59TH CoNGREss, l 

' 1st Ses81:o11. f 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

{ 

DocuMEI'i'l' 

No. 491. 

Professional Paper No. 49 . { A; Economic Geology, 64 

Senes B, Descriptive Geology, 78 

DEPARTMENT. OF THE INTERIOR 

UNITED STATI~S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CHARLES JJ. WALCOTT, lHR>X:TOR 

GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES 

OF PART OF TIH: 

CUWlBERLAND GAP (COAL FIEijD, KENTUCKY 

BY 

RI.;()RGl~ HAI.J, ASHI,EY ANn LEONillAS CHALlllERS GLENN 

IN' COOPERA'l'lON WITH 'I'IH~ STATE GEOLOGICAL DEPAK'l'~IENT OF KENTUCKY 

C . . T. NOR,VOOD, Curator 

.J. 

W ASIIINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING Ol<'l<'ICE 

1906 

CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 

OUTLINE OF pAPER " ••••• - - - - •• - - - •••••••••••••• - - • - •••• - •••• - - - •••••.•••••••••••••••• - • - •• 

lNTRODUC'l'ION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Location of field ....•..................... ____ ... _ ............. __ ................ . 

Field work __ .......................•......... _ ... __ .. _ .......................... . 

Literature . ___ . _ .....................•... ~ .................. _ .................... . 

GEOGRAPHY ••••• -- •••••• -- •• -----------•• -.--.- ••• :-•••••••••••••••• - •••• - ••••••• - ••••••• -

. Genera;l physiography ....... , ....... ___ ... _ ..... _ ............................ _ ....... . 

Ph:ysiographic relation ........... __ .• ___ . ___ : _ ........................... _ ....... . 

Fai(tors controlling physiography .......... _______ .. __ ............................ . 

Al11itude of the Appalachian province ............ __ . ___ .. _ ... _ .................... . 

Drtina~e of the Appalachian province ..• __ ............. _ .. _ ....... __ ....... _ .... , .. 

Loca~:~:~o~~;~::a~·h; :::::::::::: :::·: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

Valley topography ..... __ . _. _ ..........••... _ ............... _ ..... ___ . ____ . __ . ___ . 

Middlesboro plain ..... __ . ____ ................................................... . 

Slope topography .•••••...... __ . _ ... _ .. ___ ....................... _ ...... __ ... _ ... . 

Drainage ....... - -.- .. -- ... -... ·- .. c-.--··.-- .. -·--------·· · ·-· · · ·- · · · · · · ·-· · ·-· · · · Culture .. __ .. ___ .. ___ .... ~ • _ ... _ ..... _ . __ .. _ ..... ____ . __ ... ____ .. _ .. _ .... _ . ___ . _ . _ ..• 

GENERAL GEOLOGY •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Stratigra:phy ________ .. _. _____ . ___ . _. _____ . _ ......... _ ... _. _ ..... __ . _____ . _____ ... ____ _ 

General statement . _. _________ ........................................ _. ____ ..... . 

Description of formations .... _ ... ________ .... _ ...•.... _ .. _ .......... .. : _ .... _. _____ • 

Lee formation ••....•................... __ .............. __ ................. __ _ 

Hance formation ........................ _ ............................ __ .... · .. _ 

Mingo formation .......................... _ ................................. __ 

Catron formation ........ ~ ..... __ ........................ , .......... ~ ........ . 

Hignite.formation ... _ .................................................... _ ... _ 

Bryson formation ....... _ ... _ . _ ......................................... _ .... . 

Structure ......... __ •.....• _ .. _. __ .. ____ . _ ......................................... _. _ 

Structure of Appalachian province ....•........................... : ............... . 

General structure of Cumberland Gap coal field ................................. ___ .. 

Structure of Cumberland Mountain ........... __ . ___ ._._ ... _ ................... __ . __ _ 

Rocky Face Mountain fault. __ .................. _ .... _. ___ ... : . . __ ................ . 

GEOLOGY OF THE COALS •• ----····-------·-'---···-······-··----·······················--·--

General statement. : . •• _ •........ ___ .. _________ ... _ .................... _ . _ : ....... _ .... . 

Bennett Fork district. ...... _ ..... ___ ...... _ .... _ ......... _ ............ _ .......... __ . __ 

Geography .. ___ ...... _. _. _. _... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. _ ... . 

Stratigraphy ...... _. _ .................................................. : ...... _ .. . 

Sections 

Correlati~~s·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :.::::::::::: ~ Coals ....•............. _ ....................................................•..... 

Hance formation ............................................................. . 

Turner coals ..•........................................................... 

3 

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4 CON'l'ENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 

GEOWGY OF THE COALS-Continued. 

Bennett Fork district-Continued. 

Coals -Con tin ned. ·, 

Mingo formation ___ ............. _ .............. ~ ...... _. _________ .... ___ . _ ...• 

Bennett Fork coals~ ........ __ .. _____ ... _. ___ ._ ....... ________________ . ___ _ 

l\'Iingo coal .... : ............................................ _ ............ . 

Sandstone Parting eoal ......... _ .. __ .... _. __ ...... __ . ____ .. __________ .... . 

Catron formation ___ ............................. __ ................. __ . ____ ... . 

Poplar Lick coal ......................................................... . 

Klondike coal ........................................................... . 

Hignite formation. _ .................. _ ........ ____ ........... _ ............... . 

Lower Hignite coal. .•...................... ___ ........................... . 

Red Rpring coal. .......•................... · .............................. . 

Bryson formation ..................•.......................................... 

Summary .......................... _ .•.......... _______________________ . _____ _ 

Structure ............................... _ .... ______ ..... ______ . _____ . _____ ....... . 

Stony Fork-Clear Creek district .................. __ ... __ . _ .. ____ .. ______ . ________ .... . 

Geography . ------------- _____________________ ------ --·---- ..... _ .... _______ ...... . 

Stratigraphy _____ . __ ._ ..... _ .... _. __ . ___ . __________ ......... __________________ ... . 

Coals ................. _ ............ _ .. _______________ . _____ .... _. __ . ______ ._ .. _ .. . 

Mingo formation ...................... _ .. ____ .. ___ .. ____ ..................... . 

Chenoa cannel coal ......... ___ . _________ . ___________ . _ _ _ _ ______________ . 

lVIingo coal ............•...... __ .... ____ . _____ . _________________________ .. 

Sandstone Parting coal ............ _ . __ . __ .. ____ .. _________ . ____ . ________ .. _ 

Catron formation __ ......................... ______ ..... ___ . _____ . __________ .. . 

Poplar Lick coal. ............................. --- -- ..... -.. - .. - - - -... - . -.. 

Klondike coal _ ................................. -- ........................ . 

Hignite formation .......................... ____ ..... _ ............. _ ......... . 

Lower Hignite coal.,......................................... . ......... . 

Upper Hignite coal ............. ___ .. ______ ...... __ .. ___ ... ______________ _ 

Red Spring coal ...................... ______ . _ ....... ______________ . ___ .. _ 

Bryson formation. _______________________ . _ ...... ________ .. _______ . __ ..... __ . _ 

Summary ______ ................. _________________________ . ___________________ _ 

Structure ........................ _ .. _ .. _ . ______________________ . __________ .. _____ . 

Yellow Creek clistrid .................. _ .. _. __ . ____ ... ____ . ___________ . ___________ ... . 

Geography ... ________ .-······----- ___ .......... ____ ........ ___________________ .... . 

Stratigraphy . __ .. __________ . _ ...... ________ ..... ___ . _________________ . ___________ _ 

Coals. ______ . _______________________________________ . ___________ . ________________ _ 

Areal distribution ........................................................ . 

Coals in the Lee formation ________________ ...... __ . __ .. __ . _ .. _ .... __ .... . 

Cranes Creek coal ........ _. _ ... _______________ ............ _ .......... __ .. . 

PtH~kett coal. __ ................. _____ . __ .................................. . 

Hance coals .. _ ...... , .... __ ............. _ . _____ . __ . __ .. _. _. _ .. ·_ .. _____ .. . 

Structure ......... _ ........................ __ ....... _____ . _ .. __ .. _ .. _ ....... __ . ___ _ 

Hance district ........ ___ . _ ...... _ ........ _ ... _ . _ .... _ . _ .... _ .. _ ....... _ .......... _ .. _ 

Geography ........ __ ... _. ___ . ____________________ . ___________ .. _______ ... ____ _ 

Stratigraphy ............ _. ___ . ______________________ ...... _____ .. _. __ . __ ._. ____ . __ 

Lee formation. ___ . __ ... ____ . _____ . _____ ......... __ . __ .. _ . ____ .. ___ .. _ . ___ . _ . _. 

Naese sandstone member . _ .... ______ . __ . ___ .. _. _. _ .. ___ .... __________ . ___ . 

Hance formation __ . _ . _ ... ___ .. _ ... _______________ .. _ . __ . ___ . _ .. ___ . _ .. __ . __ . __ 

Yell ow Creek sandstone member. . __ . ____ . ____ . __ .. ___ .................... _ 

Cawood sandstone member .............. ____ . ____ .. ___ ................. __ . 

Coals ............ ---------------------------------· ________ ,-------- _____________ _ 

Cumberland Gap coal ------ ____ ...•.................... ___ ............... . 

Cranes Creek coal ........................................ -.... -. - . -. -..... . 

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CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 5 · 

GEOJ,OGV OF THE COALS-Continued. Page. 

Hance district-Continued. 

Coals-Continued. 

Puckett coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 

Hance coals............................................................... 123 

Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 

.Structure ........ ."........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 130 

Lower Puckett district................................................................. 131 

Geography .................................................... :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 

Stratigraphy....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 

Coals ... : ... ,...................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 

Lee sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 133 

Hance formation .................. ___ .. ___ ............ __ .... _ .. ___ .... _....... 134 

Puckett coal............................................................... 134 

1\lingo formation. .. . . . . .. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. .. . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. .. . . . . . .. . .. .. .. . . . . .. 138 

Hance coal ...................... -----~--................................. 139 

Kellioka coal ...... _. ___ .... _ ... ____ .... _ ... _____ . _ . ___ ... __ ... _ . _. . . . . . . . 140 

Creech coaL .............................................. ~ .. __ ........... 141 

Catron formation-----------.................................................. 142 

Hignite formation............................................................ 143 

Summary ... !................................................................ 143 

Structure......................................................................... 143 

Wallins Creek district................................................................. 144 

Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 

Stratigraphy...................................................................... 145 

Coals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 

Mingo and Hance formations ............ ~..................................... 151 

Catron formation ................................................. __ .. ·......... 155 

Wall ins Creek coaL ............................... _ ... __ ... _ . _ . .. .. .. .. .. .. 155 

Hignite formation . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . • 157 

Suminary ........................................................... _ . .. . . . .. 157 

Structure ................. -........................................................ 157 

Harlan district ....................................................................... 158 

Geography .................................................... , __ ................ 158 

Stratigraphy .................... ·.. . . .. . . .. . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 

Coals .............................. __ .. ..... ...... ..... ......... .. . .... .... .... .. 162 

Hance formation.............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 

JVIingo formation ...................... ·.·...................................... ·163 

Harlan coal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 

Kellioka coal ................................ _ .......... : _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 

Creech('/) coal........................................................... 169 

Catron formation . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . 170 

Wallins Creek coal... .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. .. . .. . . . .. .. 170 

Summary..................................................................... 171 

Structure ........................................................................ _ 172 

Martins Fork district . .. .. . .. .. . .. . . .. . .. .. . . .. . . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 172 

Geography....................................................................... 172 

Stratigraphy...................................................................... 173 

Coals ....................... __ , ______ ............................................. 175 

Hance forn1ation .............................. _,_ ............................ ·. ,175 

Mingo formation.............................................................. 178 

Harlan coaL.............................................................. 178 

Kellioka coal .. .. .. . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . . .. .. . . • . .. 181 

Coal at top of Mingo formation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 
6 CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 

GEOLOGY OF THE COALS-Continued. Page. 

Martins Fork district-Continued. 

Coals-Continued. 

Catron formation - __ • ___ . ______________________ • ______ •. _______ . ____ . _. _. __ . _ _ 184 

Wallins Creek coaL ______ .. ____ • _ . __ . ______________ . _ _ . ___ .. ______ . ___ . _ _ 184 

Smith 11-foot coaL. ________ . ___________________ .__________________________ 186 

Summary __ ._. __ .•...... _____ . _____________________ . ____ . __ :__________________ 188 

Structure .•... _ . _ -. _ -. _ . -. ____ . __ . ____________ • ___ . ___ -- _________________ . ______ . _ 188 

Upper Puckett district .. _. ___________ . _____ . _______ . ___ -. _________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 189 

Geography .... ____ , _--.- _. _______________ .. __ -- __ . _ . ___ ·- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 189 

Stratigraphy ______________________________ . ______ . __ ... _._ .. _ .... _ ...... __ ........ 190 

Coals ....... _ ......... -....... _ .. _ ........ _ ...... _ ......... _ .................. _... 194 

Lee sandstone • __ . __ - __ .. ___ .. __ .......... __ .. _. _ ..... __ ................ ____ . _ 194 

Hance formation .. __ - __ .. __ ... ____ .. __ ......... ____ ...... __ .... _._ ........... __ 194 

Mingo formation .. ---.- __ ..................................... _................ 195 

Harlan coal _ ................ _ ......................... :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 

Kellioka coal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 

Coals at top of Mingo formation....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 

Catron formation .................................. _.......................... 202 

Wallins Creek coal ....... _ ................................. _ .... _ .. ~ .... _. 202 

Smith 11-foot coal ...................................... · ..... _ ......... _.. 203 

Correlation of coals .. ____ ................ ___ ..... _. _. _ ........... _ ........ _ 204 

Summary ........ ___ . _ ...... _ ...... _ ..... _. _ ... _ .................. _ ......... _ 205 

Structure .............. _ ................ _ ........ __ .. _ ....... _.... . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . 205 

Correlation of coals, by David White and George H. Ashley ........ _ ..... _._.......... 206 

Exploitation and development of coals .......•.••. _ .............. _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 

Chemical character _ .......................... _ .......... _ .... _... . . . .. .. . . . . . . .. 212 

Thickness ............... _ ........ _ .... _ .................. _ ............... _ . . . . .. . 220 

Development and mining methods ....................... _........................ 221 

Markets and transportation_ ............ __ ..................................... _.. 222 

MINERAL RESOURCES OTHER THAN COAL ....................... -..... . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . 223 

Oil and gas ...................... __ ......................... _ . . .. .. . . . . . . . .. . .. .. 223 

Building stone ................. _.................................................. 223 

Soils ..................... _ .............................. _ .... _ ..... __ .. _ . . . . . .. . . 224 

Clays .. _ ..... _ .......................... _ ............ _ ..... _ ....... _ ........... _. 224 

Metallic minerals _ ........... __ ............ _ ............ _. _... .. .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . 224 

WATER POWER---- ... ------- .... -... ---.- ..... --- ...... ---.- .. -- ...... -- .. -----.-.--- ... -- 225 

TIMBER.---- .. ------ .. -.- .. -...... -..... ------ .. -- .... -... -- ..... --- ....... -.. -.- .... ----· 225 

INDEX- ---- -.... -.. -.. -.. -.... --------.. -- .. -. ----.. -....... -.. - -. - -.. ------ - . -. ---..... - . 227 

PLATE I. Sketch map of Log Mountains mining district .......... _ ... _ .... _ ..... _ .. _......... 11 

II. Map showing position and relations of Cum berland Gap coal field................... 12 

III. A, Gradation of Cumberland River; B, Physiography of upper Wallins Creek Valley. 20 

IV. A, Physiography of lower Wallins Creek Valley; R, Characteristic bluff outcrop of 

Hance shale ............................... ----~- ...... __ ....... _.............. 22 

V. A and B, Benches resulting from differential weathering of shales and sandstones .. - 28 

VI. A and B, Outcrops of cliff-making sandstones _. ____ . __ ..... _. __ . ___ •............. - 30 

VII.· A and B, Outcrops of Cawood sandstone at type locality . __ . _. __ . _ ......... -..... ~- 34 

VIII. A and B, Outcrops of N aese sandstone at type locality •.. __ .. __ ........ --.... .. .. .. 36 

IX. A and B, Views illustrating structural positions of Lee sandstone in Cumberland 

Mountain _ ---------------- .... _ ........................................... ---- 46 

X. Sections of upper coals, Bennett Fork district. ___ ....... - _. _ .. _ .. -..• -- -.-. . . • . • • . . 56 

XL Columnar and coal sections, Bennett Fork district. .. _ .. .'. __ ... __ .... -.............. 68 
CONTENTS .A.ND ILLUSTRATIONS. 7 

Page. 

PLATE XII. Columnar sections, Stony Fork-Clear Creek district . ____ . ___ •. _______ .. -.---.- . - 82 

XIII. Coal sections, Stony Fork-Clear Creek district. _________ •• _ .. ___________ ... -.•.. - 84 

XIV. Sections of Poplar Lick coal, Stony Fork-Clear Creek district ___ •• ____ ..... -.. --. 96 

XV. Columnar and coal sections, Yellow Creek district_ .•• __________ • __ • ___ .• __ ... _. 110 

XVI. Columnar and coal sections, Hance district _____ . ___ • ____ • _____________ .-.... -.. 120 

XVII. A and B, Views of Hance coal at type locality _______ • _______ • _____ • ______ .. _... 126 

XVIII. Columnar and coal sections, Lower Puckett district ___________________ .. _ ..•. _... 130 

XIX. A and B, Views of coal in Lower Puckett district ____________ , _________ · ___ . __ .. _ i34 

XX. Sections of lower coals, Lower Puckett district. __________ • _______________ •. _. _ •. _ 136 

XXI. A and B, Views of coal in Pine Mountain ___ • ______________ . _______ .. ___ . __ ._.__ 138 

XXII. Columnar sections, Wallins Creek district. __ ._. _______ • ______ . __________ . __ .... _ 146 

XXIII. Coal.sections, Wallins Creek l:listrict _______________ • __________________________ • 152 

X:XIV. Columnar and coal sections, Harlan district. __ . ____________________________ . ___ , 158 

XXV. Sections of Harlan coal and columnar sections, Harlan district , __ ; _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 160 

XXVI. A and B, Openings on the Harlan coal.________________________________________ -162 

XXVII. Columnar and coal sections, Martins Fork district. ____ -·- ______ .•• _______________ 172 

XXVIII. Coal sections, Martins. Fork district __________________________________________ • _ 17 4 

XXIX. A and B, Views of coal in Martins Fork district. __________ .______________________ 176 

XXX. A and B, Views of coal in Martins Fork district. _______ .________________________ 178 

XXXI. Columnar sections, Upper Puckett district ____ ~ _____________________ • _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 190 

XXXII. Sections of coals above the Harlan coal, Upper Puckett district ______ . ____ ,. _ _ _ _ _ 192 

XXXIII. A and B, Kellioka and Harlan coal, Upper Puckett district . ____ . ____________ . _ _ _ 194 

XXXIV. Coal sections, Upper Puckett district ___________ . ____ . _________________________ . 196 

XXXV. A and B, Timber resources of upper Cuniberland Valley ______ .__________________ 216 

XXXVI. A and B, Lumbering in upper Cumberland Valley _______________ .. _____________ 218 

XXXVII. A and B, Mining methods in Black and Log mountains._.·. __ .___________________ 220 

XXXVIII. Map showing coal markets and transportation. _____ ._. __ . ____________ . _____ .____ 222 

XXXIX. A and B, Iron and coal at Middlesboro .. _ .. ______________ .. ____________________ 224 

XL. Economic map of part of the Cum berland Gap coal field __ . _ .!1 -f:. f) __ . ___ . _ In pocket. 

FIG. 1. Topographic profile across .Appalachian Highland .• ____________ . _________________ ••. _ 15 

2. Enlargement of part of profile shown in fig. L ___________ .. ________________________ . 15 

s. Profiles of Wallins Creek and Stony Fork of Yellow Creek. _______ .. ________ . __ .____ 21 

4. Stereogram of Wallins Creek Valley . _______________________ . ________ .. ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21 

5. Stereogram of Stony Fork Valley. ___________ . ____ . ___ . _____ • ______________ .________ 21 

6. Topographic cross sections of Middlesboro Plain ___ • ____________ . _. __________ • _ _ _ _ _ _ 24 

7. Sections showing theoretical and idealized stages in the formation of the Middlesboro 

Plain_ . ________________ . ______________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 25 

8. Generaliz~d columnar sections of Black and Log mountains. _______________________ . 31 

9. Columnar section of Lee and underlying formation at Big Creek Gap of Cumberland 

Mountains _________________ . _________ . __________ .. __ •• ___________________ . ______ • 35 

10. Sections showing 'structure of Cum berland Mountain. ____ . _________________ • ______ •• 48 

11. Structure of Rocky Face Mountain·-------···---··---------··--··---·····-····-··· 49 

12. Illustrative coal section and conventions used on columnar sections __ .. ___ • _ ••••••• _. 54 

13. Map of Harlan coal in Harlan, Martins Fork, and Upper Puckett districts .• _ ....... _. 164 

OUTLINE OF PAPER. 

Topoqraphy.-The field is bounded on the northwest by the long straight crest 

of Pine Mountain, on the southeast by the somewhat similar crest of Cumberland 

Mountain. Between these an irregular series of mountains with broken and 

irregular crests rises to a height of 3,400 feet above tide, or over 2,000 feet above 

the main drainage line of the basin. The main streams have developed some bottom 

land, but the ~:>maHer tributaries are generally flowing in narrow V -shaped canyons. 

The slopes are generally steep and heavily timbered. 

The elevation of this field varies from about 980 feet above tide at the point 

where the Cumberland River leaves the basin at Pineville Gap to over 3,400 feet 

above tide in the highest points in Black and Cumberland mountains. The drainage 

of most of the basin is entirely into the Cumberland River, either through the three 

forks, Poor, Clover, and Martins, which unite at Harlan to form the Cumberland 

River, or through the smaller tributaries of the Cumberland, of which '\Vallins, 

Puckett, Yell ow, and Clear creeks are the principal ones below the forks. 

Stratiqraphy.-The rocks exposed in this basin belong, as far as recognized, to 

the Pottsville group of the Pennsylvanian series (Coal Measures). They have a 

thickness of about 4,000 feet. The lower third of the rocks, which are below 

drainage in the center of the basin, are mainly sandstones. The upper two-thirds 

are shales and sandstone in about equal proportions. For the .convenience of 

mapping, the upper two-thirds have been divided into the following formations, 

the formation lines usually being drawn at the bottom of some important coal oi' 

at the top of some traceable sandstone: Bryson formation, Hignite formation, 

Catron formation, Mingo formation, Hance formation, and Lee formation. The Lee 

formation is believed. to correspond to the Lee as defined by Campbell and Keith. 

These formations and a number of the more important sandstone beds which have 

been named as memb'ers are shown on the map. 

Stnwture.-The geologic structure is that of a fiat-bottomed U-shaped trough 

or syncline. The axis of the syncline is almost parallel to the Cumberland Rivet;, 

and the rooks ri.se with low dips from either side of this axis nearly to the edges of 

the basin, where they are sharply upturned in Pine and Cumberland mountains. 

Transverse folding is very slight, except in the neighborhood of Middlesboro and 

Pineville, where a belt of faulting and crushing crosses the basin. The upturning of 

the strata along Pine Mountain is due to a major overthrust fault on the north side 

of the, mountain. The upturning in Cumberland Mountain is due to the fold on the 

east known as the Powell Valley anticline. Through the greater part of the bottom 

of the basin the dip does not average more than 100 feet to the mile. 

9 
10 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The coal.-The development of the coal is confined to the western part of the 

field studied, mainly to the west of Middlesboro, in Claiborne County, Tenn. In 

that part of the field exploration has shown thirteen coals of workable thickness and 

quality. Of these, eight coal beds at present are commercially mined. These vary 

in thickness from 4 to 6 feet. Nearly all of these beds have one or more partings. 

