COAL MINES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY. 88h 
THe BiuE Rock CoAt. 
From Dunean’s Falls, southward throrghout the Muskingum 
Valley, the coal is easily followed as far as the south line of Section 20,. 
Harrison township, a little below Gaysport, where it falls to the level of: 
the river. Important mines have been worked near this point for many 
years, the coal being known as the Blue Rock coal, and finding its: 
market along the river. The immediate cover of the seam is very 
heavy, reaching well up to the Pittsburgh coal. The hill above it con- 
sists in large proportion of the clays and shales of the Barren Measures,- 
making a treacherous series to undermine. It was here that four 
miners were imprisoned, nearly 30 years ago, by a crush which closed’ 
up the entries leading to day. They were rescued alive after 14 days: 
and 13 hours of imprisonment, during which time they had no food: 
except a lunch or “check” that two miners had carried in on the’ 
morning of the day on which the crush occurred. 
The Blue Rock coal, as it now appearsy is in marked contrast with’ 
the general product of the seam elsewhere. It isa typical pitch coal, 
clear and bright to a-higher degree than any other Ohio coal. In fact, 
it is nearly as clear as anthracite. No mineral charcoal is found in the 
present product of the mine. Its composition, as shown by Professor 
Lord’s analysis of a single block, agrees with the description above. 
It isas follows: 
Blue Rock Coal. 
INIGUS GUD eects ea oe ess taser tata mctiice v assieia aa Noosa sme Sa Nata eras nals Seeds wb We abe evotaye's 3.50’ 
Woleetalle Gorn owmgiilon® WMEKTKENP Socccdcosbeods 40069000000600.000600000000 000080 000000005 000 46.44 
TPS) GIAO aéc ob ocGbe a Neo Ce mea tee TE COE eC BOGE SH CE EER nee ea en 45.87 
INGUIN. GaSb cb io Sd SESS BSESIE SES SP a aS SE EP PUSS te a a 4.19 
ROTA | oo chidd AGG NSER SOS EI SRE To RCI Ge VA ARRAN Mars bans BAR AUR a et Oa 100.00 
Sua] ip Lent eae tae a crc len ae aa SM MS RMA SIN SON, Os Ie Sev aweddeeedeal 3.84 
These figures show a remarkable coal, higher in volatile combustible 
matter than any other bituminous coal of our series, the cannels not being. 
included. ‘The proportion of sulphur is excessive, constituting the only 
drawback upon the otherwise high quality. 
The seam carries, where normal, a regular thickness of 4 feet, but, 
as elsewhere, it is liable to sudden interruptions, some of which are 
5602 G. 
