparatively  recent.  The  early  workings 
were  in  a  canyon  to  the  south,  but  these  have  long  been  abandoned.  A  number  of  coal 
prospects  occur  at  different  places  in  the  Gunnison  Plateau  and  it  is  probable  that  more 
coal  will  be  found  in  this  vicinity,  but  it  is  not  likely  that  much  better  results  will  bo 
obtained. 
Sterling  coal. — The  Sterling  coal,  developed  by  the  Sterling  Coal  and  Coke  Company, 
at  the  Morrison  mine,  on  Sixmile  Creek  about  2  miles  east  of  Sterling,  is  more  important 
than  the  Wales  deposit.  The  mine  is  at  the  southern  terminus  of  the  Sanpete  Valley 
Railway.     It  produced  5,633  tons  in  1904. 
As  already  mentioned,  the  Sterling  coal  occurs  in  sandstone  of  probable  Laramie  age, 
in  a  fault  block  at  the  base  of  the  Wasatch  Plateau.  There  are  several  beds  of  coal,  but 
only  the  lower  ones  could  be  measured  when  the  mine  was  visited,  in  September,  1905. 
The  following  section  was  furnished  by  H.  R.  Thomas,  the  former  owner  of  the  mine: 
•    Section  in  the  Morrison  coal  mine. 
Massive  buff  sandstone.  Ft.        in. 
rCoal 22 
G.  I  Bone  and  clay 10 
Icoal 8 
Sandstone 25-30 
jCoal ; 1  4 
5.  JBone .' 4-6 
Icoal 6 
Sandstone 75± 
jCoal , 1  4 
4.  J  Bone 4-6 
(Coal 1 
Sandstone 3-25 
3    f Coal 1 
'  iBone 1  4 
SaJidstone 0-12 