The coal of the eastern part of the field has been little tested, and knowledge of it is 

derived largely from natural exposures, a few small country banks, and a small 

number of facings. In the eastern part of the field, around Harlan, one coal with a 

thickness of about 4 feet has been shown to have an area of probably 100 square 

miles. Above this arc usually from one to three other coals, which are locally 

workable, and may be worked over a large area in that part of the district. Between 

the Harlan district and the Middlesboro district from one to three workable coals 

underlie most of the area. The Harlan coal as a rule is not as badly split up with 

partings as the coals above Middlesboro. In quality these coals compare weU with 

the Westmoreland gas coals of Pennsylvania. Some of the coals at Middlesboro are . 

successfully coked, and doubtless most of the coals of this area are of the same 

character. In percentage of moisture, ash, and sulphur these coals show a purity 

equal to probably the best of the Appalachian coals. · 

llxploitation and development.-Development in this region has been going on 

since about 1892, as previous to that time there were no railroad connections. Now 

the field is connected with Louisville and Cincinnati by the Cumberland Valley 

Branch of the Louisville and Nashville, and with Knoxville by the Southern Railway. 

The output has grown until it reaches from 600,000 to 1,000,000 tons a year. Its 

nearness to the iron-ore beds of Virginia and Tennessee has led to the establishment 

of a blast furnace at Middlesboro; and as a result of the cheapness of fuel and th'e 

presence of the raw material other industries have rapidly sprung up. The larger 

portion of this field is as yet without railroad connections, but present indications 

are that the Southern may soon build a branch road up the Cumberland River to 

Harlan, allowing the development of the eastern part of the field, while railroads 

now building will open up the portion of the field in Campbell County, Tenn., in 

1905 or immediately thereafter. 
SKETCH MAP OF LOG MOl!'NT..._'\IN MINING DISTRICT, 

showing the outcrop of the principal coal beds, the location of the mines, 

prospects, and outcrop,s, and l by the red lines) the structure of part of the basin . 

Note : Red contours show elevation of Poplar Lick coal above sea level ; interval 10 feet . 

Contour interval 20 feet 
GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF A PART OF THE 

CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD. KENTUCKY. 

By G. H. ASHLEY and L. C. GLENN. 

INTRODUC'I'ION. · 

LOCATION OF FIELD. 

The Cum berland Gap coal :field lies in Bell and Harlan counties, in the 

southeast corner of Kentucky and in Claiborne and Campbell counties, Tenn., 

and extends in a general northeast-southwest direction between Pine and 

Cumberland mountains from Fork Mountain on the southwest to the heads of 

Poor and Clover forks of Cumberland River on the northeast. As qe:fined in 

this paper, it has a total length of about 90 miles and a width of from 15 to 20 

miles. (See Pl. II.) 

In this paper is described only the central part of the basin, or the area 

lying between Log Mountains at the head of Yell ow Creek of Cum berland and 

.a nearly north-south line about 10 miles east of Harlan, and while the data 

presented will give an idea of the general stratigraphy and structure of the 

whole :field, they are not authoritative except within these limits. 

FIELD WORK. 

Field work for this report began July 1, 1902, and continued until September 

20, 1902. The field party consisted of G. H .. Ashley and L. C. Glenn, geologists; 

H. Nowell, topographic aid; G. C. Marsh, photographer; and, during August, 

T. W. Sprague, who took charge of the coal sampling. The geologic ~ork was 

planned so that Mr. Glenn gave especial attention to the stratigraphic and areal 

·geology, while Mr. Ashley obtained most of the data about the coals. It was 

intended at ·that time that M1... Glenn should write the. sections on stratigraphy, 

structure, and correlations, while Mr. Ashley wrote the sections on the general 

description, topography, general geology, and coal resources. After a small 

amount of preliminary work on the notes had been done by Messrs. Glenn and 

Ashley a change in plans made it necessary for the latter to prepare the whole 

report. The :field work showed the inadequacy of the old reconnaissance 

topographic map which had served as a base for the geologic work, and. it was 

decided to prepare new topographic maps of those quadrangles included m the 

11 
12 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

portion of the basin studied by the geologists, to be on the scale of 1 inch to the 

mile and to have 20-foot contours .. A large party was plaeed in the field, and 

an attempt was made to run at" least stadia lines up all st~·eams over half a mile 

long and along all the principal crests, making the work of unusually high grade 

for this type of country. · · 

The topographic work was in charge of Nathaniel Tyler, jr., who was assisted hy 

R. W. Berry, Will Ward Duffield, and C. E. Pearce. The ruggedness and densely 

wooded condition of the area rendered the work slower than had been anticipated, so 

that the allotment was exhausted before the portions of the quadrangles outside of 

the basin could be completed, or even all of the area in the basin that was studied 

geologically. Some work was done on the portion of the basin in the Log Mountain 

quadrangle west of the Middlesboro quadrangle, but not enough to make possible 

the preparation of a satisfactory topographic map. Accordingly, the data obtained 

by Mr. Nowell in 1902 and very valuable maps kindly furnished by the Louisville 

Property Company and the American: Association Incorporated have been combined 

with the data obtained in 1903 to make the sketch map of the Log Mountains district. 

ln a region as heavily timbered as this the topographic sketching must, to a 

large degree, be approximate only; so that a comparison of the locations and eleva 

tions of the coal outcrops on the maps, with the statements concerning the same in 

the text will be found in a few cases to show a disagreement. This i:; most noticeable 

where the locations and elevations of the coals have been determined instrumentally, 

either by stadia or transit, since the drawing of the map. In cases of such 

disagreement a compromise has often been necessary in showing· the location of a 

coal on the map, though usually the attempt was made to show its horizontal position 

rather than its position relative to the surface contours, as it is believed that such 

procedure would best meet the needs of the engineer in the field. 

In September, 1903, Mr. David White spent about ten days in this basin and 

colleeted fossils which not only forn1ed the basis of most of the correlations in the 

chapter on that subject, but in several cases assisted materially in correlating or 

differentiating coals at different points in the basin. During the topographic work 

in 1903, Mr. Sprague obtained samples at a number of additional openings and at a 

number of points omitted the preceding year. In some cases he had old openings 

reopened. For a month from September 20,1903, Mr. Ashley, accompanied by Mr. 

Sprague, .ij).ade a rapid reconnaissance trip over the basin, getting additional data 

and attempting to locate the lines of traverse run in the season of 1902. To have · 

done this fully would have meant almost an entire retracing of the first year's work, 

for which there was not time. 

While many favors were shown in all parts of the field, special acknowledgment 

is due to Mr. Robert Creech, who at different times spent several days piloting thPwriter to facings being made under his direytion, and to other points where valuable 

coal data were obtained; to Mr. T. Cairns, of the Louisville Property Company, ' 

who supplied maps and sections of the land and coals on the Louisville Property 

Company's lands; to Mr. J. H. Bartlett and Mr. J. C. Richardson of the American 

Association Incorporated, for :;imilar data concerning their lands, and to Mr. Charles 

Henry Davis, trustee of the Davis estate, who placed in our hands all of the large 

mass of information they possessed coneerning the area of that estate. Thanks 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GULF 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. II 

G 

0 

~Ar

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a under 

discussion 

Scal e 40 o eo 7o so go too miles 

MAP SHOWING POSITION AND RELATIONS OF CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 13 

are due to these and to the many others who gave freely of their time and information. Finally Mr. Sprague, in addition to the work mentioned above, .gathered a 

large amount of valuable geologic data, and to him is due in no small degree the 

accuracy and completeness of the report. 

This work was carried on in cooperation with the State of Kentucky, as 

represented by the curator of the State geological department, Mr. C. J. Norwood. 

Mr. Norwood determined the area to be surveyed and supplied approximately onehalf of the necessary funds. The work was done hy the United States Geological 

Survey in accordance with its usual method. 

The photographs from which the half-tone plates accompanying this report were 

made were kindly loaned by M1:. Charles Henry Davis. 

LITERATURE. 

The following· reports are those most frequently referred to: 

McCHEATH and d'INYILUERS. Resources o£ the Upper Cumberland Valley, 

southeastern Kentucky, and southwestern Virginia, tributary to the proposed 

Cumberland Valley extension of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Louisville, 

Ky., 1888. 

The area described in this paper includes that covered in 1902, but extends some distance farther 

to the northeast along the same synclinal basin. The paper gives detailed sections of the coals at a 

large number of points, and analyses of the coals from samples properly obtained. It has, therefore, 

been frequently referred to, especially for the analyses. Most of the coal sections given in the 

above-mentioned report were measured independently during the present work, and the figures 

correspond to such a degree as to give the highest confidence in the correctness of the sections 

that could not be found or measured. 

ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE INSPECTOR. OF MINES OF THJ<l STATE OF KENTUCKY. 

Especially the report for 1901-2, which repeats or abstracts most of the geologic data given in 

the preceding volumes. 

GEOLOGICAL SuRv:~<:Y OF KENTUCKY, Chemical Analyses, A, Parts I, II, Ill. 

J\'Iany analyses of coals of this field were obtained from these reports. All these analyses are 

of air·dried samples, and little is known of the method of obtaining samples. In some cases it is 

known that they were averaged. 

RFJPORT oF PRoF .• JoHN R. PROCTJ<JR, DIRECTOR oF GEoLoGICAL SuRVEY oF 

KENTUCKY, April 20, 1893. 

Mainly copies of sections and analyses of coals measured by Mr. R. C. Ballard Thruston, and 

by McCreath and d:Invilliers, in the report quoted above, in Bell and Harlan counties. 

A. R. CRANDALL. Reports to Log Mountain Coal, Coke, and Timber Company, ' 

American Association Incorporated, and Southern Land Improvement Company. 

Extracts of some of these reports have already been published in the rnine inspector's reports, 

especially those for 1893 and 1901-2. In other cases the full reports were kindly placed at our 

disposal by the companies to whom they were made. 

T. CAmNs, :MANAGEH OF THE Loursvn,LE PROPERTY CoMPANY (successors to 

Log Mountain Coal, Coke, and Timber Company). 

REPORT OF R. H. ELLIOTT oN LoG MouNTAIN CoKE, published by Log 

Mountain Coa], Coke, and Timber Company. 
14 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD; KENTUCKY. 

REPOHT OF MR. G. D. FITZHUGH TO THE SAME COMPANY. 

In addition to coals examined by the geologists of the party, and those described 

in the above reports, many coals were seen by the topogmphers in. 1903, or by 

the members of the party who visited selected openings and obtained properly 

averaged samples for analyses. On account of differences in barometric readings and 

·lack of full reports on the rocks immediately above and below, it was often difficult 

to assign such coals to their proper stratigraphic horizons. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

GENERAT .. PHYSIOGRAPHY. 

PHYSIOGRAPHIC RELATION. 

In order to understand the physiography of the Cumberland Gap area, it is 

necessary to consider briefly and in a broad way the physiography of the general 

region of which it is a part. The highland of the eastern United States lying 

between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the lowlands of the Mississippi Valley, 

known as the Appalachian province, may be subdivided into three well-marked 

physiographic divisions. On the east are the Appalachian Mountains, extending 

in irregular ranges from southern New York to central Alabama. West of these 

is the Appalachian Valley. It is 40 to 125 miles wide and is somewhat lower 

than the mountainous region on either side. It extends from the Coosa ValJey, 

in Georgia and Alabama, to the Lebanon Valley, in northeastern Pennsylvania. 

Near Middlesboro it is .known as the Great Valley of East Tennessee and Virginia. 

The third or western division, which includes the Middlesboro coal field, is a 

high upland which on the east is bordered by 'a regular and marked escarpment 

facing the Great Valley and on the west often merges into the lowlands through a 

belt of foothills. This division includes the Cumberland Plateau at the south and 

the Allegheny Mountains at the north. (See fig. 1.) 

FACTORS CONTROLLING PHYSIOGRAPHY. 

The factors controlling the physiography of this province are varying 

hardness of the rocks, the arched structure, and a series of broad earth 

movements. 

The different physiographic divisions are composed . of rocks of various 

degrees of hardness. The Appalachian Mountains contain hard rocks resisting 

weathering, while the Great Valley is underlain by many limestones which yield 

readily to erosion. The Allegheny Mountains and Cumberland Plateau consist 

mainly of the sandstones and accompanying shales of the Pennsylvanian series, 

the first of whieh yield but slowly to erosion. 

The Appalachian province represents the northwestern limb of a high arch 

into which the rocks of the eastern U nitcd States were thrown by mountainmaking forces. In the center of this arch the rocks are closely folded and 

faulted, but toward the west the folds and faults become less intense, and almost 

the ;ast of them are seen in Cumberland and Pine mountains. This arch and the 

minor folding has determined the position and elevation of the rocks, and thus 

their exposure to erosion. 
GENERAL PHYSIOGRAPHY. 15 

A third factor has been the series of broad earth movements by which the 

province was elevated at different times after it had been planed down by erosion 

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to a more or less even surface, or peneplain. Three such levels of erosion have 

been recognized by Hayes and Campbell in the southern Appalachians. Of these 

only the oldest and highest is represented in the Cumberland Gap coal field. 

41-No. 49-06--2 
16 CUMBERLAND GAP CO.AL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

This peneplain, of which the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee is a remnant, 

is thought to have been of late Cretaceous age. It was first called the Schooley 

peneplain, from Schooley Mountain, New .Te1~ey, and in Te,nnessee and Kentucky 

it h!1S been termed the Cumberland peneplain. Bel0w it another erosion level 

has been developed, which Mr. Campbell, in the London folio, called the Lexington 

peneplain. 

North of Pine Mountain all the hilltops. lie in the same plane and thus in 

a limited area rise to about the same elevation. Forty miles north of Pine 

Mountain they are about 1,500 feet above tide; to the south the elevation 

gradually increases until just north of Pine Mountain the divides have an altitude 

of over 2,400 feet. The plane of the hilltops passes just above Pine Mountain, but 

apparently not above the Black Mountains. (See fig. 2.) Evidently, then, the tops 

of the Black Mountain ridges and part at least of Cumberland Mountain remained 

above the Cumberland peneplain as unreduced residuals. No physiogi'aphic traces 

of the Cumberland peneplain were detected in the Black Mountains. 

From any point in the Log Mountains or Black Mountains 100 feet above 

the summit. of Pine Mountain, where an extensive view northward can be 

obtained, the line of the horizon is seen to he nearly as level as a plain; Pine 

Mountain, though now eroded until it has a sharp sawtooth crest, is quite level 

in general elevation. In the center of the Cumberland Gap basin the mountain 

tops show no signs of having lieen reduced to a peneplain, nor do they show 

benches or other evidence of partial reduction, such as might be expected. 

Figs. 1 and 2 arc cross sections from northwest to southeast through the 

Appalachian province, showing the three topographic divisions and the positions 

of the two peneplains. 

ALTITUDE OF THE APPALACHIAN PROVINCE. 

The southern Appalachian province has an altitude of about 500 feet at its 

borders and rises in an elongated dome eulminating in the crest of the Appalachian Mountains, which have a maximum elevation of over 6,600 feet in western 

North Carolina. The plateau division is 500 feet above sea at its southern edge 

and rises to over 2,500 feet in the Cumberland Gap area. 

DRAINAGE OF THE APPALACHIAN PROVINCE. 

In the northern part of the province the drainage is almost entirely to the 

Atlantic; farther south it is westward to the Ohio by the New or Kanawha 

River, which flows through the Cumberland Plateau. Still farther south the 

drainage of the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains is eastward to the 

Atlantic .. A part of the Cumberland Plateau is drained by the Cumberland, 

Kentucky, and other rivers, which flow into the Ohio. The Great. Valley for 

some distance south of New River is drai~ed southward by the Tennessee River, 

which leaves the valley at Chattanooga and cuts its way through the plateau 

northwestward to the Ohio. The southern end of the Great Valley is drained 

southward by the Coosa River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. 
DRAINAGE OF THE APPALACHIAN PROVINyE. 17 

ORIGIK OF DRAINAGE." 

There is room here for only the barest mention of this subject, which is of 

special interest because of its relation to the origin of the water gap at Pineville 

and other features in the Cumberland Gap area. ·whatever .the original direction 

of the drainage that developed after the great uplift of the Appalachian 

province, it ·seems probable that before the end of the long period of erosion 

resulting in the Cumberland peneplain the central part of the Appalachian 

province was drained northwestward toward the Ohio Valley. It has been 

thought that New River and many of the eastern tributaries of the Tennessee 

are parts of the old drainage system that have persisted. It has been suggested 

that a stream, of which the .French Broad River of W\'lStern North Carolina may 

have been one of the head tributaries, rose in the eastern Appalachian Mountains 

and flowed northwestward toward the Ohio, crossing the eastern part of what is 

now the Cumberland Plateau in the vicinity of Pineville. After the uplift of 

this province this northwestward drainage persisted for a time and the streams 

cut their channels through the hard beds .of sandstone which ran transverse to 

their courses. At the time of that uplift the land sloped as a more or less 

irregular plain from the western face of the Appalachian Mountains toward the 

Ohio Valley. The Appalachian Valley and the smaller valleys, such as the 

Cumberland Valley above Pineville had not been eroded. In· thi:s way a notch 

was cut in 'the sandstones of Pine Mountain, and probably another one across the 

Cumberland Mountains, possibly at Cumberland Gap. These notches were first 

parts of the continuous river ehannel. That a main line of drainage crossed here 

for some time is strongly suggested by the fact that from Cumberland Gap to 

Pineville the mountains for several miles on either side of this line have been 

reduced to elevations of about 2,000 feet or less above tide-that is, 500 feet or 

more below the level of the peneplain. A similar reduction occurs north of 

Pine Mountain. As the uplift seems to have been less at the southern end and 

along the northwest side of the province, the streams flowing southward into the 

Gulf of Mexico were brought into competition for the drainage west of the 

Appalachian Mountains with the northwestward-flowing streams already in possession. The Gulf streams had two ad vantages over the others, (1) shorter courses, 

which gave them steeper gradient and greater eroding pow'er, and (2) the fact 

that they could work back along the outcrops of the easily eroded limestones 

without being retarded by having to cut through hard sandstones. The result 

was that the Coosa gradually eroded its channel through the belt of limestones, 

cutting out what is now the Great Valley and beheading the northwestwardflowing streams one after another until the drainage of all the western flank 

of the Appalachian Mountains nearly or quite to the New River had been 

turned to the Gulf of Mexico direct. Later land movements below Chattanooga. 

raised a barrier across the course of t.his southward drainage and ponded the 

aThe discussion of certain features of the relief of this basin is made more complete than is usually the case· 

in an economic paper. This is because it is no~ uncertain when the topographic surveys will be completed so as to· 

allow the preparation and publication of the geologic folios. The matter could not well be presented in separate form 

or in the geological journals without considerable expense in republication of the maps. 
18 CJJMBERLAND GAP COAL E'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

upper waters. This gave one o£ the old westward-flowing streams time to cut 

down its channel across the plateau and to tap the drainage waters o£ the Great 

Valley and to divert them to the Mississippi or to the Ohio. In so doing the 

diverting stream may have regained most o£ its old head streams as well as all 

the drainage captur.ed by the stream that had flowed to the Gulf. The two 

became the Tennessee River o£ to-day. Meanwhile the pre-Cumberland River, 

below where it crossed the Cumberland Mountain, continued to deepen its channel into the raised surface of the plateau, though its energy was less because it 

had lost its headwaters. Gradually its transverse tributaries cut long northeastsouthwest valleys in the more easily erodible shales, and, being able to more than 

keep pace with the main stream in its slow cutting· across the hard conglomemte 

at Pineville, widened their valleys and finally a side tributary from the northeast 

became the trunk stream. This stream runs in a comparatively broad, flat valley, 

while the modified river is still slowly lowering its channel through the conglomerate which forms the long sharp ridge o£ Pine Mountain. · 

T_,OCAT_, PHYSIOGRAPHY. 

SUMMIT TOPOGRAPHY. 

The Cumberland Gap coal field lies entirely in the Cumberland Plateau, 

being bordered on the east by the escarpment, which limits the plateau in that 

direction. On the northwest it is also bounded by a topographic feature o£ as 

great ot· greater regularity, the long straight ridge known as Pine Mountain. 

This ridge was formed by the upturning o£ the massive basal sandstone in connection with Pine Mountain fault. PiQ.e Mountain seems to have been nearly 

or quite reduced to the level of the Cumberland peneplain .. Parts of Cumberland Mountain also seem to have been n~duced to the level of the peneplain, while 

other parts, as the "Butts of the White· Rocks," where the summit reaches an 

elevation of over 3,400 feet, prob!tbly escaped reduetion. All the higher parts of 

Black Moun.tains seem to have remained unreduced. 

Erosion has worn down the tops of the Black Mountain~ until they have usually 

only narrow, irrcgnlat: crests, some hard sandstone sometimes tending to produee a 

ce:rtain uniformity in the higher parts of a ridge for a short distance. The cross . 

profiles of these cres-ts are in the main those common to areas of horizontal rocks in 

which the drainage is thoroughly adjusted-that is, the crests are of such a shape 

that the streams flowing in either direction have equal erosive power, and therefore 

tend simply to lower them rather than to push them one way or the other. Notable 

.exceptions a1·e those ridges, as Pine and Cumberland mountains, which are due to 

the upturning of the hard sandstone. In the Cumberland Mountain the streamR on 

the e~carpment face have a great advantage and the crest is gradually being 

moved toward the northwest.. It is quite possible that the divides at some o£ the 

low gaps are shifting in such a. way that future stream adjustments will occur. 

For instance, it seems probable that Brownies Creek will ultimately tap Martins 

Fork and divert its headwaters. Still more remotely it seems possible that 

Falling Water Creek, whieh flows through Falling Water Gap, may cut down 

the divide and tap the headwaters of both Martins Fork of. Cumberland and 
SUMMIT TOPOGRAPHY. - 19 

Brownies Creek. Th!lre is also a possibility of considerable shifting of the 

divides in the low gaps at the heads of some of the other streams flowing close 

to the feet of Pine and Cumberland mountains. 

In the area under consideration the outer slopes of Pine and Cumberland 

mountains are almost everywhere even and steep. On Pine Mountain massive 

beds of sandstone jut out at high· angles, and the weathering away of the softer 

underlying stratum often produces extensive "rockhouses. '' In the Cumberland 

Mountain in places the sandstone outcrop is so nea,rly vertical· 'that some layers 

project high in the air and produce the so-called ''castle::;." On Pine and Cum her land 

mountains the inner slope varies according· to the dip of the rocks. In some places 

it is very steep or sometimes nearly vertical for several hundred feet, at others it 

is broad and comparatively' gentle, or, as in the ·case of Cumberland Mountain, is 

fi l'St abrupt· and then ri::les very gently to the summit, conforming closely to the 

structure of the sandstone bed. . (See Pl. IX, B.) 

Rocky Face Mountain strongly resembles Pine Mountain in topography and 

structure, but has, if anything, more abrupt faces and a shat·per crest. Along the· 

bedding face the slope is from 60° to 85° over a large area near the top, while 

along the fault face are many cliffs. 

There it3 a very constant and noticeable difference in the crest::; east and west 

of Middlesboro. (Sec pp. 20-23.) East of Middlesboro the Black Mountains 

generally have very narrow and irregular crests, especially where streams head up 

against the ridge, the angle of slope from the crest commonly being as high as 

45° and the crest itself barely wide enough for a trail. · In the Log Mountains 

wet3t of Middlesboro, on the other hand, the angle of slope is seldom as high as 45°' 

and is generally under 30° at the heads of the streams, while the. crest is often 

broad and rounded. 

The present shapes of Pine, Rocky Face, and Cumberland mountains are due: 

to the hard sandl:ltones and conglomemtes whose position was determined by the 

movements resulting in the folding and faplting of the Appalachian province. 

(Sec pp. 46-50.) Attention may be callpd here, however, to a few additional 

physiographic features depending on the structure. It has been sugget5ted that. 

the stream which began the notching that resulted in Pineville Gap may also have 

<cut a notch in Cumberland Mountain at Cumberland Gap. At Cumberland Gap· 

is a fault, with appar~ntly a large horizontal movement. It has long been 

recognized ~hat such faults produce belts of weakness a:long which weathering 

and erosion act rapidly, and Cumberland .Gap may b~ due to weathering and 

erosion along the fault line. It may have been due to this alone, or if the 

hypothesis in regard to the early history of the Cumberland is correct, the same 

weakness may .have cau1:>ed the early drainage to cross at this place, so that the gap 

may have been the result of weathering and stream erosion. A third factor, while 

probably not dominant, may have had some influence. Just west of the gap the 

sandstone breaks down readily into sand. and gravel, due apparently to a weakness 

• in the cement. This softness does not seem to be associated with or to be due 

to the fault, as along the fault line the sandstones. are changed to quartzites or 

breccias. On the whole it seems probable that the fati.lt has been the dominant 

factor in determining the location of Cttmberland Gap. Attention may also be 
20 CU~BERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

called here to the fact that between Cumberland Gap and Chadwell Gap the 

Cumberland scarp lies well to the northwest of its line of general trend. Along 

this stretch the longitudinal valleys at the north foot of the mountain are also 

thrown well to the north. As shown in the section on structure, this position of 

the mountain is associated with the differential yielding to the southeast-northwest 

stresses that produced the Cumberland Gap fault, probably the Rocky Face fault, 

.and the close folding around Middlesboro. 

VALLEY TOPOGRAPHY. 

With some exceptions to be noted later, the topography of the valleys of the 

Cumberland Gap region is uniformly of two types-one found east and the other 

west of a line from Pineville to Cumberland Gap. The drainage of the area 

mapped leaves this basin at the gap at Pineville, where the stream ha:s cut through 

the re:,;istant sandstones and conglomerates forming Pine Mountain; above Pineville 

the valley;; are mainly cut through shales or comparatively thin sandstones. As a 

result the streams of the main valleys east of the gap at Pineville are able not only 

to grade their channels down to where vertical cutting became nominal, hut also to 

erode sidewise so a;; to widen their valleys or to build up flood plains of often considerable extent. .Above the level of thi;; gradient, the streams and their tributaries · 

are actively cutting down their channels and the ,valleys as a rule are narrowly 

V -shaped. The accompanying figures. showing proille and cross sections of one of 

the str~eams will gi,·e a good idea of this type. These streams are poorly adapted 

to the purpose of supplying water power, mo8t of the fall coming immediately 

at the head where the volume is small. Two exceptions to this type of valley 

are the headwaters of Martins and Shillaly forks. Both of these rise on Cumberland Mountain where its summit is composed of nearly horizontal beds, and 

:flow for some distance parallel to its crest. Shillaly Fork has only partly 

trenched into the sandstones of the summit of the mountain, when, having gained 

some volume, it turns and escapes through a gap along a fault to the valley of 

Clear Fork of Yellow Creek, descending through the gap in a comparatively· 

short distance over 1,000 feet. The fall of Martins Fork is more regular and is 

O.istributed over several miles. 

West of Middlesboro, with exception of the broad, plain about the city, the 

streams have little or no bottom land. They fall rapidly in their lower courses, 

and in their upper courses often have not a much steeper gradient than in .the 

lower ones. This is showQ in the nccompanying profile and cross sections (figs. 

3 to 5). For the sake of the comparison the two profiles from the two districts have been placed together. The valley type found east of Middlesboro 

tends to render the lower coals accessible over a longer line and makes approach 

by rail easy, but cuts out no small area of those coals. The type found west 

of Middlesboro tends to preserve larger bodies of the lower coals, but leaves a 

larger portion of them below the immediate drainage and renders approach to 

any of the coals by railroad difficult on account of the high grades and narrow 

valley bottoms. 

The amount of the fall of Cumberland River from Harlan to Pineville makes 

it evident that Pine Mountain is not the only check to the downcutting of the 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. Il l 

A. GRADATION OF CUMBERLAND RI VER. 

Rocky R1ffl e, about 3 mi les above th: mouth of Ha nce Creek, where river flows ov€'r outcrop of hard sandstone. There may be a fall of several feet in a 

quarter of a mile at such a place, and above will usually come a graded stretch with a broad vall ey. 

B . PHYSIOGRAPHY OF U PPER WALLINS CREEK VALLEY, 

View down Wallins Creek from just above the mouth of Long Branch, which shows the beginning of the bottom lands and about the highest point to 

which a road or a switch can be built without heavy grades. 
VALLEY TOPOGRAPHY. 21 

nver. 

'is less 

5 to 7 

Thus from the mouth of Yell ow Creek down to Pine Mountain the gradient 

than 3 feet to the mile; between Yellow and Puckett creeks it is from 

feet to the mile; for several miles from a 1ittle below Puckett Creek it is 

w 

J 

n:r.r 

'Z.OOO 

< 1500 

g 

~ 

jiOOO 

~ 

~ 

w sao > 

HORLZ.C)NTAL. ~CAL£. 

'-----'4"'oo""o'--' __,e""oo"'o-----"o<"'oo""o'----'-''•coooo feet 

FIG. 3.-Profiles of Wallins Creek and Stony Fork ol Yellow Creek. 

again about 3 feet to the mile; from near Saylor Creek to Harlan it varies from 

4 to 10 feet to the mile. Between Harlan and Cawood the fall of Martins Fork 

runs from 4 to 15 feet per mile; between Cawood and Smith post-office, on the 

other hand, it is reduced to fro~ 4 to 5 feet to the mile, being only 40 feet in 9 

Ele~~tion 

-feet 

3000 

2000 

e 

E.lev_ation 

•n 

Teet e 3000 

i!.OOO 

miles. Between Smith post-office and the mouth of Bull Branch the descent ranges 

from 20 to over 60 feet to the mile. Above Bull Branch the grade increases, 

seldom being less than 80 feet to the mile, and toward the head becoming over 

200 feet to the mile. Pl. III, A, shows one type of river gradation-a succession 

Elevation· 

in feet 

3000 

2000 

. 1100 

Horizontalsca1c 0 2000 4000 <>ooo feet 

FIG. 5.-Stereogram of Stony Fork Valley. 

1 Elevation 

in feet 

3009 

2000 

of rocky riffles. As a whole the river can not be said to be graded; that is, to 

have acquired such· a slope that its transporting and eroding powers are equal. 

In its long reaches, however, it has come to grade, as is evidenced by such 

broad bottoms or flood plains as are shown by the map. At no place was the 
22 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

river observed fiowi11g over a ledge of rock. Pl. III, A, gives a near view of a 

riffle at low water composed, as shown, of large to small masses of rock. In some· 

cases such riffles are evidently produced by the fall of rock from cliffs along the 

bank; at other points as here they would seem to result from the outcropping 

of a hard sandstone under the river bed. In some cases the existence of such 

riffles bas been taken' as evidence of the presence of an unseen rock sill at or 

just above that point. In places the Vll,lley is broad and open, as near Saylor 

Spur; in other places there is little or no fiat bottom land (Pl. III, A), the latter 

places usually coinciding with points where one of the massive sandstones outcrops 

just at drainage level. 

vV allins Creek and its tributaries are typical of the side valleys of the Black 

Mountains (Pis. III, B, and IV, A). The main creek as well as its tributaries 

head in amphitheater-like valleys, which are shaped like !111 inverted half cone 

with an angle of slope of about 45°: Starting from the narrow crest, the valleys 

descend often 500 feet in the same horizontal distance, sornetiines less. The little 

streams cut but a few feet into the slope. In the second 500 feet the streams 

fall almost as steeply as before, but the general slope, as determined by the 

interstream divides, becomes much less steep, until by the joining of the many 

branches of the head the dividing ridges are cut off rather dharpl,y. lu the next 

500 feet fall the slope becomes much less steep, averaging about 1 foot vertical 

fall for every 4 feet horizontal advance. At the beginning of the next 500 feet 

fall the descent become,., as shown in the fol'eground in Pl. Ill, B. The grade 

il-l still high, but is low enough to allow the deposition of some of the coarsest 

material brought down from above and the formation of flood plains of limited 

extent. Lumber roads can easily be built up to this point, and railroad switches 

can reach up to this level on the main creek without switchbacks, though not 

up the side branches. Starting at an elevation 3,100 or 3,200 feet above tide 

on 'Vallins Creek, the fourth 500-foot stretch will reach the region shown on 

Pl. IV, A. In the hst 500 feet the fall· decreases from over 200 to about 

30 feet to the mile. . The stream builds broad flood plains composed in the main 

of coarse gravel with a filling and cover of fine sediments. The lower courses of 

such a creek are graded, notwithstanding the steepness of the slope, for the side 

bmnches enter them with high grade (1 to 3 or 1 to 2 at the lowest), and thus 

keep them well supplied with coarse material, so that erosion is mainly lateral 

and much of the work of the stream is expended in distributing the material 

carried into it by the steep side hranche~-J. These side valleys, as already indieated, 

usually have no fiood~plain deposits or level bottom lands, but are sharply 

Y -shaped. In the case of Wnllins, Puckett, .Forrester, and smaller streams flowing 

into Cumberland River, the breadth and low grade of the main valley are prob~ 

ably due to the fact that for long distances the streams are cut out of the Hance 

shale, the structure being such as to allow the stream to follow the dip. 

In the region west of Middlesboro the streams run transverse to the dip or 

along the strike in a general way. They therefore erode in a shale bed but a 

short distance. before they cut down to an underlying sandstone the strueture 

keeps the thicker shales at such a low elevation that in the case of Bennett Fork 

"and Stony Fork the shales are only reached a short distance above the junction 
THE MIDDLEBORO PLAIN. 23 

of the two forks. The result has been to produce valleys with fairly uniform 

grade from head to mouth. Thus, Bennett Fork descends 500 feet from the gap 

at the head in a distance of 1 mile instead of one-tenth of a mile, as in the case of 

Wallins Creek, while a short distance above the mouth Bennett Fork has a 

fall of from 100 to 120 feet to the ~1ile, as contrasted with 30 feet to the mile 

in the case of Wallins Creek. As might be expected, -the amount of bottom land 

on those forks is very limited, and the valleys are still sharply V -shaped. This 

shape of valley ·means that pr0portionately less of the coal has been removed 

than in the case of the hills cut by valleys of the type of Wallins Creek, but on 

the other hand the low grade of the latter streams allows ready access to the 

. coal by· railroad branches. A comparison of the two types can best be seen in a 

graphic representation of their profiles as is given in fig. 3, p. 21. 

THE MIDDLESBORO PLAIN. 

The topography of the basin around Middlesboro i::.; unlike that in any other 

part. The salient features of the surface there are an open basin, a broad, nearly 

level plai~1, and a series of low bills. 

· The basin is approximately circular, being about 4 miles long from east to 

west and about 3t miles wide ·from north to south, and on the 1,300-foot contour has 

an area of about 10 or 12 square miles. Perhaps the next nearest approach to such 

a basin in this region is the open valley at "Skidmore's bottom" on Martins Fork 

above Harlan. This, however, has an area of probably less than one-half square 

mile, or ·lei3S than one-twentieth of the area of the Middlesboro basin. This basin 

at Middlesboro is surrounded on every side by mountains that rise from 

1,000 to 2,000 feet above · its level. About one-half the basin is occupied 

by a broad, irregular, nearly level plain. Acro8s this plain Yellow and Little 

Yellow creeks meander sli1ggishly, though through the town of Middlesboro 

Yell ow Creek is con.fincd to a straight, planked, artificial, lined channel. 

Low bills. surround or rise from this plain, ttnd an examination of the ·map 

shows thitt there is here a basin within a basin. These hills appear to be remnants of a higher base-level. They arc sublevel on top, rise abruptly from the 

plain, and in most cases are nearly or quite surrounded by it. The Belt Railroad on the south and the road which follows the old Belt Railroad grade on the 

north barely rise above an elevation of 1,160 feet, but inclose a majority of the 

hills mentioned, although their summits nearly all rise above 1,200 feet and in 

one case over 1,300 feet. In the area within the line or grade of the Belt Railroad about forty points reach an elevation of 1,200 feet, while about twelve 

poi~1ts have an altitude of 1,220 feet and only two points reach an elevation of 

1,240 feet. The constancy with which these bills rise to about 1,200 feet above 

tide suggests very strongly that a local and temporary base-level existed at about 

-that altitude. ·This may be called the Arthur Heights peneplain, from the name 

given to the summits of these hills just north of the business part of Middlesboro. 

Outside of the line of the Belt Railroad other points rise to 1,200 feet, but 

toward the north the tendency is for the hills to rise to from 1,220 to 1,260 

feet. In general the bills north of the latitude of Middlesboro are a little higher 

than th~se south of that line. The hills on the south barely reach the 1,200-foot 
24 CUMBERLAND (l.AP COAL FIELDl KENTUCKY. 

contour; to ·the north the summits are broader and occasionally reach 1,220 

feet, while one hill near the northernmost part of the railroad grade has an 

altitude of 1,240 feet. Evidently this hilltop surface is slightly warped. The 

hills appear to be made up almost entirely of shale with some coal and thin 

sandstones, and the rocks all dip at varied and high angles. The direction and 

amount of dip change radically from hill to hill or from point to point of the 

same hill. In places closely folded anticlines or synclines may ~e observed, and 

in one ease at least both limbs are perpendieular. The shales generally are 

greatly disturbed by folding and faulting. 

reef 

/SOO 

Fork 1400 Ridge 

1300 

/200 

/100 

reef 

/SOO 

1400 

/300 Fork 

!200 

Ridge 

/100 

reet 

1600 

/500 

i4oo 

1300 Min\lo 

1200 Mt. 

1100 

~ 

~ 

Middlesboro 

Cumberland 

~ 

~ 8 ~ ~ .B Arthur Heights::§ 

C/;1 Worcester Ave. ~ 

0 

Middlesboro ;:;J Plain Plain of 

~ Lick Fork 

0 

Horizontal scale 1 z'miles 

FIG. 6.-Topographic cross sections of Middlesboro Plain. 

Dark 

Ridge 

Dark 

.Ridge 

Sawmill 

Rid~e 

The lower plain is slightly lower at the eenter than at the sides and lower 

downstream than upstream. At the mouths of Bennett and Stony forks it appears 

to have been built up slightly. But these differenecs of level are so slight as 

not to remove the appearance of its having been formed in ponded waters. An 

examination of its c<;mtents, as exposed in road drains and stream cuttings, shows 

only a fine, sandy clay silt, with eoarser material as large as gravel at the sides or 

at the mouths of streams. The way many of the hills are surrounded on all sides 

by the plain, and rise from it like islands from a lake, eonfirms the impression that 

this area was at one time eroded to a level lower than that at which Yellow 

Creek now flows and that some action downstream raised the level of outflow, 

ponded the waters, and allowed the accumulation of the silt that now forms the 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. IV 

A. PHYSIOGRAPHY OF L OW ER WALLINS CR EEK VALLEY. 

The valley here rs wide and fertile. The Cumberland Valley, with P ine Mountain rising behind, shows in the distance. In the lower rrght-hand corner is 

seen the outcrop (here·thin) of the Cawood sandstone. 

B. CHARACTERISTIC B LUFF OUTCROP OF HAN C E SHALE. 

Crummres Creek opposrte the m0uth of Little Creek. Puckett Creek coal exposed at the foot of the bluff. Almost all of the lower ccurses of the streams are cut in these shales. 
THE MIDDLEBORO PLAIN. 25 

valley floor. That the difference between the former lower erosion level and the 

present drainage leycl is considerable is strongly suggested by the topographic 

features just described. While the town gets its water supply from Fern Lake, 

several wells have been sunk for the supply of commercial establishments. No 

accurate records or data could be obtained at any of these, but reports on good 

authority are that in at least one case a well 175 feet deep did not reach the 

bottom of the silt deposit. • 

It is said that water is found all over the flat land at a depth of about 4 feet, 

many of the wells being fron1 14 to 18 feet in depth. Mr. David G. Colson was 

·Middlesboro 

Fw. 7 .-Sections showing theoretical and idealized stage• in the formation of Middlcshoro Plain. 

able to force a pipe with a well point on it down 33 feet, where sand was struck, 

yielding an abundance of fine, cold water. Mr. W. H. Gildersleeve furnishes the 

following data in regard to the well at the tannery: 

"As near as I can find the well was put down 940 feet. Through. the first 

400 to 600 feet great difficulty was experienced by the sides caving in. This, I 

beli.eve, was caused by striking beds of quicksand between layers of· elay and 

soft shale or slate. After passing 500 to 600 feet sandstone was struck, varying 

in hard~ess, and at times pure white. 1 am told also that two or three beds of 

coal were struck, but I could not learn at what depth. I believe that drilling 

was stopped in a porous sandstone at the above-mentioned depth." 

It is now impossible to s!J,y how much of the caving through the first 400 to 

600 feet was due to the presence of alluvial unconsolidateq rock and how much 

to the presence of shales, which being crushed and broken and folded to high 

angles would be apt to cave. 
26 CUl\lBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUQKY. 

On the whole it seems safe to assume that there has been filling here to a 

depth of at least 30 or 40 feet; and, judging from the topogra:)hy and of reports 

of first wells drilled, of possibly 150 feet or more. 

Five questions are raised in attempting to account for the topographic features 

around Middlesboro: • 

(1) What conditions allowed the cutting out of the broad basin? 

(2) Did the cutting <?{ the upper gradation plain precede or follow the cutting 

of the lowest drainage lines? 

(3) What barrier prevented the downeutting of the basin below the upper 

gradation plain at tliat stage in the history of the basin? 

(4) What conditions caused the erosion of the valley below the present level? 

(5) What later change determined the level of outflow so that the waters 

were ponded and the basin filled to its present level? 

In regard to the. conditions that ~tllowed the cutting out of the broad basins, 

the rocks in this basin are predominatingly shales, which are folded, faulted, and 

crushed, and which, it is believed, are weak enough to allow the erosion of part 

or all of a basin such as this. Local subsidenee, as described beyond, may have 

been in part responsible. 

With respect to the relative ages of the upper gradation plain and the lowest 

drainage lines, the series of events may have been in accordance with one of two 

hypotheses. According to the first hypothesis, the sequence would have been as 

follows: (a) Erosion to lowest level; (b) elevation of outlet, Arthur Heights plain; 

(c) lowering of outlet to present 'level. According to the second hypothesis, the 

development would have been thus: (a) Erosion down to upper gradation or Arthur 

Heig·hts plain; (b) lowering of outlet to allo'v lowest erosion; (c)'elevation of outlet to present position. It would seem highly probable that if the deepest erosion 

level had been cut before the upper gradation plain was formed, benches of silt 

ot· gravel in sheltered positions should he found flanking the slopes between the 

present and higher plain levels. No such benches were seen'~ though it can not 

be asserted that they do not exist. Traces of gravel were found at a few points 

a little above the le,vel of the present or lower plain. Consicler·ing the completeness of degradation to the level of the upper plain the lack of benches seems to 

indicate that the erosion to the upper plain preceded the downcutting to the 

lowest erosion level. However, the answer to the third question so closely 

connects the upper and present gradation plains as to incline the writer to the 

belief that· the upper plain was formed after the cutting of the rock floor under 

the present plain. 

If the Arthur Heights plain stage were only a pause in the original downeutting 

of the valley, the barrier that prevented the downeutting of the basin below the 

upper gradation plain may have consisted of a hard layer of rock, which either 

was finally eroded through or prevented erosion' below it until a tributary of some 

other stream tapped this drainage and rapidly degraded the surface to a lower level. 

If the order of events given was in accordance with the first hypothesis, the same 

explanation may be given for the reduction of the local drainage level from the 

Arthur Heights plain to the lower present phtin. In that case it is possible that 

Yellow Creek 'may have originally flowed through the low gap just cast of 
THE l\IIDDLEBORO PLAIN. 27 

Moore Knob, now tunneled by the railroad. This- gap has at present an elevation of about 1,1"70 feet. A fork of Williams Creek may have·tapped it at the 

present mouth of Cannon Creek. The Yellow Creek road between the mouth of 

Clear Fork and Turnhole Branch leaves the lower valley and crosses an old col, 

containing alluvial sediment-. A mile' above its mouth Clear JTork is separated 

from Yellow Creek by a low, narrow divide that will be cut through in a 

comparatively short time. As the channel of Clear :Fork is at least 20 feet lower 

than that of Yell ow Creek, on the opposite side of the divide and but a few rods 

away, it is evident that when Yellow Creek cuts through the divide there will be 

formed a waterfall or rapid that will more or less rapidly move up the creek toward 

Middlesboro. Though this undercutting of the old level wm constantly decrease, its 

influence would certainly extend to Middlesboro, and the present plain there would 

be partly destroyed and a new one begun at a slightly lower le.vel. 

Another result of the cutting through of the narrow divide would be that the 

present channel of Yellow Creek between the narrow divide and the mouth of Clear 

Fork would be left as a col more or less similar to that now traversed by the 

road between the mouth of Clear Fork and Turnhole Branch. In view of this 

comparison it seems highly probable that Yell ow Creek at a comparatively recent 

date ran through the old col mentioned. At the same time Clear Fork and Cranes 

Creek were cutting a channel a little to the east of this and at ~L somewhat lower 

level, due to the fact that they were cutting in shale while the floor of the 

channel where the col is now iii hard sandstone. As a result of the eastward dip 

of the· rocks on the upthrown side of the Hocky Face fault the channel of 

Yellow Creek had a tendency to erode down the slope toward the east until it cut 

through the divide and emptied into the valley of Clear Fork. The result of this 

was the destruction of the Arthur Heights plain then existing at Middlesboro, 

and the starting of what finally became the present plain. The present channel 

of Yell ow Creek near the col is about 70 feet below the floor of the eol, and there 

is almost the same difference between the upper planation level at Middlesboro 

and the present plain. This seems to aecount for the t.wo planation levels at 

Middlesboro so satisfaetorily, and to connect tho.-::e levels together so closely, that 

the writer is led to accept the first hypothesis given above and to conclude that 

the low-level erosion preceded the formation of the upper level . and that the 

upper and present levels represent ' two stag·es in the general reduction of this 

basin after the period of uplift of the outlet level. 

It still remains to determine the conditions that· caused the low-level erosion 

and those that afterwards stopped that e:.-osion, ponded the waters, and allowed . 

the basin to be filled with silt to the present 1,200-foot level or above. The 

grade of the present channel of Yellow Creek below Middlesboro changes decidedly 

at the south end of Rocky Face Mountain, being eight-; times as steep below as 

a hove that point. 'Above that point the grade is only a ·trifle over 2 feet to the 

mile, and the stream is sluggish and meanders where the valley is wide enough. 

That it has not widened its valley more between Excelsior and Rocky Face 

Mountain is evidence of the youth of that part of the valley. It would seem 

evident that at present and probably for some time in the past the level of the 

upper valley of Yellow Creek has been determined by the hard sandstones upturned 
28 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

in Rocky Face Mountain. Whi~e rock was not seen in place in the oed of Yellow 

Creek at the south end of Rocky Face Mountain, there is strong evidence that it 

is present there below the loose rock forming the riffles. The valley at that pqint 

is very narrow, not over 200 :feet wide 40 feet above the low-water level. 

On the south bank a perpendicular cliff of sandstone rises from the water and 

on the north bank there is barely room for a wagon road between the 'cre_ek and 

a steep bank with massive outcrops of sandstone. The present fall of Yell ow 

Creek to this point from Middlesboro, 8.8 miles along the course of the stream, 

is 20 feet. Evidently if the erosion level at Middlesboro is lower than at this point 

either the rock at this point was lower than at present or the general elevation 

of the Middlesboro district was higher. If, as reported, wells at Middlesboro have 

gone 175 feet into the silt deposit without reaching the bottom, the altitude of the 

old erosion level must have been less than 965 feet above tide, or below the preseut 

level of the Pineville gap. Again the valley of Yellow Creek at and below Excelsior 

Mine is so very narrow that it hardly seems possible for it to have been eroded 

much below its present level and silted up.. If the filling at Middlesboro were 

only 30 or 40 feet, it might be as great in this valley, narrow as it is, but hardly 

greater. In that case the facts could be explained by assuming that along the 

Rocky Face Mountain fault the upthrown rocks on the east had received a recent 

and possibly final upthrust. Taking only the facts as they can be seen on the 

surface this seems to be the best explanation of the origin o:f the barrier that 

ponded the waters. 

If the reported depth of the deposit about .Middlesboro be accepted the problem 

becomes more difficult, for a differential movement of about 250 feet (to the upper 

planation plain) must be accounted for. ·It is evident that the lower erosion level 

can not be accounted for by supposing that the hard layers forming the rock sill at 

the Rocky Face Mountain fault were much lower, for were they entirely below the 

reach of the drainage lines the rock sill at Pine Mountain would have prevented the 

lowering of the valley at Middlesboro below l,OG0-1,100 feet, or at lmtst 100 feet less 

than is required. Nor docs it seem possible to assume that Pine Mountain at that 

time stood that much lower than at present, for without denying possible mov-ements 

along the Pine Mountain fault, the Cumberland Valley above Pine Mountain does 

not indicate movement of any such amount. And further, the narrowness of the 

valley near the Excelsior mine is decidedly agaim;t the valley at that point ever · 

having been 150 feet below its present level. It therefore seems necessary to ass~une 

that at the time Yell ow Creek was eutting out its deepest channel the rock beds about 

Middlesboro were from 125 to 250 feet higher than at present. The higher figure 

. may be accepted if it is assumed that the only subsequent movement was a sinking 

immediately around Middlesboro; the lower figure may be taken if it is assumed 

there has been uplift at Rocky Face Mountain while sinking was going on at 

Middlesboro. In either case it is almost certain thut there have been earth movements of some magnitude in this region, probably as late as the Pleistocene or late 

Tertiary. (See pp. 46-50.) 
U, S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. V 

A. BENCH OF CAWOOD SANDSTONE ON MARTINS FORK. 

A road runs on top 0f the outcrop of the sandstone fmming the bench upon which the farm buildings stand. 

B. BENCH RESULTING FROM DIFFERENTIAL W EATH E RING OF SHALE AND SANDSTON E. 

View of Cawood sandstone bench, looking south ac ross Poor Fork and Martms Fork, from near the junction. 
LOCAL PHYSTOGR.\.PRY. 29 

SLOPE TOPOGRAPHY. 

The greater part of the area dir-;cussed is occupied by the slopes between the 

narrow crests and the comparatively narrow valley bottoms. The general character 

of these r-;lopes is indicated on the topogTaphic map (Pl. XL). The slopes are 

long and fairly even. ·where the rocks are shaly or soft, benches occur just above 

th(~ outcrops of the more massive sandstones, anrl cliffl'l are produced where tho hard 

sandstones arc underlain by shale.. Charactcristie shale slopes are shown in Pl. V, B. 

Unle;-;s gullied after being farmed and abandoned, these slopes have a mantle of soil 

and humus produced by the weathering of the underlying rock.· This mantle slowly 

works its way downhill and prevents any observation of the underlying rocks, so 

that coal outcrops or even coal "blooms" or "smutr-;" are very seldom found on such 

slopes. Probably 99 per cent of the sloper-; are of this character. In many cases the 

divides between adjacent branches of a stream present the appearance of a long, 

sharp nose. Frequently the crest of the nose is so sharp that the detrital material 

slides down the two sides of the nose rather than down the crest, which exposes 

. in a more or less deeply weathered condition the rocks in the nose. In such places 

it is sometimes possible to obtain almost complete and continuous sections through 

vertical distances of 1,000 to 1,500 feet. The weathered outcrop often gives a 

wrong impression of the character of the stratum, so that rocks that in fresh 

exposures in a neighboring stream bed might be described as shaly sandstones, may 

on the nose appear as sandy shales. Along these noses the coals show only as thin 

black streaks or " blooms." 

Frequently -just above the outcrops of the more massive standstones arc more or 

less extensive benches· (Pl. V, A and B). Along the lower edge of such a bench 

the sandstone bed to which the bench is due is revealed by a cliff or a half-hidden 

rock exposure. In other cases where such exposures are far apart or can not be 

seen the bench may be taken as indicating the position of some sandstone whose 

elevation it is desired to know. If the smaller streams cross such sandstones there 

are broad, flat valleys above and narrow rocky gorges below the point where the 

stream cuts through the s;andstone. 

Cliff-making sandstones are of the highest value in tracing the coals and in working· out the cori·elations and structure of the area. Generally these cliffs are not 

over 10 to 20 feet high. Occasionally they can be clearly seen from the road in 

the bottom of the valley 250 feet below. If the hill should be timbered, as is 

maially the case, their presence and position could only be determined by climbing to 

them or by following them around the hill. Both methods were largely resorted to 

in tracing the sandstones. The cliffs are often not continuous. and there will be breaks 

ranging from fractions of a mile to ~13veral miles in length. On the other hand the 

cliffs may gain in prominence and continuity until the outcrop becomes a sheer wall 

the full thickness of the sandstone. On the long, sharp noses such sandstones often 

outcrop in cliffs that are crossed with much difficulty (Pl. VI, .A), or in the bed of a 

drain at the head of a stream they often produce waterfalls or cascades, though ' 

through most of the year there i:,; little or no water flowing over. In some cases the 

waterfalls, or the cliffs at the points of noses, are the only exposures a sandstone will 

make for many miles. In other case:,; the position of a sandstone is readily deter-
30 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

,mined, either by a line of large partly weathered bowlders along its outcrop, or more 

frequently by large masses of rock on the slope below its level of outcrop. The 

slopes below the more prominent cliffs arc usually strewn with large bowlders, slowly 

working their way down the hill. 

Another type of cliff is formed at the lower edge of the 3lopes, w4ere the side 

swinging of the streams crodeE! the underlying shales, as shown on Pl. IV, B. 

These slope features have been described in some detail and quite fully illustrated, 

as in a region like this, where measurable outcrops of the coals arc few and seattered, the coals can l;>e traced or the rocks of different districts correlated only by 

using all the features which will be of assistance in tracing the outcrops of prominent beds (usually sandstones) lying near the stratum being mapped. 

The long columnar sections given in the discussion of the coal were obtained 

along the creek beds and the long, sharp noses. Along the Htrcarn beds the roeks 

arc· either cleanly exposed or entirely covered. Near the heads of the ravines in the 

Black Mountains, where the streams frequently have a slope of more than 45°, the 

rocks are sometiines exposed cleanly and almost eontinuously for hundredR of feet 

vertically. In such sectiops, as a rule, coals may be measured to the fraction of an· 

inch. In the Black Mountains the bulk of the measurements of coals, except those 

on theHarlan coal, were obtained in the stream beds. Aiong the lower courses of 

the stl·eams the coals are sometimes exposed in the faees of the shale bluffs (Pl. 

IV, B). Most of the measurements of the Harian, the K ellioka, and the Puckett 

Creek coals were made at little country banks at which detailed sections of the coal 

are readily obtained and at which it is usually possible to see the character of the 

roof and under clay (Pl. XVII, B). 

DRAINAGE. 

The drainage of the portion of the Cumberland Gap coal field studied i:.; 

entirely by the Cumberland River. The possible origin of that drainage has already 

been described; The drainage as it exists to-day is sufficiently well shown by the 

map and needs no further description. It only remains to call attention to the influence 

of the structure on the drainage. In a general way the Cumhcriand Rivei· from 

Harlan to the mouth of Y el1ow Creek is flowing along the axis of the syncline or in 

the lowest part of the structural basin. Actually it is a little northwest of that line. 

The succession of long tributaries from the southeast, Williams, Hance, Puckett, 

Wallins, etc., are flowing down the slope o£ the rocks; in some cases the clip of .the 

rocks and the,grade of the streams being practically equal. Poor Fork and Clover 

Fork, in their lower courses at least, flow in the Hance shales as those shales rise in 

either limb of the Big Black Mountain syncline. Clear Creek, Poor Fork, Cranks 

Creek, Martins Fork from Cranks Creek to "The Narrows," Brownies. Creek 

and Cubage Creek, Clear Fork of Yell ow Creek, and Little Yell ow Cr~ek all flow 

in the shales immediately overlying the basal sandstone. Their courses are determined, in the main, by that shale which occupies a· narrow linear belt whose position is determined by the uplift of the Pine or Cumberland mountains. 

CUL'l'URE. 

Until within comparatively recent years this region has been entirely W·ithout 

railroad facilities, so that agriculture and lumbering have been the only industries. 
A. OUTCROP OF CLIFF-MAKING SANDSTONE, 

Typica l of the best development of sandstone cl1ffs along the crest of the mountain or around 

the end of the nose. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. VI 

B. OUTCROP OF MASSIVE SANDSTONE. 

It may make small c liffs or, as here, be represented by great bowlders that become detached and work 

their way down the slope. 
GENERAL GEOLOGY. 31 

Now the Southern Railway and the Louisville 

field. In a very few years the mining of 

and Nashville Railroad enter this 

coal commercially has sprung from ·nothing 

to nearly or quite a million tons a year. 

The reduction of iron ores is now carried 

on extensively at Middlesboro, and other 

enterpri~es are in successful operation. The 

flat valley lands are practically all under 

cultivation, and considering the steepness 

'" ~ 

Black 

~fOuntains 

z 

<£ 

r , fleynolds 

sandstone 

of the mountain slopes a surprisingly large 

area of such slopes is under cultivation. 

Bridges are almost entirely lacking, and 

most of the roads are but little suited to 

hauling produ{~e or merchandise; almost 

everything at present is tran~ported in z 

bags slung across the backs of horses or IE 

·~ mules. v 

GENERAL GEOLOGY. 

S'l'RATIGRAPIIY. 

GENERAL STATEMENT. 

0 

<!) 

z 

i 

Log 

l\:Iountains 

e 

Lick 

The outcropping rocks of the Cumberland Gap coal basin consist of shales, sandstones, clay:;, and coal beds. The only limestones found are a few layers of calcareous 

shales or sandstones in which a bed of <:ontiguous concretionary blocks is developed. 

No continuous limestone layer was seen, 

though a layer of black limestone is reported 

to occur high in the Black Mountains; a 

single float fragment of such a limestone 

was found. The shales and sandstones are 

about equally developed, though possibly 

sandstone predominateE. Sandstones predominate in the lower third or more of the 

section, and are abundant in beds of l_imited 

thiekness (20 to 100 feet) all through the 

upper two-thirds of the sections. In fig. 8 

are shown two generalized columnar sections which give·an idea of the composition 

of the upper two-thirds of the section ~nd 

serve as a basis for the division of it into 

formations. The lower part of the section 

is not only mainly sandstone, but contains 

FIG. B.-Generalized columnar sections of Black and 

Log mountuins. 

some fairly coarse conglomerate; it 

41-No. 49-06--3 
32 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

contains little coal, and in this region is usually below drainage or upturned at 

high angles in the enflanking mountains. 

A study of the 'fossils found indicates that all of the rocks of this basin are of 

the age of the Pottsville group of Pennsylvania. All the coals at present worked 

in the Log Mountain::l appear to be certainly of Pottsville age. The formation1 

in the lower part of the section appears to be the same as the Lee conglomerate 

of Campbell in adjacent regions to the north and northeast, and of Keith to the 

southwest. It is here called the Lee sandstone. The Lee is the lowest division 

of the Coal Measures, and none of the rocks below it outcrop within the 

Cumberland Gap coal basin unless they are exposed along the base of the 

fault scarp on the west side of Rocky Face Mountain. No such rocks were 

noted there, but they may occur above drainage level and lie bidden by the 

talus slope. These underlying formations are exposed on the north flank of 

Pine Mountain, where they are brought up by the Pine Mountain fault. 

Above the Lee occur about 2,300 feet of sandstones and shales in 

about equal proportion and more or less uniformly distributed through the 

column. It is, therefore, not possible to subdivide this part of the section into 

formations whose lithologic characters are eonstant, and are different from those 

of the formations above and below. Nevertheless, for convenience of discussion 

and for purposes of mapping, it has seemed best to divide this part of the 

section into formations along arbitrary lines, the lines used· being those that it 

was believed were traced over the whole area with some degree of certainty. In 

several cases these lines have been drawn at· the horizons of valuable coals. 

In addition to the formation lines it has been possible in several cases to trace 

cliff-making sandstones over considerable areas, and as these are often valuable 

in helping to locate the coals, they are mapped and described as members. 

In the table below are shown the relative position, thickness, and composition 

of the formations into which the rocks of this basin have been divided, as well as 

the position of the mapped coal8 and sandstone members. 
Formation. Symbol. 

DESCRIPTION 01<' FORMATIONS. 

Formations in the Cumberland Gap coal field. 

AvPrage 

thickness. 

Feet. 

J\Iembers and coals. 

33-

Bryson ......... Cb ....... . 200 

Hignite . . . . . . . . Chn .. ~ ... . 460 Red Spring coal at top overlying Red Spring sandstone; 

Reynolds sandstone 180 feet from bottom at east; Hignite 

coals at bottom at west. 

Catron ... _____ . Cc _ . _ ..... 300 Jesse sandstone at top at east; Smith 11-foot coal 100 feet 

from bottom at east; Klondike coal 50 to 125 feet from 

bottom at west; Wallins Creek coal at bottom at east; 

Poplar Lick coal at bottom at west. 

.:\lingo ..... __ . . . Cm _ . _ ... _ 950 

Hance .......... Ch ........ , 600 

Lee sandstone... Cle. ___ . _ _ _ 1, 200-

1:' ennington 

shale. 

Newman limestone. 

Chattanooga 

shale. 

3,600'1 

Cpn .. __ . _ ·1 100 

Cn ............. __ .. 

Dch. ______ ...... :. 

Sandstone Parting coal 160 to 250 feet from top at west; 

Puckett sandstone member 160 feet from top at east; 

Slaters sandstone member 300 feet from top at east; Creech 

coal 450 feet from top at east; Mingo coal 400 to 500 feet 

from top at west; Fork Ridge sandstone member 40 feet 

below Mingo coal at west; Kellioka coal 250 feet from 

bottom at east; Harlan coal at bottom at east; Hance coal 

at bottom at center; Bennett.Fork coal at bottom at west. 

Cawood sandstone 250 feet from the top; Yellow Creek sandstone 100 feet from bottom. 

DESCRIPTION OF FORMATIONS. 

L~~E FORMATION. 

This is the massive sandstone that forms the base of the Pottsville throughout 

the southern Appalachian province. As the Lee formation of this region has not 

been traced to connect with the same formation a;,; mapped by Mr. Campbell in 

the Estillville quadrangle to the northeast, or by Mr. Keith in the Maynardville 

quadrangle to the southwest, some uncertainty exists as to whether the upper and lower 

limits, as assigned here, agree with the limits given in the Estillville and Maynardville folios. Its upper limit has been taken as the top of the massive sandstone 

making up the Naese Cliff on the Cumberland River below the mouth of Brownies 

Creek. (See Pl. VIII, A.) Its lower. limit has likewise been in doubt. It has been 

taken as the top of the first thick shale below the conglomerate. At Cumberland 

Gap this shale, which has been correlated with the Pennington shale of Campbell, 

has a thickness of 100 feet, and is underlain immediately by the white Newman 

limestonet'l. As the Pennington shale has a thickness of 1,025 feet at Pennington 

Gap just east of the area here studied, there has been a remarkable thinning of the 

shale or els~ the lower sandstones between the conglomerate and shale belong in 

the Pennington shale. Even then the Pennington would be only 300 feet thick at 
34 CU~RERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Cumberland Gap arid 500 feet thick at Cup Gap. At Brierfield Gap calculation 

gave 1,375 feet as .the stratigraphic distance from the bottom of the conglomerate to 

the top of the Newman limestone. Doubt exists as to the continuity of the section 

there. On the almost perpendicular escarpment of Cumberland Mountain the 

following section is exposed below the Pinnacle: 

Secl'ion at Pinnacle above Cumberland Gap. 

Feet. 

Sandstone, coarse grained, and with scattered pebbles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

Sandstone, coarse conglomerate ................ c . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • • • • • • • • • • 40 

Sandstone, thin bedded to massive, hard, inedium grained, light brown ....... ,..... 20 

Sandstone, hard, crinkly ............................................... ~........ 60 

Shale, brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

Limestone, "Newman" (estimated) ............................................. 350 

Shale, black, Chattanooga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 

It has been assumed that the conglomeratic sandstone at the top of Pinnade 

belongs in the Coal Measures and is therefore a part of the Lee cong·lomerate. If 

that is so, the Pennington formation must be restricted to the strata between the 

limestone and the base of this conglomerate-a total interYal of 300 feet. It will 

require further study to determine whether the 180 feet of sandstone below the 

conglomerate belongs in the Lee or in the Pennington. A good section of part of 

the Lee formation can be obtained by combining the exposures on the road from 

Middlesboro to Cumberland Gap with the record of a drilling made at thebrewery 

at the foot of the bill. The total section iR as follows: 

Section of Lee formation on Cumberland Gazi road. 

Feet. 

Sandstone, shaly in places, more often massive, yellow (bottom of section) .. _ _ _ _ _ 90 

Shale, sandy, brown to dark blue on roa<l, "black" in well··------------------- 50 

Sandstone, shaly, gray, with thin interbedded layers of shale ........... _ .. ____ .. 100 

Shale, fissile, brown to dark blue ............................................... 10 

Coal, up to ................................................ ·----------------- 4 

Shale, similar to last .................................................. -------.- 15 

Sandstone, massive ..................................................... _______ 30 

Shale, fissile, dark blue .. __ ............................................... _.... 25 

Sandstone, ripple marked, pinkish and shaly ncar top, white, and more quarzitic 

toward bottom, generally massive ................................ __ .......... 100 

Coarse conglomerate, estimated by pacing .............. _ ... _.. . . . .. . .. . . . . . . .. . 480 

Coal, "Cumberland Gap," up to .............. _ .......... __ .................... 6 

Shale, brown and sandy.................................................. .. .. . 50 

Sandstone, hard, fine grained in saddle of gap and somewhat resembling quartzite. 80 

From the saddle to the point where the limestone h; exposed on the southwest side of the gap is a horizontal distance of 1,350 feet. As the rock in plaee 

is largely hidden it can not be asserted that it is sandstone or that the major 

part of it belongs in the Lee formation. As exposed on the road in the section 

just given, the Lee formation bas a thickness of 1,000 feet. All attempts to tic 

the lower part of this section with the section on the opposite side of the fault 

were unsuccessful. At Cup Gap it was estimated that the Newman limestone was 

stra~igraphically at least 1,500 feet below a hard, white sandstone that was thought 

to be in the Lee, and possibly to mark the top of the Lee. If there is subtracted 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. VII 

A. CAWOOD SANDST0NE JUST BELOW CAWOOD POST-OFFICE. 

B. OUTCROP OF CAWOOD SANDSTONE AT TYPE LOCALITY. 

Showing the weathering oi the sandstone, leaving honeycombed effect from which the name Bee rock is derived. 
DESCRIPTION OF FORMATIONS. 

from this 100 to 300 feet w'hich belong to the Pennington, there 

is left from 1,200 to 1,400 feet as the thickness of the Lee formation. At Brierfield Gap a section was made on the road from 

Hurst to Hagan. This section when platted gave an estimated 

thickness of 3, 700 feet between the top of the Lee and the top 

of the Newman limestone. In the road the dips were uniformly 

from 45° to 60°, so that at first sight it would seem as though 

this section could be relied upon to give· the actual thickness. 

As, however, vertical dips and· reverse dips were found only a 

little to one side of the line of the section, the possibility qf 

fauits occurring through the sectiori reduces the probability of 

the section being correct. On the whole, therefore, it may be 

considered that this formation in this area has a thickness of at 

least 1,000 feet, and possibly of 1,500 feet. Its top is formed 

of the Naese sandstone member which makes the prominent 

Naese Cliff on Cumberland River about 8 ·miles by the road 

above Pineville. (See Pl. VIII A, p. 3G.) This is the same 

sandstone that produces the wellcknown Seven Sisters, a short 

distance farther up the river. Near the Seven Sisters and on 

the lower part of Clear Creek it shows a thickness of considerably over 100 feet. As exposed along Cumberland Hiver the 

upper part of this top sandstone is inuch cross-bedded, though 

sometimes it shows no true bedding planes in a distance of 50 

feet or more. The bedding planes are variable in thickness 

within sho1;t distances, as though they were laid down in a 

region subjectto varying currents. Parts of these layers show 

considerable areas where the sandstone is full of clay pellets; in 

places apparently similar pellets have weathered ou~, leaving the 

rock in a honeycombed condition, so that the term "Bee rock" 

bas sometirt1es been applied locally to it. In places. the rock 

shows a marked tendency to exfoliatation, leaving the surface 

below of a bright buff color and in rounded outlines. The two 

coals at Cumberland Gap appear to be the same coals that are 

found at other points in the Pine and Cumberland mountains, 

suggesting that they may be rather persistent. If so, these coals 

may some day be of value ·in the center of the basin where they 

are not disturbed by the folding or faulting. The main mass of 

conglomerate is usually white on a fresh surface, and sometimes 

on weathered surfaces, though usually it runs from gray to 

brown. It is a coarse-grained saccbaroidal sandstone containing 

, many pebbles of white to milky translucent colors. These are 

usually oval and well rounded and range from one thirty-second 

of an inch or less up to about 1 inch in diameter. The majority of 

the pebbles are small in most of the exposures, averaging nearer 

the one thirty-second-inch limit than the 1 inch. In most expo05 

L..ee formation etc: 

sig Creek Gap 

By David White 

Lee formation 

Pennington 

share 

Newman 

Limestone 

Chattat'looga shale 

Rockwood 

for-mation 

FIG. 9.-Columnarsection 

of Lee and underlying 

· formation at Big Creek 

Gap of Cumberland 

Mountain (David 

White). 
36 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

surcs the pebbles appear to be more abundant and larger near the bottom of the 

conglomerate. Near the top of the conglomerate the pebbles are scattered thinly, 

usually in lines along the bedding, and generally in a pockety manner. Here the 

pebbles over one thirty-second of an inch in diameter may not make up one onehundredth part o£ the rock, while toward the bottom of the conglomerate in some 

layers probably nine-tenths of the pebbles are over one thirty-second of an inch. 

Some of the other sandstones of the Lee formation, while not conglomeratic, are 

coarse grained, white, and quartzitic, and from rock of this character it is possible 

that some building stone may be obtained. 

At Big Creek Gap, just sou'thwest of the area mapped, Cumberland Mountain 

is cut by Big Creek, and at this point Mr. David White obtained the following 

complete section of the Lee formation and the underlying formations: 

Section at Big Crrek Oap (jig. 9). 

Feet . .Rex coal _____________________________________ : ______________________________ _ 

Interval. ___ ~ ___ .. ____ .- _____ . __________________ - __ . _________ -. __ ... __________ _ 10 

Sandstone, thin bedded, and shale ______________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ 40 

Interval, hidden. ___ -·- .. ______ .. ________ . __________ .. ________________ ._. ________ 125 

Sandstone, possibly ''top of Lee formation," probably Yell ow Creek sandstone 

of this report. ___________________ . ________________________ ._________________ 70 

Interval, hidden ________________________ -_____________________________________ 40 

Shale, dark and fissile at center ________________________________ · _______ .. _ _ _ __ _ 70 

Sandstone, with some shale, probably with next representative of ''Naese" 

sandstone ______________ - ______ -- . ___ . -. _____ - - __ . _____ · __________ . ___ ... _ _ _ _ 70 

Sandstone ____ . ___ ..... __________ . - ___ . __________________ . _____________ . _____ _ 

Shale, plant remains. _______________ . _______________________________ . ______ -.-

Sandstone _____ . _. ____ ... _____________ . ______________________ . _ ... ___ . _______ _ 

Shales, dark, containing coal streak with invertebrates .... _. _ ........ ____ .... . 

so 

50 

10 

5 

Sandstone ...... __ .... _ .............. _. _ .. _. _. _- --- _ .. ____ .......... _ . _ .. _. ___ . 85 

Shales_ ........... __ .. _ .............. _. _ . _ ... _. _ ... _ . _ ... ___ .. _ .... _ ....... _ . . 10 

Concealed .................. _ .. _ ..... __ ... __ . __ . _. _ .......... __ .... __ ... _..... 10 

ShaleR, sandy . _ .. _ .......... ___ ....... . _ .... _ .. _. _. _ ....... ___ .. _____ ....... 65 

Sandstone, shaly ........ ___ · ......... _. _ .... __ . - . _ .............. _ . __ .. __ . _ .. _ . 25 

Sandstone, shaly ..... _. _ .- .. _ .. : .. __ ...... _ ... ______ . _ ... _ ... _·_ .......... ___ .. 32 

Concealed ....... __ .....• _. _ . _ .. __ ........ _ ..... _. __ . _ . _ .. _ ... _ . __ . _ ....... _.. 30 

Sandstone . __ . _ .... __ .. _ " ......... _ ....... __ ....... _ . _ - - ___ . _ - - ___ ...... _. -.. _ 38 

Conglomerate .... _ ... _ .. _ .... _ .... _,_ .......... _ ...... __ . __ . ___ ...... _ .. __ ._.. 67 

Shale, location of old drift on road, and showing coal 15 inches ..... _ .... __ . _ 35 

Sandstone, conglomeratic at bottom_ ... _._. ____ ._ ... ~ .......... ___ ... _ ........ _ 140 

Shale, containing coal 2 feet, and possible position of Cumberland Gap coal at 

Cum berland Gap ..... _ .. ____ ......... -.... _ .......... _ ...... -..... -.. _ . . . . . 1 0 

Sandstone ........... _ . ___ ... _ ...... -.... -.. - . _ ..... ___ . __ :. __ .. - . -.. -.... _ ... _ 5 

Shale, crushed and bituminous _ ... _ .... _ ...... ___ . ___ ... ____ . _ .... __ . _ .. __ .. _ 10 

Sandstone . _ ..... _ .. _ ........ -................ _ .... - __ ... ____ . -.. _ .. -.... _ . . . . 5-

~~~~~~:oet::t:h~i~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~ Sandstone . _____ .. ____ . ___ . ______ . __ ... ____ .. ____ . _____ . __ .... ____ . __ . _ ' __ . __ . B2 

~~:~e: _ ~~~~~~~~i-~~ t~~~s-::::::::::::::::::::::::: .: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 6 

Fire ·clay. __ .. _.-.-------------------------------------·-----------------------

Sandstone, greenish at bottom ( '' approximate base of Lee'') ....... _ .. _..... . . 155 

Sandstone ___ ............. _ ....................... __ .............. . • .. .. .. . .. . 60 

Shale, olive-green-------------········-····---------····.········--···---··---- 30 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 Pl. VIII 

.A. OUTCROP O F N AESE SAND STONE AT TYPE LOCA LITY. 

Naese Cl1ff, on C umberland River, a short distance above the mouth of Hance Creek, from which Naese sandstone receives its name . 

H. F OUR OF THE " SEVEN S ISTER S." 

A well-known locality on Cumbe rland River. Th ese are outcrops of Naese sandstone, which in t his field has been regarde d 

as the top bed of the Lee format ion . 
DESCRIPTION OF FORMATIONS. 37 

Feet. 

Concealed, possibly red shale ................................................ . 50 

Yellowish-green_ conglomerate ..................... _~ ......................... . 38 

Shales, green and red, .partly hidden : .................................. _ .... . 130 

Sandstone, greenish ................. ~ ............... _ . . . .......... _ ......... . 35 

flhale, greenish ......... ; .............. _ ...... _____ .. ___ . ____ . _______ . __ .. ___ _ 100 

Limestone ................. __ ........ _._ ........ _ .................. _ ......... . 20 

Shale, greenish . _ ........ __ . _ ................................ : .... _ .......... . 70 

Limestone. ___ ... ____ . __ ... _ .... _ ..... · ................ _ ............ _·_ ........ . 20 

Concealed . ____ .. ____ .. ___ .......................... _ ... : ...... _ ............. . 105 

Limestone ..... _ ....... _. _ .................................................. _ .. 290 

Concealed .. _ ...... _ ............................ _ .............. _ .. __ . _ .. _ ... __ 22 

Limestone, cherty ........................... -.- .............. _ .... _._._ ...... . HO 

Shale, greenish ......... _ ............. _ ...... __ .................... , ......... _ 6 

Limestone ................... ·_ ................................ _ ... _ .......... . 5 

Shale, red ............ __ ...... _ .... : ........................ _ ............... _. 22 

Shale, green ................................................................. . 20 

Shale, black, Devonian ....................................................... . 70 

. Shale, greenish, and hidden drift of iron-ore mine ..... _ .................. _ .. . 50 

According to this section, the total thickness of the Lee is l,Hl7 or 1,367 

feet, that of the Mississippian or "Lower Carboniferous" is 1,260 feet, and tl~at 

of the Devonian black shale is 70 feet. 

HANC'Fj FORMATION •. 

This formation is defined as extending from the top of the Naese sandstone 

member at its type locality to the bottom of the Lower Hance coal. It has a 

thickness of about 600 feet. Though it contains two prominent cliff-making sandstones, it is mainly shale. This formation forms most of the valley bottoms and the 

greater part of the shale bluffs along creeks all over the area. The shale that is so 

highly folded in the hills around Middlesboro is a part of this formation. A5 a coal 

producer the Hance is of minor importance. In the Middlesboro region there has 

been noted only one workable coal-the Turner coal-which occurs about 200 feet 

from the top of the formation, and is worked at the Turner mine on Lane Branch of 

Yellow Creek, just southwest of Middlesboro. In the Black Mountain district three 

coals in this formation reach a workable thickness locally. About 200 feet or a little 

less below the Harlan or Lower Hance coal is the Puckett Creek coal, so named· 

because numerous openings have been made on it all along Puckett Creek, in all 

cases within 150 feet of the bed of the stream. This coal is from 2 to 5 feet thick, 

but when thick it usually is broken up into benches that are so separated as to 

be unworkable. About 100 feet below the Puckett Creek coal at the western end of 

the mountains is the Cranes Creek coal. This is a solid coal whose thicknesi'l reaches 

a maximum of nearly 4: feet, but is usually less than 3 feet. About 100 feet from 

the bottom of the formation frequently occurs a coal carrying some cannel. At the 

mouth of Tetrys Fork of Wallins Creek this is of workable thickness. It is 

therefore called the Terrys Fork coal. 

Of the sandstones in this formation, one is largely below drainage while the other 

is probably the most persistent in the field; The latter is called the Cawood sandstone 

member from the exposures in the bluffs around Cawood post-office. It is there just 

above drainage level of Martins Fork and at least 80 feet thiek. Its tracing may in 
38 CUMBERLAND GAP CO.AL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

large part be due to the fact that iti3 position in the hills brings it close to the line of 

observation on the roads and trails along the stream valleys. It has been traced 

almost continuously along Martins, Clover, and Poor forks of Cumberland River. 

In most cases the cliffs are plainly visible from the roads up these forks and are 

'JO near together that there is little doubt as to the correlation. Numerous 

openings on the Harlan coal, 250 feet above, assist in the correlation at doubtful 

points. Between Harlan and Puckett Creek arc other sandstones which form bluffs 

that are nearly, if not quite, as prominent and which render the tracing of the 

sandstone more difficult. Over that area an attempt was made to follow the outcrop 

of the Cawood sandstone along the hillside. Even then the brea:ks where it does 

not outcrop are so many and often so long that it could not be traced with 

certainty from Harlan to Yell ow Creek. The sandt>tonc on Puckett Creek, into 

which it appeared to trace, becomes dominant from that point westward and can 

be traced without difficulty to Yell ow Creek and into the Middlesboro area. This 

sandstone came the nearest to being a key rock to which all the other formations 

could be referred with certainty. While it it> believed that it has been correctly 

traced, the degree of certainty is not all that might be hoped for. 

About 100 feet above the bottom of the formation is the top of a massive sandstone that makes prominent cliffs at the mouth of Yellow Creek and elsewhere 

throughout the field where it is above drainage. It is here called the "Yellow 

Creek sandstone member." This, as well as the Cawood sandstone above and 

Naese sandstone below, tend to weather out large cavities resembling a magnified 

honeycomb, so that the name "Bee" rock has been applied to each of these sandstones. (Sec Pl. VII, B.) 

MINGO FORMATION. 

This formation is named from Mingo Mountain, where in 1903 nine commercial 

mines were working coals from this formation. It includes the famous Mingo coal, 

the Sandstone Parting coal worked at several of the mines, and Bennett Fork coal 

worked at the Bennett Fork mine. In Mingo Mountain the. formation has a thickness of about 950 feet. This is divided by the coals mentioned about as follows: 

From the bottom of the Poplar Lick coal to the bottom of the Sandstone Parting 

· coal, 250 feet; from the bottom of the Sandstone Parting coal to the bottom of the 

Mingo coal, 250 feet; from the bottom of the Mingo coal to the bottom of the Lower 

Bennett Fork coal, 450 feet .. Northward, toward Pine Mountain, this formation 

decreases rapidly in thickiless. On Little Clear Creek the space from the bottom 

of the Poplar Lick coal to the bottom of the Mingo coal appears to have decreased 

to about 350 feet~210 feet from the bottom of the Poplar Lick to the Sandstone 

Parting coal and 140 feet f.rom the bottom of the latter to the Mingo coal. ()n 

Clear Creek the lower space remains the same, while the upper space is reduced to 

about 160 feet or less. The distance between the bottom of the Mingo coal and 

the Chenoa cannel coal, which is thought to oecupy about the position of the Bennett 

Fm~k coal of the Bennett Fork district, is 334 feet according to a drilling on Bear 

Creek. Such high dips are met with along the south side of Clear Creek that 

surface measurements between the coals arc apt to vary greatly and to be unreliable. This variation is seen in various reports made to the Louisville Property .J 
DESCRIPTION OF FORMATIONS. 39·' 

Company, as illustrated in the following table, where measurements by Mr. Glenn 

are added: 

Intervals between principal coals, Clear Creek. 

Coal. A. R. Crun-IR H Elliott I' G. D. Fitz- 0'1 11 T n Gl dall. . . • . hugh. ' we . '· '"· enn. 

----------;------- .F'eet. Feet. I Feet. Feet. Feet. 

Red Spring to Lower Hignite .............. ~... 450 380 .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 4.~0 

Lower Hignite to Poplar Liek............... ... 280 208 290 310 

Poplar Lick to Sandstone Parting (Buckeye 

Spring) ................................... : 

Sandstone Parting to 'Mingo (Mason?) ......... . 

Mingo to Chenoa cannel. ..................... . 

200 

130 

lHO 

157 

130 

405 

105 

130 

130 334 

210 

140 

(?) 

The Sandstone Parting coal is so named because it commonly shows a sandstone 

parting 1 or 2 inches thick. It is mined at the Nicholson, Yellow Creek, and 

Ralston No. 2 mines. In the Clear Creek region it has sometimes been called the 

Buckeye Spring coal. The Mingo coal is at present the coal principally mined 

on Bennett Fork. It is being mined at the Nicholson, Mingo No. 1 and No. 2, 

Fork Ridge, Reliance, and Bryson :Mountain mines, and has heen mined at Ralston 

No.1 mine. It is badly split at Yellow Creek and Ralston mines and appears to 

be thin and probably not workable over most of the Stony Fork-Clear Creek 

district: At the Bennett Fork mine the upper of two coals is being worked, the 

lower coal in that region coming 8 to 16 feet lmver. The Chenoa cannel coal is 

thought to come at about this horizon, this opinion being based on a coinparison 

-of intervals to the coals above and the top of the Lee sandt>tone below. 

Ciiff-making sandstones oceur at at least five horizons in the Mingo formation 

in the Log Mountains. One is found about halfway between the Poplar Lick eoal 

and Sandstone Parting coal; another occurs about the same distance below the 

Sandstone Parting coal. About 40 feet below the Mingo coal is the For~ Ridge 

sandstone, which makes the most prominent eliffs of any sandstone in the Log 

Mountains. It appears above drainage a little above the mouth of Puncheon 

Camp, or New Cabin Branch, and can be traced down Bennett Fork in almost 

continuous cliffs from a few feet to 50 feet high. It can be easily traced around 

into Stony Fork by occasional detached cliffs and bare outcrops in the beds of the 

branches. It passes ,under Stony Fork a little above the mouth of Coal, or 

Rockhouse, Branch. It is prominent on the north bank of the valley of Stony 

Fork, and is thought to have been recognized in the valley of Little Clear Creek. 

This sandstone and another cliff-making· sandstone about 100 feet lower were 

largely depended upon for the correlation of the stratigraphy of the Bennett Fork, 

Stony Fork, and Clear Fork fields. A fifth sandstone making minor cliffs occurs 

a little above the Bennett Fork coals. 

In the Black Mountaiq field the Mingo formation is defined as extending from 

the bottom of the Wallins Creek coal to the bottom of the Harlan coal, or Lower 

Hance coal of the western end of the Black Mountains. Its thickness averages 

about 950 feet, being less at the north nnd possibly more toward the south. In 
40 CUMBERLAND GAl' COAL FJELD, KENTUCKY. 

addition to the Harlan coal at the base it contains at lea:st two workable coals, 

probably more. Of these the Creech coal is thought to occupy about the same 

stratigraphic position as the Mingo coal, as it. occurs about 450 feet below the top 

of the formation. This coal was discovered in 1901, and knowledge of it was · 

derived almost entirely from facings made under the direction of Mr. Robert 

Creech in 1902. In Jackson Mountain, where faced by Mr. Creech, it shows as a 

uniform coal 3 feet 6 inches to 5 feet thick. That it has not been traced outside 

of that ridge is probably due to lack of exploitation. . About 250 feet above the 

H1rlan coal occurs the Kellioka coal, which gives a thick tot·tl section, but usually 

is much split up with partings. Other coals above and below this coal appear to 

be workable in places, and further exploration may prove them to maintain 

workable thickness over a considerable area. 

At the bottom of the formation occurs the Harlan coal, the most valuable coal 

yet discovered in the Black Mountains portion of the Cumberland Gap field. The 

low position of this coal in the hills has led to its being opened up for private or 

local use at a large number of places and at the same time has taken away the 

incentive to developing the coals higher in the hills. In general it may be tipoken 

of as a 4-foot coal, though it is often thicker. When much thicker, it is apt to 

show partings that render the top or bottom less workable, but the thickness of the 

worked coal in the main bench is about 4 feet, as before. This coal can be traced 

• around the valleys of the three forks of the Cumberland Riyer. It becomes thin in 

the immediate drainage of Cumberland River and has not been proved on Wallins, 

Forrester, and lower Puckett creekti. Between Puckett and Yellow creeks it is 

thought to correspond in position with the lower of two coal:,;, called there the 

Upper and Lower Hance coals. The Lower Hance coals are thought to be equivalent 

to the Bennett Pork coals of the Log Mountains district. The Upper Hance coal 

may correspond with a coal reported at several places as occurring about 30 feet 

above the Harlan coal, and as reaching a thickness of 3 feet locally. 

About 160 feet below the top of the Mingo formation occurs the Puckett 

sandstone, so named from ihe prominence of its outcrops around Puckett Creek; it 

is the sandstone making the so-called ''Big Cliffs" on Brownie:-; Ridge, characteristically seen just below the gap between the Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek and 

Blacksnake Branch of Brownies Creek. In places along the west side of Reynolds 

Mountain, as up Mudlick Branch, it makes vertical cliffs 100 feet high. This 

sandstone makes fairly prominent cliffs all through the mountains to the ca8t as far 

as studied, though in places along the upper waters of Martins Pork, the cliffs 

disappear and the place of the sandstone seems to be entirely taken by shale. 

On the other hand, in that region a sandstone makes prominent cliffs at nearly the 

same horizon and in the field watl correlated with the Puckett sandstone. Later 

study seemed to show that this sandstone is stratigraphically about 150 feet or more 

below the top of the Puckett sandstone, and on account of its making massive cliffs 

along Slater Fork of Catron Creek it has been called the Slater sandstone. The 

Creech coal occurs between two thick sandstones, the lower of which is thought to 

be the representative of the Fork Ridge sandstone of the Log Mountains. It differs 

from the Fork Ridge sandstone, however, in not being a cliff maker, and in lying 

close to the Creech coal. 
DESCRIPTION OF FORM.A.TICNS •. 41 

CATRON FORMATION. 

The Catron formation in the Log Mountains extends from the bottom of the 

Lower Hignite coal to the bottom of the Poplar Lick coal. In the Black Mountains 

it extends from the top of the Jesse sandstone mem her to the bottom of the 

Wallins Creek coal, as typically exposed in Coon 'Branch of Catron Creek. 'In the 

Log Mountains its thickness varies as follows: On Bennett Fork, about 400 feet; 

on Slickrock Branch of Stony Fork, 320 feet; on Martin Branch of Stony Fork, 

400 feet; on Stony Fork of Yell ow Creek, 320 feet; on ·Coal Branch of Stony 

Fork, 280 feet; on Hig·nite Creek, barometric measurement gave 460 feet, probably 

somewhat too high, as Mr. Justice of the Louisville Property Company gives 

226.25 feet as the measured interval between the two coals on this creek. This 

measurement is so much below the barometric measurements on this and adjacent 

creeks as to raise some question as to whether the measurements have been inade 

from the same coals. On Bean Fork Branch this formation has a thickness of 

360 feet; on Little Clear Creek, 300 feet; on Bear Creek, 280 feet.. These 

thicknesses are probably under ·rather than over the· actual thickness, as in most 

ct;ses the measurements were made across the dip, and there was a considerable 

horizontal interval between the upper and lower measurements. It therefore seems 

safe to assume that the formation is over 300 feet thick in the Log Mountains. 

A prominent cliff-making sandstone shows occasionally only a few feet below 

the top of the forrrmtion. In Bryson Mountain this sandstone makes some notable 

cliffs and is well exposed at most of the places visited in the Log Mountains. 

At the bottom of the formation occurs the Poplar Lick coal, so named by Mr. 

G. M. Sullivan, assistant to Mr. A. R. Crandall, from the place where it was first 

opened (location not known to the writer). This appears to be the most available 

coal in the Stony Fork-Clear Creek district. It is barely workable in the Bennett 

Fork district. Thirty-six to 125 feet above it occurs another coal-the Klondike 

coal, so named l:Jccause it is worked at the Klondike mine of the Ralston Coal 

Company on Bennett Fork. It reaches a good thickness on Mingo Moun.tain and 

is workable over much of the remainder of the Log Mountains. On Hignite Creek 

a 50-foot cliff is a pronounced feature about 40 feet above the Poplar Lick coal. 

In the Black Mountains the Catron· formation has a thickness of about 320 

feet, a number of measurements giving, substantially the same result. The Jesse 

sandstone member at its top is supposed to be equivalent to the sandstone just 

below the lower Hignite coal. The Jesse sandstone has a thickness of from 20 to 

70 feet. As previously described, it tends to be coarse grained, especially in its 

lower part. In many places the coarser grains arc pebbles of quartz, which have 

a diameter of about an eighth of an inch, and occasionally of a quarter of an inch .. 

In most places these pebbles occur only scatteringly and show best on weathered 

surfaces. The sandstone as a whole does not tend to make cliffs, though there are 

exceptions; in many cases its presence and position are indicated only by the 

fragments of gritty sandstone in the stream float or on the hillside. It was found 

in place at the northern end of Reynolds Mountain, and at most points visited on 

the flanks of that mountain, particularly at the head of Catron Creek; it occurs 

also on the ridge at the head of Jesse Creek, from which it has been named. • 
• 

I 

42 CUMBERLAND G.AP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The coarse-grained fac:ics was not noted in Potato Hill Ridge or at most of the 

places visited on Martins Fork Ridge. It shows poorly in Grays Knob and fairly 

well in Little and Big Black mountains. From 40 to 60 feet below it in many 

parts of the field occurs a sandstone that makes bold cliff-like exposures in the heads 

of many of the streams, notably so around the head of Wallins and Catron creeks. 

In places it shows a thickness of 80 feet, but a short distance away it may 

thin down to 10 or 20 feet. 

At the bottom of this formation occurs the Wallins Creek coal, and 100 to 120 

feet above the Smith 11-foot coal. These coals are supposed to be equivalent to 

the Poplar Lick and Klondike coals, respectively. The Wallins Creek coal is 

named from Wallins Creek, around the head of which it occurs, and near which 

several good measurements were obtained in Hobbs Branch, Trace Fork, and in 

Sang Branch. These all gave sections showing uniformly about St feet of coal. 

Somewhat similar coals from 6 to 11 feet thick were found at about the same 

elevation around the heads of Puckett, Forrester, and Catron creeks, and on Grays 

Knob, and were reported on Little Black Mountain. At first all these were assumed 

to be at one horizon. Mess'rs. McCreath ·and d'Invilliers, however, reported two 

coals on Grays Knob, the thickness of the lower of which was 9 feet, while that of 

the other was 13 feet 6 inches. The upper is said to have been "opened 90 feet 

vertically higher and immediately above the last-mentioned development." a 

No such development of two thick coals was found during the present survey 

either on Grays Knob or elsewhere. At a number of places, however, a coal 

between 3 and 4 feet thick was found either 150 feet above or 150 feet, more or less, 

below the thick coal. Then a study of the measurements showed that the distances 

from the thick coal at about this horizon to the first cliff-making sandstone is about 

160 or 320 feet. Evidently there were either two sandstones or two coals. Measurements from the Jesse sandstone to the sandstone below this thick coal gave either about 

500 or about 650 feet. These results demonstrated with considerable certainty 

the existence of two sandstones whose tops we1:e approximately. 150 feet apart, 

each be{ng dominant in part of the area, but one becoming thin where the other 

was dominant. They seemed to demonstrate also that while in some places, as on 

Lick Branch of Catron Creek, the 320-foot measurement from the big coal down 

to the underlying cliff-making sandstone was to the lower of these two sandstones, in other places, as at the old Granv.ille Smith place at the head of Puckett 

Creek, it was from the coal to the upper of these sandstones, indicating that there 

were two coals as well as two cliff-making sandstones below this coal. Further 

study and additional facts seemed to confirm this theory. In this report, therefore, it has been assumed that there are two coals in the Catron formation yielding locally 7 to 8 or more feet of coal. While the thickness of the lower of these, 

or Wallins Creek coal, is from 7 to 9 feet at a number of places widely scattered 

over this field, at other places it is less than 4 feet. Ninety to 160 feet above this 

there is assumed to be another sea·m, which usually yields only 3 to 4 feet of coal, 

but in a few places has a total thickness of 11 to 13 feet, as on Grays Knob and 

on the old Granville Smith place (now the Frost place), at the head of Puckett 

a McCreath and d'lnvilliers, p. 78 . 
DESCRIPTION OF FORMATIONS. 43 

Creek, This upper coal has, therefore, been called the "Granville Smith 11-foot 

coal;" or, shortly, the "Smith 11-foot coal," as it has become well known throughout the region by that name. 

HIGNITE FORMATION. 

The Hignite formation is named from Hignite Creek in the Log Mountains, 

where it is exposed. There it extends from the bottom of the lower Hignite 

coal to the top of the Red Spring coal. Barometrjc measurements on the space 

between these coals varied from 440 to 540 feet, a majorityof the measurements 

ranging from 440 to 480 feet. Measurements on Bryson Mountain by Mr. J. C. 

Richardson gave 440 feet; on Puncheon Camp Creek, 500 feet; on Martin Branch 

of Stony Fork, 480 feet; on Little Clear Creek, 540 feet; on Bean Fork Branch 

of Yellow Creek, 440 feet; on Bear Creek, 450 feet (the last four by Mr. A. 

1{. Crandall); on Hignite Creek, 440 to 540 feet. 

On Hignite Creek a coal partly faced up was taken to be what is generally 

known in the Log Mountains as the Red Spring coal. It is 5 feet or more thick 

and occurs immediately above a cliff-making sandstone. What is believed to be the 

same sandstone (called from its association with this coal the "Red .Spring sandstone member of the Hignite formation") was traced as a continuous cliff-making 

sandstone all along the summit of Log Mountains from Canada Peak to the head of 

Stony Fork. It makes an amphitheater-like wall at the head of the Middle Fork of 

Hignite Creek just below the level of the gap. At the bottom of the formation 

occur the two Hignite coals, 12 feet apart vertically. The upper one is well exposed 

in the bed of the creek, the· lower one in a facing. The bottom of the lower bed, 

here 3 feet 4 inches thick, forms the bottom of the Hignite formation in the Log 

Mountains. 

The Hignite formation is considered to be equivalent to the rocks that occur in 

the Black Mountains from the tops of the highest mountain down to the top of the 

Jesse sandstone. A comparison of spaces from below indicates that this sandstone 

is equivalent to a massive, often cliff-making sandstone that comes just a few feet 

below the lower Hignite coal of the Log Mountains. The Jesse sandstone in the 

Black Mountains is frequently characterized by a scattering of small pebbles whose 

diameter is seldom more t~an one-fourth inch and is usually about one-eighth inch. 

As such pebbles were found only near the mountain summits and at apparently the 

same distance above the top of the Lee, it was assumed that they occur at the same 

geneml horizon. This view was -strengthened by the occurrence of the massive 

Reynolds sandstone above it at a constant interval of about 180 feet, and of other 

traceable coals and sandstones below also at fairly constant intervals. The highest 

points of the Black Mountains are from 400 to a little over 500 feet above the top of 

the ,Jesse sandstone, so that, as previously suggested, they may reach the horizon of 

the Bryson formation. Few of the coals in this formation were found in the Black 

Mountains, and almost no measurements of the coal were obtained. The most · 

prominent member in that region is the Reynolds sandstone. It is the sandstone 

that is exposed in Hanging Rock of Reynolds Mountain and Pilot Rock of Little 

Black Mountain. It makes prominent pel'pendicular cliffs from 50 to 100 feet high 

along a considerable part of the crests of th~ Black Mountains. There are other 
• 

44 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

sandstones short distances above and below that in places make almost or quite as 

prominent cliffs, but in most places the cliffs made by the Reynolds sandstone are 

more conspicuous than those of the other sandstones within 200 to 300 feet 

above or below. 

BRYSON J<'ORMATION. 

This. formation occupies the higher tops of the Log Mountains. It may 

occur on one or two of the highest points in the Black Mountains, as Fox Knob 

in Potato Hill Ridge, and the higher points of Reynold:; Mountain, but it could 

not be recognized. It is named from Bry:;on Peak of the Log Mountains, where 

it is well exposed and where it ha,; been studied hettct· than elsewhere. While 

it contains one or two coals of workable thickness, such coals have too small an 

area to be considered profitable. This formation shows a thickness of about 200 

feet in most of the higher peak" along the erest of Log Mountains from Bryson 

Peak to the head of Hignite Creek. 

STRUCTURE . 

STRUCTURE OF THE APPALACHIAN PROVINCE. 

The Appalachian province is structurally a geanticline, whose axis follows the 

Appalachian Mountains. It seems probable that there have been successive 

uplifts, and that t~1e axis of movement was transferred northwestward in each 

case. The earlier movements may have been to the southeast of the present 

Appalachians, and the land surface thus formed may have furnished a large part 

of the material at present making up the sedimentary strata west of the Unaka 

or Great Smoky Mountains. From the Cambrian to the Carboniferous period, 

there appears to have been little folding, but at or before the close of the 

Carboniferous the rocks of the Appalachian province yielded to the strer-;::;es 

from the southeast and gave way to form the geanticline at present found there. 

At the cast occur highly disturbed igneous and metamorphic pre-Cambrian 

rock:-;. Remnants of the later overlying sediments have in many cases been 

enfolded with the metamorphosed rocks and thus preserved. But the great mass 

of the sedimentary rocks lies to the northwest. Those nearest to the Appalachians 

are the oldest, mainly Cambrian, and present numerou~ great faults and minor 

folds. Northwest, toward Cumberland Gap, the faults become less numerous, the 

folding is less intense, and rocks of later age predominate at the surface. This 

condition exists across most of the Great Valley. The dips there are almost always 

to the southeast. Toward the western edge of the Great Valley a broad anticline, 

sometimes broken with faults, is developed in the Cumberland Gap area. This is 

-known as the Powell Valley anticline. West of this is a broad syncline, a part of 

which is discussed in this paper. The western edge of this syneline rises to a 

·fault-the Pine Mountain fault. Northwest of Pine Mountain the strata lie nearly 

horizontally. They dip at a low angle in various directions, but in general toward 

the southeast. 
STRUCTURE. 45 

GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD. 

The Cumberland Gap coal field :,;tructnrally is a syncline lying between the Pine 

Mountain fault on the north or northwest and the Powell Valley anticline on the 

south. The axis of this synclipe lies north of the center of the basin, near, but . 

usually a iittlc south of, the Cumberland River. At the west the axis pas:,;es 

through the Log Mountains, between Clear Creek and Stony Fork. It is concealed 

in the fault belt between Pineville and Cumberland Gap. From the mouth of 

Yellow Creek to the mouth of Hailce Creek it about follows the Cumberland River; 

as the river turns to the north it continues eastward, crossing Brownies Creek in 

the neighborhood of Oaks. On Puckett Creek it has not been very definitely 

located, bnt in a general way m·osses between 13lacksnake and Bull branches. Then 

it turns northwai·d a1~d crosses Saylor and Forrester er·eeks near their mouths, then 

eastward, cro:,;sing Jesse Creek near the trail between Forrester and Wallins 

creeks. It crosses vV all ins Creek at the mouth of Camp Branch, and Ewing Creek 

at the mouth of Irving Bra.nch. From Harlan eastward it runs through the center 

of Big· Black Mountain. 

Th(; ri:,;e from this axis to the north is irregular, sometimes being but ~1 few 

feet in the first mile; in other eases the rocks rise sharply from the syncline. 

Possibly 100 feet in the first mile would be a fah· average. , 

At the foot of Pine Mo1,1ntain the dip is steeper but variable, ranging from 10° 

to 65°. Near Chenoa the rocks rise in Pine Mountain with a dip of from 18° to 

40°. Near Pineville the dip is from u;o to 30° north of Laurel Hill, from 20° 

to 35° m)rth of Tanyard Hill, from 10° to 15° near the foot to over 65° near the 

crest, though it is 45° to 55° along· the crest. Bare faces near thm;e measurements 

seemed to indicate a dip of nearly or quite 90°. Eastward the dip is lower, 

being seldom above 30°, the south slope of the hill is correspondingly longer. 

From the main axis wuth or southea8tward the dip is slight until the foot 

of Cumberland or Brush Mountain is reached. In the Log Mountain region the 

dip from the south i8 less than 100 feet to the mile on the average, though 

locally it is much higher. On vVilliams Branch the dip downstre'am will reach 

100 feet or more to thB mile. On Hancp, Creek it averages less than half that; 

and on Puckett Creek a similar dip of about 50· feet to the mile is found. On 

Wallins Creek the rise above the axis i8 about 100 feet to the mile. 1 n the area 

near the three forks of the Cumberland, there is a rather high dip just south of 

the axi:,;, then a broad level which ineludes Catron Creek up to Slater Fork, 

Martins Fork up to Cawood, Bobs Creek, and. Turtle Creek. Up Clover Fork 

abm·e Ages Creek the strata show an eastward dip of 30 to 40 feet to the mile. 

·On Crummies Creek the rocks are slightly lower than in the broad, flat r0gion 

just :,;pokcn of. In many cases local reversed dips arc found, !Ls near Hur:,;t, 

where a southeast dip is found almost at the foot of Cumberland Mountain. In 

general this low rise to the south from the main axis continues until the valley 

at the foot of Cumberland, or Brnsh, Mountain is reached, as Clear Fork of 

Yell ow Creek, the head of Brownies, Martins Fork, and Cranks Creek. As a 

rule the hills on the north side of these streams show the rocks lying nearly 

horizontal, while the south bank, or often the stream bed, shows sandstones with 
46 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

high and, in a few ~ases, perpendicular dips. Evidently the flexture is a very 

sharp one. The structure of Cumberland Mountain is considered below. In 

addition to the longitudinal flexture noted on Clover Fork, a few transverse folds 

were noted. 

STRUCTURE OF CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN. 

The structure of Cumherlapd Mountain presents two types (shown on Pl. IX 

and fig. 10). In one type the mountain is a simple monocline, and the rocks all dip 

about uniformly at angles of from 25° to 50°. In the other type the rocks are 

bent sharply upward at the north foot of the mountain at angles closely approaching 

a right angle, then they are fractured sharply or bent into a nearly hori:!;ontal 

position with a dip of 20° or less. It is of interest that the second type coincides 

with that portion of the mountains that appears to have been pushed bodily to 

the north., Beginning at Cumberland Gap the valleys following the foot of the 

mountain lie a mile or more north of a line from the valley of Little Yellow 

Creek to the valley of Martins Fork below the end of Brush Mountain. Over 

much of that distance there is a corresponding northward movement of the 

escarpment on the souther~ face. Furthermore, at the southwest end the change 

from the first type to the second comes sharply at Cumberland Gap and is closely 

associated with the fault at that point. At the summit of the gap on the west 

side the. rocks are quartzitic sandstones that dip N. 55° \V". at an angle of 65°, 

and no trace of the Newman limestone is found until the limestone quarry is 

reached at the south foot of the hill, about 1,350 feet south of the gap.· On the 

east side of the gap, the Newman limestone outcrops 80 feet above the saddle, 

and dips N. 28° '"· at angles of from 18° to 25°. On the south side of the 

gap the line of fault, as shown by fragments of Jimestone on one side of it 

and none on the other, has a direction N. 23° W. From the gap northward 

the fault appears to run out in the form of a nosing·, horizontal fold. On the 

west side of the Harhtn road the di}') is N. 70° to 85° W. at angles of from 50° 

to 55°. On the east of that line the dip is N. 5° E. to N. 25° W. at angles 

of from 15° to 32°. Here then is consistent evidence, along several lines, of differential movement along the Cumberland Mountains; that is, that the part of the 

Cumberhtnd Mountains between Cumberland Gap and the east end of Brush 

Mountain has yielded more to the thrust forces from the southeast than the 

adjacent regions, and the Lee sandstone has there been carried a short distance 

farther north than to the northeast or southwest. In this case it should not be 

supposed that there has been an actual northward movement of a mile or more, 

for a slight elevation combined with the northward movement would throw the 

Hanee shales which determined the line of the valleys well to the north; and,· 

correspondingly, a higher elevation of the Lee sandstone in pre-Cretaceous times 

combined with the north dip would have allowed it to be eroded much farther 

·to the north. In frtct, a slight elevation of the northward-dipping rocks would 

tend to move the longitudinal valley and the escarpment northward as indicated 

without actual northward motion on the part of the rocks. The structure, 

however, indicates that there has been horizontal as well as vertical motion. In 

the neighborhood o~ Cumberland Gap it is evident that part of this movement 
PROFESS IONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. IX 

A. VIEW NE AR BRI E RF I ELD GA P, CUM B E RL AND M O UNTA IN . 

Showing Lee sandstone with normal high d ip. 

B . VIEW OF PIN N ACLE EAST OF CUMB ERLAND GAP. 

Showing low dip characteristic of t he rocks in the top of Cu mberland Mountain from Cumbe rland Gap to the eastern end of Brush Mountain. 
STRUCTURE. 47 

has been by actual shearing along the Cumberland Gap :fault. The shape of the 

escarpment :for 2 or 3 miles southwest of Cumberland Gap suggests that that 

part of Cumberland Mountain was dragged :forward at the same time. If so, 

the rocks just north must have been subjected to torsional stresses. That, it 

seems quite possible, may account for the highly :folded and :faulted condition of 

the shales in the hi_lls immediately about Middlesboro. This :folding would also 

seem to satisfy the demand for a shortening or buckling of the strata in that 

region to allow the northwestward movement of the Cumberland Mountain. It 

is quite possible that the folding of the shales that shows at the surface corresponds with a synclinal dip of the massive Lee sandstones, the sandstones being 

folded while the shales were crushed. Northeast of Cumberland Gap the necessary shortening seems to have been obtained in the main by the change in the 

shape o:f the :fold. Part of this shortening may have been obtained by the faulted 

buckle of Rocky Face Mountain. Whether the fault of Rocky Face Mountain 

joins the Cumberland Gap fault could not be determined, but the evidence was 

rather against the theory that it docs. It is probable, however, that if the two 

are not parts o:f a single fault they belong to one fault system and were pro- . 

duced at the same time and by the same force. The Rocky Face Mountain 

fault will be described below. At the west end of Brush Mountain occurs 

another interesting fault; or double fault. In this case the two faults appear to 

meet each other about at right angles, one extending along the strike in Brush 

Mountain, as though there was a break at the sharp fold where the rocks turn 

from nearly vertical to nearly horizontal at the top, while the Shillaly Creek 

fault that meets it at right angles to the strike is followed by Shillaly Creek. 

As nearly as could be determined the mass of rock occurring within the intersecting faults had dropped down at the corner, the edges of the downthrown 

block gradually rising until they join the edges from which they were broken. 

In this case the downthrow has been sufficient to bring down and protect :from 

erosion some rocks that appear to belong to the formations overlying the Lee. · 

The structure as indicated 'by the dips is shown in fig. 10. 

Near Hurst the rocks in places tend to buckle in horizontal planes, so that 

strata that on either side have dips of 45° to 60° locally are perpendicular or more 

or less overturned, as though lateral stresses, as well as the main transverse stress, 

had been induced, as is suggested by diagram bt, fig. 10. . 

ROCKY FACE MOUNTAIN FAULT. 

Rocky Face Mountain (fig. 11) as shown on the map is a north-south ridge with 

unusually narrow crest and steep flanks. Structurally it is a :faulted arch with 

downthrow on the west. The rocks involved are the massive Lee sandstones 

and conglomerates. The :fault appears to become an anticline at each end and 

to nose out rapidly. At the north end the :fold shows plainly on the north side 

of Cannon Creek, the west limb of the anticline being nearly perpendicular and 

the east limb dipping N. '82° E. at an angle of 30°. The conglomerate appears in 

the bed of Cannon Creek and is slightly faulted. The faulting probably begins 

at the creek. The upthrust side rises rap,idly, attaining an elevation of over 2,500 

feet. The upthrust strata acquire a dip of from 80° to 87°, the change from a 

41-No. 49-06--4 
48 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

dip of 25° to one of 80° at the foot of the mountain taking place in a few feet. 

At the crest the rocks bend sharply almost to the horizontal and then are sharply 

cut off, presenting an almost perpendicular face several hundred feet high. At 

the south end the structure is not entirely clear, but apparently the fault changes 

to an anticlir~e before the south end of the mountain is reached, and fairly low 

Martins Fork 

reet CUMBERLAND 

MOUNTAIN 

2000 "00~ 

1500 

1200 . 

TeerBC~7es 

.3000 

2500 

2000 

(a) 

BRUSH MOUNTAIN Martins Fork 

(b) 

CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN 

Brierfield Gap 

CUMBERLAND 

MOUNTAIN 

1500 Diagrammatic 

/ZOOL_~~~~WL----------------------------~-------------------------

(c) 

~.I! BRUSH """~ . CUMBERLAND 

fC ClearFork MOUNTAIN ;.c!C MOUNTAIN . 

,:::~:~~~~ 2000 . . ~::·::>' . 

1500 mmaric · 

/200 . I 

feet Little Yellow 

3000 Creek Gap 

2500 

i?OOO 

(d) 

CUMBERLAND 

MOUNTAIN 

Cup Gap 

55°N.es'"w 

I 

1500 L. -------------,(c::f')c-----------

Hori~ontal scale o 1000 zooo 3ooo 4000 5000 feet 

I mile 

FIG. 10.-Sectlons showing structure of Cumberland Mountain; (b' explains dips in b). 

dips both southwest and southeast indicate a nosing, out of the anticline. The 

disturbance crosses Yellow Creek, but does not appear to extend far into Dark 

Ridge. These features are shown in fig. 11. It seems possible to estimate 

roughly the amount of north-south· shortening that has taken place in the buckling 

or arching seen in Rocky Face Mountain. An estimate made by graphically 

plotting to scale the facts as known sliows a shortening just along the line 
ROCKY FACE MOUNTAIN FAULT. 49 

of fracture of from 1,200 to 2,000 feet. Such a fold probably does not extend to 

any great depth. Below the arching Lee sandstone the Pennington shale has 

probably been folded up much as the Hance shales have been at Middlesboro. 

In the case of the Middlesboro area it would seem possible that there exists a 

local synclinal fold in the massive Lee sandstone corresponding in shape to 

the Rocky Face· Mountain arch, but reversed. 

In Volume III, new series, of the reports of the Kentucky Geological Survey, 

Professor Shaler argues that the Pine Mountain and other faults of this region 

were formed recently, especially when compared with· such features as the 

Powell Valley anticline. The basis for this argument is mainly the small amount 

of erosion that has taken place since the faults were :formed. Thus, in the case 

o£ Pine Mountain, the :fault scarp has retreated but little from the original 

plane of :faulting, while the Cumberland Mountain scarp has ·retreated several 

Feet 

- 2000-

Cannon. Creek 

feet 

2000-

0 

Moore Knob 

~ 

1000 4000 sooofeet 

I mile 

FIG. H.-Structure of Rocky Face, Mountain. 

miles from the axis of the Powell Valley anticline. In all this no· account· was 

taken of the Cumberland peneplain. This peneplain is believed to have been the 

last stage of a cycle whose end came near the close of the Cretaceous. With 

that in mind it is evident that the present Pine Mountain was below drainage 

from the Carboniferous nearly to the end of the Cretaceous. On the other 

hand the anticlinal structure carried the Lee sandstone east of Cumberland 

Mountain well above the level of the peneplain, where it was subject to erosion, 

and it' is more than probable that a large share o£ the northwestward cutting of 

the Lee sandstone of Cumberland Mountain took place during the production of 

the peneplain. That the Pine Mountain fault has not been produced since 

Cretaceous time is evident from the ·fact that Pine Mountain, resulting from it, 

was leveled off in pre-Cretaceous time. For the same reason it is evident that 
50 CUMBERLAND G.AP COAL FIELD, KEN'l'UCKY. 

f . 

no large movement along Pine Mountain fault has taken place in post-Cretaceous 

time, though small movement may well have occurred. That such movements 

have taken place in the Yellow Creek Valley appears from the discussion of the 

Middlesboro plain in the section on Geography. As stated there, if erosion 

below the 2,500-foot level did not begin here until nearly the end of Cretaceous 

time, erosion that reached down to the present drainage levels must have been 

comparatively recent. If, as stated above, there exists at Middlesborc a local 

synclinal fold in the Lee sandstone, it is possible that a slight further yielding would 

deepen it and might locally depress the land there, bringing the old drainage lines 

below their former level of outflow and allowing the silting up of the basin thus 

formed. In this case, while sinking at Middlesboro is certain, there may also have 

been a movement along the fault face at Rocky Face Mountain. Such a movement 

would be closely related to a subsidence at Middlesboro, the two movements, if both 

occurred, being but two expressions of a single readjustment. 

There is slight evidence of a stiU more recent movement of similar character, 

though of slight amount in the dip of the Arthur Heights gradation plain 

from north to south. This dip amounts to about 20 feet to the mile. It can 

not be asserted that this dip is not due. to the differential effects of erosion, but 

it suggests that there has been in comparatively recent time a noticeable tilting 

of the rocks with sinking at the south or uplift to the north. 

GEOLOGY OF THE COALS. 

GENERAL STATEMENT. 

The first stage of the investigation of the coal resources of any area is usually 

confined to finding and. measuring a few scattered outcrops of the coals. This 

work shows, first, that coal is present and may indicate whether it is workable. 

Such data are usually obtained in a more or less rapid reconnaissance trip. With· 

such data it is not usually possible to· make more than guesses at the correlations of the coals, and little or no idea can be obtained of the persistence or 

reliability of the beds. If the structure be very. simple, often a very fair idea 

of its general features may be obtained in such a trip, though minor ·details that 

are apt to escape observation usually r~nder any attempted correlations unreliable. 

If the structure is obscure or complicated sueh a trip will reveal little else than 

that fact. The report of the trip will consist of little more than a transcription of 

the field observations following the itinerary of the journey. If a map is published 

it will usually only show the rotite traversed and the location of points mentioned 

in the text. 

In the second stage of exploration an attempt is made to gather data with 

some degree of uniformity from every part of the field. Differences between 

different surveys of the same field or between surveys of different. fields will 

depend on the closeness with which the work is done. Thus in a region of 

abundant roads it may be planned to traverse every principal road or every 

public road, or every road, whether public or private, or it may be planned to 

gather all possible data between the roads. According as one or the other of 
GENERAL STATEMENT OF GEOLOGY. 51 

these plans is adopted the work would grade from very coarse to very fine. 

In a region like that of the Cumberland Gap, where roads are few and are 

little· depended upon, single lines of traverse may be run up the principal erecks 

or along the principal ridges; or, for eloser work, lines may be run up the principal branches of the larger creeks, along a few of the larger spurs from the 

principal ridges, to such isolated coal openings as could be learned of, and around 

the hills along the outcrop of some cliff -making sandstone. This was the method 

used in the field work for this report. To illustrate, traverses were made and 

notes taken of all data visible from the line of traverse along Puckett Creek 

from head to mouth and up the following branches: Pounding Mill, Bull, Campbell, Blacksnake, Mill, Path Fork, Lee, Toms, Jackson Mill, and Mudliek. Several 

trips were made up some of the branches of these branches. Traverses were .run 

along nearly the full length of the erest of Jackson Mountain and Brownies 

Ridge, along most of the crest of Reynolds Mountain, and along the spurs on 

the Puckett Creek side at four places. In addition between 20 and 30 independent trips were made to openings on the Puckett an<J Creech coals, or in 

tracing the Blacksnake or Puckett sandstone. The same amount of time might 

easily have been spent in addition in climbing inore of the small side branches, 

all the principal spurs, and in tracing horizontally all the cliff-making sandstones. 

But twice as much time spent would have yielded not twice as much but probably 

only a small fraction of additional useful information. Its.main value would have 

been the reduction of the measure of uncertainty now necessarily existing in the 

correlations and mapping. A visit was made to almost all, if not all, the artificial openings or facings made on the coals, incli.uling. all that could be learned 

of or at which the coal was reported as still visigle, or that could be found . by 

following coal :float up the slope. The other trips made were scattered over the 

basin as uniformly as possible and often selected with special reference to their 

yielding good sections. The degree of fineness with which such field work is 

done is usually determined by the time and money available for the work and 

by other conditions.. ,. 0 

The third stage of exploration, which usually immediately precedes or accompanies active exploitation, is that in which the knowledge to be derived as above 

is augmented by drillings, test Rhafts, and more or less continuous facings. In 

a region like this the latter method is the one usually followed. Some drain or 

stream which gives clean exposures over much of its extent is followed, and 

wherever the bed is hidden by talus, vertical cuts are made on the side banks. 

Springs that suggest that they come from coal are dug into, and the coal, if 

there, exposed. In many cases where the distance of a given coal above or below 

a sandstone that can be followed is known, measurements are made up or down 

the slope from the sandstone at favorable places and the face of the hill boldly 

qug into for as great a vertical distance as may be necessary until the bloom of 

the coal is found; 'then that is followed until the full thickness of the cQ.al is 

exposed in a fairly unweathered condition, with its roof shale above and underclay helow. Facings of this kind are especially made when it is desired t~ map 

accurately and to ~'prove" the workability of any particular . emil bed. Our 
52 OUMBF.RJ,AND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

knowledge of the Creech coal in Jackson Mountain was entirely derived from 

facing of this character . 

. In exploration in. the first stag·e little attention is paid to the topography. 

In the second stage it, is necessary that there be available a topographic map of 

the area under investigation, or that a topographic map of more or less accuracy 

be constructed at the same time that the geologic work is done. In the third 

stage practically all datum points are leveled to. In the first stage little or no 

attention is given to the stnicture, and often very little to the stratigraphy, as a 

whole or in any detail. In the second stage all the major features, both of the 

structure and stratigraphy, are worked out and as large a share of the minor 

features as the time will allow. In the third stage an attempt is made to obtain 

both the structure and stratigraphy in detail and without breaks in the continuitythe stratigraphy by deep borings and long vertical facings, the . structure by boring 

to a particular bed or faeings on a particular bed, or by the instrumental following 

of the outcrop of some key rock. ' 

In the Cumberland Gap coal field, up to the opening up of the field west of 

Middlesboro, exploration of a public or semipublic nature had been only of the 

first stage. Of this character is the report of an examination of this area made 

in 1887 by Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers for the Louisville and Nashville 

Railroad. Since the opening up of the field about Middlesboro much of the 

exploration in the Log Mountains has reached the third stage. Both the American 

Association Incorporated and the Louisville Property Company (formerly the Log 

Mountain Coal, Coke, .and Timber Company), ·with large interests in the Log 

Mountains, have had extensive facings done at a large number of places in those 

mountains, so that it is probabl,e that there are to-day sectionf' of all the coal beds 

to be found along the several streams examined. Much of this work was done under 

the supervision of Mr. A. R. Crandall, insuring its reliability. Probably much 

more work has been done under the direction of Mr. J. C. Richardson for the first 

company and of Mr. J. R. .Justice for the second company of equally or more 

accurate character, because largely based on actual levels. In this latter work may 

be mentioned the preparation of a detailed map of the Popl~r Lick coal in Canada 

Ridge, with exact levels on a large number of facings on the coal. In addition 

to data of this character, there is now available a large amount of data obtainable 

from the mines being operated along Bennett Fork and being opened along Stony 

Fork. Unfortunately no one horizon has been faced or traced uniformly throughout 

this portion of the field, nor have the coal data been compared to stratigraphic 

bench marks in such a way that now, when most of the facings have disappeared, 

. it is possible to locate accurately the position or elevations of datum points. For 

example, Mr. Crandall's work may give the thickness of a coal reported at 1,300 feet 

above the mouth of a given stream. If the data were originally obtained with a 

baTometer, the chances are that later another barometer may not give the same 

readipg within 50 or 100 feet of the actual position of the coal; if the fir:st 

determination was by spirit level or stadia, the position may be later determined 

accurately by a repetition of the instrumental leveling, but only appmximately by 

the barometer:, and the datum point may be sought at an elevation of from 10 
GENERAL STATEMENT OF GEOLOGY. 53 

to 200 feet above or below the true level. If, in addition to the elevation above 

the mouth of the creek, other elevations had been given, such as the elevation 

above or below some recognizable point on the creek, as the forks, or the foot 

of a prominent cliff (and it is seldom that such a point can not be found within 

300 feet vertically of any coal), the limit of error in barometer reading is largely 

eliminated. In many cases coals referred to some near-by landmark, either stratigraphic oi" geographic, may be located without a barometer. Because the companies 

interested in the Middlesboro area did not possess this information, it was not 

po13sible to work into the observed sec.tions much of the data obtained by means 

of special -facings, etc. To illustrate: The Red Spring coal, a good 5-foot coal, 

known only through facings, was not only not seen, but, as the barometer only was 

used, its stratigraphic position-that is, its position relative to a prominent sandstone occurring at about its reported elevation above the streams below-was not 

determined with certainty. Such information is desirable not only in the determination of the position of old datum points, but in checking other data in mapping, 

in working out the stratigraphy, or in testing the correctness of assumed correlations. For the same reason, in this report the attempt is usually made to tie the 

coal data, if high in the hill to some prominent cliff or other recognizabltl feature. 

Before the present work, the Black Mountains have been mainly in the first 

stage of development. Partial exception should be made of the area between 

Brownies Creeh: and Yellow Creek and the north end of .Jackson Mountain. In 

the area mentioned, Mr. Robert Creech has had a large number of facings made 

on lands recently purchased by him and Mr. Thomas Asher. These have not 

been carried to as great completeness as some of the work in Log Mountains, 

as the facings have usually been confined to a few good beds. Knowledge of this 

part of the field is much more complete than· of the districts farther cast. 

Because of the completeness of the data in the Log Mountains the description 

of this field will begin at the west and go to the east. A comparison of the 

data given might at first sight lead to the conclusion that the Log Mountains 

contained many more workable coals than the· Black Mountains. However, 90 

per cent of our knowl~df\e of the workable coals of the Log Mountains comes 

from mines or artificial facings on the coals, neither of which exist in the Black 

Mountains area, so the difference is not to be wondered at. Thus, of the workable 

coals in the Log Mountains, the Red Spring coal was not measured by us; two 

feet of what was supposed to be it was seen, and a coal bloom supposed to be 

it was noted in two or three places. These data alone do not warrant placing 

it among the possibly workable coab. The Lower Hignite coal was seen and 

measured at three places, none of which were natural outcrops. In like manner 

only a single natural outcrop that could be completely measured was seen of 

either the Klondike, Poplar Lick, or Mingo coals, so that had there been no 

mines or artificial facing on these coals the area might have been examined 

without their workability being suspected. 

For convenience in discussion the map of the area as a whole has been 

cut into sections that would conveniently go on a page inserted in the text. 

These page-size portions of the map and the detailed study of the field are here 

taken up by such districts. In dividing the map the attempt was made to divide 
54 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL E'IELD, KEN'l'UCKY. 

it so that each of these artificial districts would more or less nearly constitute a 

natural district-that is, so . that the coal in the area of one district would lie 

more or less nearly in a single body. (See footnote next page.) 

In each district it is, then, planned to discuss, first, the geography of the 

district; second, the stratigraphy; third, the coals, considering their detailed sections, and discussing under each coal the persistence of its minor features, its 

average thickness, its roof and floor, and its probable workability; fourth, the 

structure of the field and the position of the coals and key rocks in the hills. 

The graphic method of representing the coals is used. The figures on the 

right side represent the thickness of the benches, those on the left the thickness 

of the partings, or bone coal. At the bottom are >mmmed up the total thickness 

of partings and coal benches and total thickness of seam. In some cases the 

part of the seam that is workable is indicated, as many of the thick seams are 

only workable in part, due to partings or poor quality. In actual experience it 

is often necessary to leave part of the good coal for floor or roof. It is not 

always possible ahead of actual mining to know when the character of the roof 

II I u strati ve section 

(RooT) Sandstone 

Shale 

Bituminous 

Total waste "Total coal 

48:4"Tota/thickness or coal seam 

Conventions 

.. Coal 

Ill Bone or bony coal 

~Clay 

~Shale 

~~~ 8/tuminous shale 

!J(};}l;\J Sandstone 

~Limestone 

FIG. 12.-Illnstr~ttive co~tl section and conventions nsed on colnmn~tr sections. 

·or floor will necessitate such action. The accompanying figure will serve to 

show the meaning· of the symbols U!;;ed in the sections. The scale of all the 

coal sections is, 1 inch equals 5 feet; of the columnar sections, 1 inch equals 

300 feet. In the columnar sections an attempt has been made to indicate the 

topographic results obtained by the weathering of the different parts of the 

column, especially as regards the cliff-producing beds. 

In order to show as nearly as possible the exact location of the points about 

which data are given, each coal outcrop or mine was given a number in the note· 

books and the corresponding number was placed on the map. These numbers are 

placed conspicuously above the coal ~:>eetions on the plates of coal sections. The 

same numbers appear in parentheses in the body of the text. They begin on 

Little Yellow Creek and in general run around the mountains from the southwest 

corner to the northeast corner and back. From 1 to 206 are in the Bennett Fork 

district; from 221 to 426 in Stony Fork-Clear Creek district; from 450 to 1,238 

the numbers become larger from west to east, the highest numbers being east 

of Harlan, but as the division into distL"icts was made after the numbering the 

numbers arc not. grouped by districts. 
BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 55 

In a general way the fact that the ·geological work was done before the 

preparation of the accurate topographic map was started has influenced the position of coal openings and other lines on the map in two ways. First, in vertical 

position. When the geological work was done, the barometer alone had to be 

relied on, and in a long climb of 2,000 feet or more the barometer is apt to read 

100 or 200. feet out of the way; in stormy weather often even more. In such a 

case it is necessary to make uniform adjustment between any points that can be 

recognized. The variation of the barometer may or may not have been -regular. 

Again, in some cases it is not possible to recognize on the map just the point on 

the crest of a ridge reached, and the amount of the adjustment, if any, is in doubt. 

In the second place no accurate map was available while field work was in progress, 

so that on account of the ruggedness of the topography and wooded condition of 

the bills meandering was of uncertain and minor value. Afterwards when the 

map was prepared it often proved difficult to determine which of several minor 

branches had been ascended, leaving a large possibility of error in many of the 

horizontal locations of the coals. 

·BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. a 

GEOGRAPHY. 

With the exception of the Excelsior mine, all the commercial mines in the 

• Cum berland Gap coal field up to 1903 were located in the Bennett Fork district. 

This district is included ·between Stony Fork, Yellow Creek, and Little Yell ow 

Creek, and includes Mingo Mountain, Bryson Mountain, and Fork Ridge. All 

the mines in this district are situated on Bennett Fork or its tributaries, except 

a few small mines in the eastern end of Mingo Mountain. On account of th~ 

northward dip it is probable that most of the future openings in Fork Ridge will 

be· from the Stony Fork side. Transportation is provided by a branch of the 

Louisville and Nashville Railroad, leased to the Southern Railway, that runs from 

Middlesboro and up Bennett Fork. A branch of this line extends up Puncheon 

Camp Branch and by means of a switchback reaches the mine being opened, in 

1903, on the Lower Hignite coal. The topography near Bennett Fork has already 

been described (pp. 22, 23). 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

SECTIONS. 

The salient features of the stratigraphy from the economic standpoint are 

given in the following pages. (See also Pl. XI.) 

a It was originally planned to place at the head or the discu&,ion of each district the portion of the general map 

included in that district to form a page plate, upon which should be placed all the coal datu of that district. Later, in the 

interests of economy, these page-plate portions of the map, except in the Log Mountain districts, were omitted, and all of 

the data were placed on the two sheets of the single map in the pocket at the end of the paper. The method of discussion 

by districts was preserved, as the other plates and the text had been prepared on that basis. 
56 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Condensed section of principal coals and intervals ·in Bennett Fork district. 

Bryson formation. Feet. 

Hi~nite formation: 

Red Spring coal at top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Interval .. __ .. _ .... __ .. _ .. _ ... _ . _ . __ . _ ... _ ........ _ .. _. . . . . .. __ .. __ ... _ . . 440 

Lower Hignite coal at bottom ___ . . _ .. 5 

Catron formation: 

Interval ..... __ .. __ . _ .. _____ ... __ . ___ .. _ .. __ ........ _. __ .. _ .. _ .. ____ . __ . _ _ 300 

Klondike coal __ .. _ .. __ . _ .... _ ......... _ ... __ ........... _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 5 

Interval ..•...................... _ ..... _ .. __ . _ .... _ . _ .. _ ~ ..... _ .. ___ .... _ . 50 

Poplar Lick coal _ ........ _ .. __ ... _ .... _ .. _____ ... _ .. _ ... __ ........ _ ·_ .. _ .. _ 4 

Mingo formation: 

Interval.. c •••••• __ ...••••••••...• _ .• _ ....... _ • __ •....••.•••....•..•. _.. . . 230 

Sandstone Parting coal _ ........................... _ ....... _ ~ .... _ ..... _ . . . 4 

Interval. . . . . . .... _ .. _ ......... _ ................. _ ................ _ . . . . . . 285 

Mingo coal ........... _ ....... · .. - _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Interval. ............... ___ .. _ .. _ .. __ ... _. _ .. __ ...... _ .. __ .. _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

Fork Ridge sandstone, key roek ... _ . __ .................... _ ...... _. . . . . . . . . 40 

Interval .................. _ ................... _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 

Upper Bennett Fork coal .. ___ ......... __ ......... _ .. _ ... _ .. _ ... _ .. _ .. _ . . . 4 

Interval. ............................... _ ........ ~ . :. _ ..... _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16 

Lower Bennett Fork .eoal _ ..... ___ .... __ ........... _ .. _ .... __ . _ . _ . . . . . . . . . 4 

Hance formation: 

Interval. ... _ .. __ ..... _ . ___ .. _ ..... ___ .. _ .... __ ... _ . _ ... _. . . . . . . . ___ . . . . . 200 

Turner coaL ........................ _ .......... _ .................... _ . . . . . 4 

Interval .......... __ ... _ ............ _ .. __ ................... __ ........ __ .. 400'1 

The following columnar section has been worked out from two sections of 

the coals and intervals in Bryson Mountain, one of which was obtained by 

Mr. J. C. Richardson and the other by Mr. A. R. Crandall. The two sections 

are identical in most features, though each contains some coals omitted in the 

other. The measurements of the intervals are given from the seetion by 

Mr. Crandall, in the State Mine Inspector's Report for 1893. 

No. on map. 

Section of Bryson ],fountain. 

Stratum. 

~~-~~---

Slope ......... _ ..................... _ ............... __ ............ . 

61 . Coal and day ..... _ ....... _ .......... _ ............ _ ......... _ ..... . 

Interval. .......................................................... . 

62 Coal ........... _ .. _ ... __ ........................ ; . · ...... _ ......... . 

IntervaL ............................ _ .................. __ ......... . 

63 Coal ...... __________ ..... _ ......... ____ .. __ ............... __ ...... . 

IntervaL ....... _ ...... _ ... _ ......... _ .... _ ........................ . 

63a Coal. ___ ... _______ ----·--------- .. _____ ............. ___ . ___ ........ . 

Interval. .................. · ...................................... . 

64 Coal, Red Spring .....•. _ .. _ .... __ ................................. . 

IntervaL ................ _ ... __ . _ ..... -- .. - - ---- .. -- ----------- ----- -

' 

Thickne~'·l Tot~ie~~ickFt. 

·~-I Ft. in. 

60 60 0 

1 3 61 3 

40 0 100 3 

6 8 107 11 

40 0 147 11 

3 3 151 2 

12 0 163 2 

10 3 163 10 

80 0 243 10 

6 7 250 5 

20 0 270 5 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

COALS TN BRYSON FORMATJO:S. 

62. 

Bryson ~fountain. (Rept. by 

J. C. R.) 

34" + w· =80" 

63. 

Bryson ~fountain. (Rept. by 

J.C. R.) 

I 39" 

6-l. 

Bryson 1\Ioun- tain. (Rept. by J.C. H.) 

13" + 66" 

=7U'' 

RED SPRING COAL. 

176. 

Martin Branch of Stony Fork. (Rept. uy A. H. C.) 

27ll" + 60" =62}:3" 

118. 

Dennett Fork. (Hept. by A. 

H. c) 

13" + 65}4" =78}-f'' 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. X 

IIIGNITF. FORMATION (COAL 240 FEET 

ABOVE HIGNITE COAL). 

67. 

Bryson )foun- tain. (Rept. IJy J. c. H.) 

90. 

New Cabin Creek. 

13~" + 36%''' :::50'' 

LOWER HIG~ITE COAL, 

59. 117. 115, 116. 119. 

NewCabinCreek. NewCablnCreek. NewCabinCreek. NewCabinCreek. Little Coai Gap. Fork Hdg. C. & (Hept. by A.Il.C.) (Hept. uy A.H.C.) (Rept, uy A.H.C) (Hept. uy A.R..C.) C. Co. 

3M" + 61" =M)f" 

1-3" 

+ o8W' =60%" 

120. 

Steve Branch. Clear Fork of Cum be !'land. (Rept. by. A. 

H. C.). 

7)<;" + 58W' =66" 

168. 

Slickrock Rranch of Stony Fork. (Rept. hy A. H. C.) 

6" 

l}i" 

3~" 

10" 

184. 

::\lartin Brandl of St.ony Fock. ( [{ept. by A. 

H. C.) 

205. 

Camp Branch 

of Stony ~'ork. 

(Rept. by A. H. C.) 

il" 

KLONDIKE COAL O:S BENNETT FORK. 

39. 

Nicholson mine. 

156. 

Lcftforlrof Slick- rock Hranell of Stony Fork. (Hept. by A. H.C.) 

41. 

Mingo mine. 

27::!" + 4.6" =48),;" 

97. 113, 

NewCabinCreek. Right fork of 

13'' + fil%" =643/:i" 

New Cabin Creek. (Rept. 

by A. R.C.) 

KLOKDIKJo; COAL ON STONY .H'OHK. 

155. 

Slickroek 

Branch of Stony For¥-. (Rept. by A. :l 

3" + 30" =33" 

190. 

)lartin Branch of Stony Fork. (Hept. by A. R.C.) 

2~'· + 33" :=57" 

203. 

117:)'" + 45" 

=56Y," 

112. 

Red Oak Branch of Bennett Fork. 

b~)ept. by A. It. 

38. 

Nicholson mine. 

55. 

Sugan Branch. (Hept. by McO. andd'l.) 

42. 

51 c. 

Klondike mine (type locality). 

PoPLAR LICK CoAt.. 

111. 

51a. 

Klonrlike 

mine. 

167. 

)linl!o mine. Bennett Fork. (Rept. by A. R.O.) 

Right ·fork of 

Slickrock 

Branch of Stony Fork. (Rept. by A. H.. C.) 

1" + 41" =12" 

SECTIONS OF UPPER COALS, BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=S feet. 

54. 

Little Coal Gap. 

(Rept. hy A. H.O.) 

33" + 64" :=87" 

191. 

!11a1·tin Branch of St,ony Fork. (Rept. by A. R.O.) 
No. on map. 

65 

66 

67 

68 

SECTIONS IN BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 

Section of Bryson .Llfountain-Continued. 

Stratum. 

Coal ............•.............. ___ .. ___ ... _. _ ........ __ .. _____ .... . 

Interval. ....................... -........ - . " - -- - -- - - -- - -- -- · - --· -- - - -

Coal ........ _ .. _ .................................... __ ........... __ 

Interval, sandstone and shale ........................................ . 

Coal, with parting ................................................. . 

Interval, shale ..................................................... . 

Coal .............. _ .. _. _ .......... _____ . __ . ________ . _. _ .. ___ .. ____ _ 

Interval, shale ..................................................... . 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

6 

100 0 

8 

70 0 

4 9 

44 0 

1 0 

44 0 

57 

Total thick- ness. 

Ft. in. 

270 11 

370 11 

371 7 

441 7 

446 4 

490 4 

491 4 

535 4 

68a Cannel and slate ................................................... . 9 536 1 

Interval (?) ........••.............................................. 5 0 541 1 

69 Coal ............................................................. . 2 541 3 

' Interval (?) ....................................................... . 5 0 546 3 

70 Coal .............................. , ............................... . 1 2 547 5 

Interval, shale, shaly sandstone ........... , .................. :....... 70 0 617 5 

71 

~:;~r~~i ~::: ~:::: ~:: ~::::: ~::::::: ~::::: ~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::! 1~ ~ :~: ~~ 71a Coal, thin .......................................................... 1 ................... . 

Interval ............................................................ 1 4 0 632 11 

7lb Coal, thin ............................................................................. . 

Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 0 652 11 

71c Coal, thin .........................•.......................... --- .... i ......... ·. -------.. -. 

E~~;n::::: --::-:::::: ':: :::::--:::-:: -:-: -_-:-::--:::-::----: J -;: --: ---::-;; 

Coal, Lower Hignite .•....... _· ................................ , ..... ! 5 1 684 0 

71d 

72 

Interval...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 0 694 0 

72a 

~:t~;v:~i~- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:::: ~: ~ ~:::::::::::::::::::: ::::::: ~:: ~: :: .. -;~ ... ~ ·j· .. ;~~.-. ~ 73 Coal ... ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 764 8 

Interval ............................................................ . 54 0 818 8 

74 Coal···············································'····· ......... . 1 8 820 4 

Interval .............................. " ............................ . 24 0 844 4 

75 Coal ....................... __ .. _ .......... _ ..... ____ . _____________ _ 2 9 847 1 

Interval ............................................ ·.· .... : ........ . 6 0 853 1 

76 Coal ..........................••.................................... 10 853 11 

Interval ........................................................... . 8 0 861 11 

77 Coal ...............•..•..•.....•................................... ] 3 863 2 

Interval ...........•........................................ __ ... __ _ 8 0 871 2 

~:~r~~~,- ~~~~~: :~~: ~~~-:.:: ~: ::: ~~~::::: :::::::::::::::::::: ~: :::::: :J 

78 1 3 874 5 

26 0 892 5 
58 CU.l\IBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Sect·ion of Bryson Mountain-Continued. 

-~-o-ag_~_~l--------- --·-----·--S--tr-at_u_m_._~-----------~-T-h-ic_k_n_es-·s._ _T_o_t~-e_!~_-i_ck-- Ft. in. Ft. in. 

79 Coal and clay_ .................. _. __ ..... ___ . __ . __ . __ .. ______ .. ____ _ 2 11 901 4 

Interval _____ . ___ . ___ ..... _ ................. _ ...................... . 40 0 941 4 

80 Coal ................................... ____ ................. _ ....... . 1 6 942 11 

' Interval, sandstone, shale .......................................... . 110 0 1,052 11 

81 Coal, Klondike (Bryson Mountain) .. _ .......................... _ .. __ . 3 9 1,056 7 

Interval, shale ................................................... _ .. 35 0 1,091 7 

82 Coal, Poplar Lick, upper bench .................................. _ .. _ 1 6 1,093 1 

Interval ................... _ . __ ......................... _ .......... . 6 0 1,099 1 

83 Coal, Poplar Lick, lower bench .................................... .. 1 8 1,100 9 

Interval ____ . ___ . __ . __ .. _ ............................ _ ............. . 20 0 1,120 9 

84 Coal ................................................... _ ......... .. 1 3 1,122 0 

Interval ........................................................... . 190 0 1,312 0 

85 Coal, Sandstone Parting ..... .' ..................................... .. 3 2 1,315 2 

Interval , ........... : .... _ ........................................ .. 70 0 1,385 2 

85a Cannel shale ..................................... _ ................. . 1 8 1,386 11 

Interval .................................. _· __ .... _ ... _· __ .......... .. (a) 1,396 11 

86 Coal ......................................... · .................... .. 1 3 1,398 1 

Interval .. _ ... _ .. ___ . _ ........... __ .... __ ...... _. __ .. ___ ... _ ..... _ .. · (b) 1,422 1 

87 Coal ................................... _ ......... _ ........ _ ....... . 8 1,422 9 

Interval ........... · ................ _ ............................... . 104 0 1,526 9 

88 Coal ........................................... -- .......... _ ....... . 2 0 1,528 9 

89 ~:~:v~i~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~·~ ~ ~: ~:~~.~:::I 30 0 1,558 9 

5 8 1,564 5 

a 8 or 10 feet. b 22 or 24 feet. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XI ------c---

SI<;CTION SUOWINH COALH AND CLilfl<'-

:MAKING SANDSTONES. 

Coal 

numbel'a" 61 

6Z 

66 

67 

68 

o> 

70 

'· 

87 

/OZ 

z'o" 88~ 

cwl 

~;~~ "'J~'zg<J coa/89 

47 

"' 30 

Z9 

33. 

Yellow Creek mine. 

4-16" + 54.Xi"" =6-1"::!:: 

32. 

37. 

Nicholson mine. 

lfl" + fi37:J" =68.!{" 1Vorlcable, 44". 

36. 

110. 

Bennett Fork be- low New Cabin Creek. 

(Rept. by A. H..C.) 

11~" + 4.3" 

=51.!4'" Workable, 4-1". 

36a. 

SASDSTONE PARTING COAL, 

43. 109. 

1\fingoNo.l mine.· Burrel Is Creek. 

14" + 4-.7" =61" Workable, 41" .. 

(H.ept. hy A. R.C.) 

!\-liNGO CO.\.L. 

46. 59. 

Yell~~~e~reek Nicholson mine. Nichohson mine. Mingo No.1 mine. ForkRidgemine. 

15,%" + 57" -72>2" =65" 

12" + 54" ~66" 

50. 

Ralston No. 2 mine. 

6" + 45" =51" 

57. 

Bry~:~on wine. 

166. 

Right fork ol SJickrock 

Branch of Stony Fork. 

W'l5" 35" 

Y:i" + 4-0" ~<CJi" 

49. 

Ralston No. 1 mine. 

7" + 60" ~67" 

BENNETT FORK COAL. TURN"ER COAL. 

20. ~3. 

Bennett Fork, Bennett Fork north side. mine. 

77:l + 37" =4.4-X'" 11" + 41" =52' 

28-27. 

Bennett Fork. 

207. 

Tudor mine. 

<H~~~ SHrcc. 

208. 

l\Iingo 1\fe>untain, .Tames Myer. 

(H.ept. by ~rcc. 

andd'l.) 

9. 13. 

Turner Rranch, Turner mine. east side. 

12" + 4.8" =60" 

20" + :l9" =69" 

COLUMNAR AND LOWER COAL SECTIONS, BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 

Scales: Columnar section, t inch=300 feet; coal section, 1 inch=S feet. 

159. 

Left fork of· Slick rock Branch of Stony Fork. (Ropt. by A.R.C.) 

1" I Sy,'' 

24-" 

1)1'" 

10" 

- - 2~" + 37X"" =40'' 

49a. 

Ralston No. 1 mine. 

7. 

Little Yellow Creek. 

17" + 51" =68" 
SECTIONS IN BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 

On Puncheon Camp Creek the following section was obtained: 

Section up Puncheon Camp Oreek. 

No.on I 

map. _____ st-ra_t_um_. -----, Thickness. 

I I Ft. 

Sandstone. ___ . _____________ .! 25 

Interval, hidden. __ . __________ 

1

1 30 

Sandstone. __ . _____ ._. __ .'. ___ . 10 

90 Coal _________ ...... _ . ____ . __ ·I 4 

Sandstone, laminated near bottom ____ . ______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 50 

91 Coal _ . ___ .. __ ... _ .. _ .. _ . _ .... 

Sandstone, massive .. _-__ .---: -1 65 

Shale ______ • ______ . _ ... _ . ___ . ; 10 

Sandstone._ ... _ .... _ .... ____ . 10 

Shale ________ ._. __ ._ .... _____ 30 

Sandstone. ___ ._ . __ . ____ . ____ . 5 

In. 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

10 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Shale __________ .... _ . _ .. _ _ _ _ _ 35 0 

Sandstone. ___ .. ___ . __ .. _____ . 8 0 

Shale, fissile .. __ . ____________ . 12 0 

92 Coal, bloom _________________ _ 

Interval, hidden. ______ .. ___ ._ 50 0 

Shale _____ .. ___ . __ ._.________ (?) 

9.9 Coal, Lower Hignite .. ___ . ___ . 5 5± 

Fireclay ___ •.. ____ .. --.-.---- (?) 

Interval, hidden. ___ .. _ .. __ ._. 

·sandstone, very massive, cliff 

making _ .. _ . ___ -- --... -.... 

Shale ••.•. -- --. -- -.. - . - --- -- . 

Interval, hidden __ .. _._. __ . __ _ 

Shale ___ .•.... _ .. - . - -- - . -- - -. 

95 Coal, bloom~ ___ . __ .. ___ . _ ... . 

Shale _____ ~ _______ .... _ ..... . 

15 0 

65 0 

40 0 

50 0 

30 0 

(?) 

5 0 

Sandstone and shille ..... _- --- 15 0 

a 6 to 8 inches. 

No.on I . 

---I---- __ st_r_at_u_m_. -----1 Thickness. _map. 

I 

Ft. In. 

Interval, hidden_______ ______ 3Q 0 

Sandstone, small cliff maker ___ I 20 0 

Interval . ___ ,- ______________ . -I. 70 0 

Shale _____ ... _ _ _ _ _____ ~ ____ -I, 10 O+ 

97 Coal, Klondike .... -----------! 5 4~ 

In terml ___________________ . _ flO 0 

98 Coal, bloom. ____ ._ ... __ . ____ . (?) 

Interval __ . ____ .. ___ .. _____ . _ 50 0 

Sandstone, massive cliff maker_ 30 0 

Interval _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 120 0 

Shale and thin sandstone._____ 20 0 

Limestone _________ . _ ...... _ _ 2 0 

Interval ..................... ! 15 0 

Shale, black, bituminous. ____ .. 8 O+ 

101 CoaL. ....................... : (a) 

Shale _. __ ... ___ .. _ _- ___ .. _ .... : 3 0 

Coal ______________ , __________ : (b) 

Shale, blue to green ________ .. I 15 0 

Sandstone. _______ :_ .. _ .. _____ 20 0 

Shale . _ .. _. ___ ... ____ . . . . . . . . 0 0 

Interval ___ .... ____ .. _ .. _____ . 20 0 

Sandstone ____ .. __ ........ _ • .. 5 0 

Coal, thin .. __ .. ~ ... ____ .. _ .. -~ ('?) 

Shale _ .. _ . ___ ~-- .... ___ .. __ . . . 10 0 

Interval . _ ........ ________ . _ . 30 0 

102 

Shale ... _ .... _ ...... _____ .. _ _ 20 0 

Interval to Mingo coal ___ .. _ _ _ 50 0 

b 8 to 12 inches. 

This section does not show the Sandstone Parting coal, nor many of the smaller 

coals. lt gives a little better idea of the details of the stratigraphy and what may 

be found on the slopes of the Log Mountains, or rather it shows how little is to he 

found, for it has been compiled by combining three sections, and only two of the 

~oals whose thickness is given were seen in natural outcrop. 

41--No.49~06----5 
' 60 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENtUCKY. 

Mr. A. R. Crandall has prospeeted the coals on Slickrock Branch and 

Martin Branch of Stony Fork, and prepared the two following sections: 

Section on Slickrock Branch of Stony Jibrk (Pl. XII). 

~o. on I 

map. Stratum. 

------------------------------------------------------- Ft. in. Ft. in. 

Interval from top ... ___________________________ . _____ -. ___________ . _ _ 20 0 20 0 

20 0 

150 0 

153 . 9 

183 9 

184 5 

204 5 

207 3 

267 3 

269 10 

339 10 

342 7 

447 7 

451 3 

481 3 

883 10 

918 10 

919 4 

150 Cannel shale ___________________________________________ : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ________ _ 

Interval. _____ .. ________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 130 0 

151 I Coal, Hignite _________________________ • _. ______ . _________________ . _. 3 

Interval. _______________ . _ - ____________________________________ . ___ _ 30 

152 Coal ____ , ________________ - _____________ .-- _________________________ _ 

Interval. _______ . ___________ ... _ . ___________ . _. ___________ ... _ .. _. __ 20 

153 Coal _ -- - _______ · ________ - - - ___ .. _ -- ________________________________ _ 2 

Interval __ . _________ . __ . __________ . _________________ . _. __ . ___ . ___ . __ 60 

154 Coal . - _ - _____ - -- - _______________ . - _______ . - _______________________ _ 2 

Interval. _____ . _____ . ________ . __ . ______________ . ___ . _. ____ . _______ . __ 70 

155 Coal, Klondike_ - - ____________ .. ___________________________________ _ 2 

IntervaL _________ .. ____ . _ -_______ . ________________________________ _ 105 

156 Coal, Poplar Lick __________________________________ .. ______________ _ 3 

IntervaL _________________________ .. ____________ .. _________________ _ 30 

157 Coal ________ -·- .. _____ - _ --. _____ . _____ . ________ .. _______________ _- ___ 2 

Interval __ . ___ . ____________________________ .. _________ .. ______ .... __ 35 

158 Coal . -- - _______ .. _ . _ -.- -- - - ___ .. ____ . ______________________________ _ 

IntervaL ___ ... _ . ___ . ________________ ... ____ • _____________ . _____ • __ . 170 

159 Coal, Sandstone Parting_ .... __ . _ . _ . _______ •. __ .• ___ .. ___ .... ____ .... 3 

9 

0 

8 

0 

10 

0 

7 

0 

9 

0 

8 

.• o 

7 

.. 0 

6 

0 

5~ 

1,089 4 

1,092 10 

IntervaL-- ... ---•... --. ----.--. ---------- -- _. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 110 0 1, 102 10 

160 Coal - ------ -----. ---- -·-- ----- ---- .. -.... - -- _ ..... __ . ____ .. _. _____ . __ .... __ _ _ 1, 102 10 

Interval. ----- ---- ____ -..... __ .••... ___ . ___ .. __ . _ •.. ___ .. _ .. _. _____ . 15 0 1, 117 10 

161 Coal ----- .. --- ..... -- --- .... --- ------------ ___ . ___ . ________ . __ c _____ .. __ ..... _1, 117 10, 

IntervaL_-.- -.: .. ------ -- __ -- - : ..... -......................... __ ... 60 0 1, 177 10 

162 Coal, thin·---------------------------------------------------------_: ________ 1,177 10 

IntervaL __ .----.. -:--.--.--.--------... ----- .. _ .. ____ ._ ... _________ 30 0 1, 207 10 

163 Coal, position of Mingo (?) --- .. - .. _ ..................... , .. ____ .... 1 8 1, 209 6 

IntervaL .... __ . _ ... ____ . _ .... _ . ________ . __ . ________ .. __ . ___ . ___ .. .. 40 

164 Coal __________ .. ______ . _____________________ . _____ . __ . _. ______ . _ ~ _ .. 

IntervaL ___ ._ . --- _________ . -- ............ -- .. _ ..... ___ ..... __ ...... 120 

165 Coal -.. - ______ . -... _ . _ .. ~ ... ___ .. - _________________ . __ . _ .. __ ... _.. . 1 

Interval to mouth of creek __ . ______ . __ . ___ .. ______ .. __ .. __ . __ ...... 190 

0 1, 249 

6 1, 250 

0 1, 370 

6 1, 371 

2 1, 561 

6 

0 

0 

6 

6 
No. on map. 

SECTIONS IN BENNETT FORK DISTRIC'L'. 

Section on Mo.rtin Branch of 8tony Fork (Pl. XII). 

Stratum. 

Ft. 

Interval to t?P---------·-··--·····-·-----------------···-·········- 40 

173 Coal ____ .... _ . _ ...... __ ....... - - - - - - -.......... -. -.... - . - - - - - - - - - - -

Interval. ....... __ . __ . ______ ..... _ .... __ .. ___________ . _____ . _. __ . . . . 25 

174 Coal···-·-··············-····-···------·····-----------·-········-- 1 

Interval ____ ... _. _ ... _____ . ____ ........ .' _ .......... ____________ ..... 55 

175 Coal, Red Spring . _ .... _ ........ _ , .. _ . · ___ . ___ .... ___ ............ __ .. 5 

Interval .. _ ..... _ ... _ . ___ ..... _ . ____ ... _ . _ . _ ... ___ .. __ ... _ .. _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 20 

176 Coal----··--···············--.-·······---- ____ -------··---------·-·· 1 

Interval. ___ . _ . __ ..... _ ........ _ .. _ . _ . __ ... _ ..... _ ... __ .. _ ..... ___ . 30 

177 Coal ___________ . ___ .. ___ . _ ... ___ .. _ .... __ .. _ .. _______________ . ____ . 2 

Interval ... _ : . .... , ...... __ .......... _____ ... __ . __ . ___ .... ___ .. ____ . 50 

178 Coal ...... _ ..... _____ . ______ ... _ . __ ....... _. _ ....... _ _ _ _ _. _____ ... 3 

Interval _____ .. _ ......... _ .. _ -.- ..... _ .. ________ .. __ .... _ . _ ....... _.. 60 

179 Coal . ___ .. _ ..... ___ ....... _ .. ____ ......... _ ..... __ ...... _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 

Interyal .... ____ . __ . ___ ..... _ ....... __ ..... __ .. ______________ .. __ ... 70 

180 Coal . ___ .,. ___ ....... _. _ .. ___ .. __ . ___ . ____ . _ .. _ ... _ .. _. __ ..... _ -.- _. 

Interval, with sandstone. ______ ..... __ ...... _ .... _ .... _ ... _ .. __ . _ _ _ _ _ 60 

181 Coal __ , __ . __ ...... __ ... _ .. _ .... _ .. __ . _ . __ .. _______________ .. _ . _ _ _ _ _ 3 

Interval ........ ___ ..... _ .. _ .. ___ .. ____ . __ . _ ..... _ ....... __ ... _ .l. _ _ 60 

182 Coal __________ ... _ . _ . ___ . __ .......... __ .. _ . __ .. __________ ..... _ _ _ _ _ 3 

Interval. ___ . __ ....... _. __ .. ____________ ... __ . _____ ...... __ .:. ____ ._ 115 

183 Coal, UpperHignite.-----------------····-······-------------------- 2 

Interval._ .•.. __ •. ___ ... _ .. _____ ~ ___ '-" __________ .. __ . __ . __ .... ____ .. 25 

184 Coal, Lower Hignite .. ____ . ___ .. _. __ ... _ .... _ .. __ . _ .. ______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4 

Interval~ ___ . _ .... _. _ .. _ . _ . ____ .. ___ . _ . ____ . ___ . _______ . __ ...... __ .. 30 

185 Coal ____ .. _. _ ... _ .. _. ____ . ____ ... __ ... ___ ....... ___ .. _ .. __ ... ____ .. 

Interval _____________ . ____ ._ ... ____ . ______ .... _____________________ . 110 

186 Coal ____ ......... _ .... ___ . ___ .. ___ . _____ ... _ . _ .......... _____ . ___ . . 1 

Interval _. _____________ . _ .. _ ........ __ . _ . _ . _. _.. _ .... ____________ . . 60 

187 Coal . ___ .. __ ....... __ ... _. _. _. _____________ . _: ... ___ .. _ .. _ ...... _.. 1 

Interval _. : _ . __ . _______ . __ .. _ . _ ....... _ ..... _ ......... _ . ___ . __ . _ _ _ _ _ 20· 

188 Coal ... __ . _____ .... _ .. _ . _ . _ ..... _ .. _ .. _ ... ___ . _ ........ ___ .. ___ . _ _ _ 1 

Interval ___ . __ . _ .. ___ . ________ .. _. _ .... __ . . . . . . . __ .. __ .. __ ... __ . _ _ _ 25 

189 Coal _ ~ . _________ ... __ ....... __ .. _ ......... _____ .. __ . __ . ___ . __ . _ . _ _ _ 2 

Interval. ____ ..... _ .... ________ ..... __ .... ____ ... __ .. ______ ... _ .... _. 30 

190 Coal, Klondike (?) .. __ ...... _ ...... __ .. __ ....... _______________ .. _ __ 4 

Interval .... ___ . _ .. _ .... _____ .. _______ .. ____ .... _. __ .. ____ .... __ .. _. 110 

191 Coal, Klondike (A. R. C.), Poplar Lick (G. H. A.) .. ___________________ 4 

Interval .. _____ .... __ ....... _ ..... _ .. ___________ .. __ .... __ .. .. .. .. . . 30 

192 Coal, Poplar Lick (A. R. C.) .............. ___ ........ _ .. ___ .... ... .. 2 

Interval .. __ . _____ .................... - _____________ ...... ___ . _ .. _ . . 80 

in. 

0 

10 

0 

0 

0 

4~ 

0 

6 

0 

10 

0 

2 

0 

8 

0 

6 

0 

2 

0 

1 

0 

9 

0 

5 

0 

6 

0 

0 

0 

8 

0 

2 

0 

1 

0 

9 

0 

0 

0 

3 

0 

61 

Ft. in. 

40 0 

40 10 

65 10 

66 10 

121 10 

126 3 

146 3 

147 9 

177 9 

180 7 

230 7 

233 9 

290 9 

293 5 

363 5 

363 11 

423 11 

427 1 

487 1 

490 2 

605 2 

607 11 

632 11 

637 '4 

667 4 

667 10 

777 0 

778 10 

838 10 

840 6 

860 6 

861 8 

886 8 

888 9 

918 9 

923 6 

1,033 6 

1,037 6 

1, 067 6 

1,069 9 

1,149 9 
62 CUMBERLAND G.AP CO.AL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Section on Martin Branch of Stony Fork (Pl. XIJ)-Continued. 

No. on map. 

----------------------------------------------------

Stratum. 

193 Coal ____ - ______________________ . __________________________________ _ 

11J4 

195 

196 

197 

198 

199 

Thickness. 

Ft. 'in. 

1 2 

100 0 

4 6 

70 0 

Total thick- ness. 

Ft. in. 

1, 150 11 

The coal thicknesses given in this section on Pl. XII exclude the partings. 

The seetion at the Mingo No. 1 mine and Mingo Mountain, opposite the mouth of Puncheon Camp, or New Cabin Creek, is as follows: 

Section at Mingo mines. 

------------------------------------

No. on! map. Stmtum. 

------- ------------

---- ---------------------------- Ft. i1l. Ft. in. 

41 Coal, Klondike ________________ ~, _________________ _- ________________ _ 3 6~ 3 6 

Interval, hidden ________ - ______ ... _______ • _________________________ _ 24 0 27 6 

Clay· shale ____ - ____ - _______ - -- - - __ - _ : _ ---- _ -- - __ - ___ - - ___ -- - __ - - - - _ 12 0 30 6 

42 Coal, Poplar Lick _________________________________________________ _ 3 10 43 4 

Sandstone ______________ -- ___ - ____________________________________ _ 15 0 58 4 

IntervaL _______________________ - __________________________________ ,_ 40 0 98 4 

Sandstone __ - _ - - -- -- - - ---- -- - -- - --- - - - --- --. --- - -. --- - -- -- - - -- -- - --- 10 0 108 4 

~:~:v~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::: :::: :: : :: ::: J 

30 0 138 4 

110 0 248 4 

Shale ____________________________________________________________ _ 15 0 263 4 

43 Coal, Sandstone Parting ____________________________________________ _ 5 2 268 6 

Clay shale. ___________ ; ______ ----_---_-- ___ --- __ , __________ - ________ - 40 0 31S 6 

Ii1terval. __________________________ . ______________________ ~ _______ _ 50 0 358 6 

Sandstone ___________________ - ________ . ____________________________ _ 15 0 373 6 

Shale _____________________ - _ - -- - _ - - - __ - ___ - -- - - -- - __ -- - -- - - -- - - - -- 5 0 378 6 
No. on map. 

44 

45 

SECTIONS IN BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 

Sectiori at Jfingo mines-Continued. 

Stratum. 

Coal, reported, with partings ............... · ........................ . 

Interval, shale at Nicholson mine .................................. . 

Coal ........... _. _ .... ___ ...... _. ________ ... ______________________ _ 

Sandstone .................................... _ .................... . 

Shale ............................................................. . 

46 Coal, Mingo (type locality) ........................................ . 

Interval. .................... · .................................•..... 

47 Coal ....................... ' ...................................... . 

Sandstone, Fork Ridge principal key rock ........................... . 

Rhale .................................... : . .......... ------ .. -- ---. 

Interval. .......................................................... . 

Sandstone, lower cliff maker ........................................ . 

Shales ................ ~. _ ............... " ...... __ ................. . 

Coal and shale ..... _ ............ _ .... _ ................. _ ....•... _. __ . _ 

Shale ................................... _ . _ ..... _ . . _ ... ______ .. _ .. 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

(a) 

155 0 

1 10 

20 0 

1 

5 ~I 

40 ~I (b) 

40 0 

20 0 

60 0 

40 0 

(c) 

2 6 

10 0 

«3 to 4 feet. h8 to 10 inches. c 6 inches to 2 feet. 

63 

Total thick- ness. 

Pt. 1n. 

382 6 

537 6 

539 4 

559 4 

560 4 

565 9 

605 9 

606 7 

646 7 

666 7 

726 7 

766 7 

769 7 

772 1 

782 1 

Parts of the section at Yellow Creek mine will give some idea of what lies below 

the Fork Ridge sandstone. 

No. on I 

map. 

Part of section at Yellow Creek mine. 

Stratum. 

Fork Ridge sandstone (exposed) .... _ ...................... _ .... ____ . 

Interval ......................................... _ .............. _ .. . 

Sandstone, lower cliff maker (exposed) .............................. . 

Shale ........ .' .............................................. , ...... . 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

20 0 

60 0 

10 0 

80 0 

31 Coal, bloom· .............................................................. --.-. 

Clay shale ......................... : ....................... ________ 20 0 

30 Coal............................................................... 3 6 

Sandstone .................................................... _. _. _, 

Shale ........................... · .................................. . 

Randstone, shaly ................................................... _ 

Shale . , .............. , ...... _ ... _ .. __ ... __ . _ .. _ . _ ...... .' ...... ___ .. 

Sandstone, shaly and .laminated, ........ ·. •.- ... --.- ............... __ , .. 

Shale ............................ _ ............................. _ .. . 

4 0 

70 0 

15 0 

35 0 

10 0 

20 0 

29 Coal, reported 15 inches.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . .. 0 9 

Interval ...................... _ .. _ .......... _. ___ ... _ .. ___ . _ . _____ .. 

Sandstone in bed of Bennett Fork (section continued from bluff opposite Bennett Fork mine). 

10 0 

Total thick- ness. 

P1. in. 

20 (} 

80 0 

90 (} 

170 0 

170 0 

190 0 

193 6-

197 6-

267 6-

283 6-

318 6 

328 6-

348 6 

349 3 

359 3 
64 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Part of sect·ion at Yellow Greek mhte-Continued. 

No. on map. 

~ 

Stratutn. Thickness. Total thick- ness. 

Ft. in. Ft, in. 

Interval. ____________________ . ______________ . _______________ . ______ . 120 0 479 3 

Sandstone, massive, makes small cliffs ... _______ . _____ . ________ . __ . __ 20 0 499 3. 

Coal, Upper Bennett Fork ____________________ . _____________________ _ 

Clay------------------------------------------------------------- .. 1 

26 4 4 503 7 

2 0 505 7 

Sandstone_ - ________ - - - _ - ____________ - _____________________________ _ 8 506 3 

Clay shale, light drab _____________ . ________________________________ _ 3 0 509 B 

25 I Coal ______ -- ___ - ___ -- ______ ------- - - - - --- ____ ---- - --- -- - - . -- - --- ---

! Shale, thin beds of sandstone _________________ . ________________ . ____ _ 

6 509 9 

6 0 515 9 

24 Coal, 2 inches to _______________________________________ . ___________ . 4 516 

Shale ______________________________ . ______________________________ _ 3 0 519 1 

Sandstone, massive to bedded ____________________ . _________________ _ 20 0 539 1 

23 Coal, Lower Bennett Fork. ________ --· ----- __ .,_ ------- ____ ·----- ___ _ 2 0 541 1 

To show the variation in the interval between the two Bennett Forks coals, the 

following section, taken a little above the Bennett Fork mine, is instructive. 

No. on map. 

28 

No. on map. 

---

21 

---

Section between two Bennett Fork corlls near Bennett Fork mine. 

Stratum. Thickness. No. on map. Stratum. Thickness. 

----------~~-~J----- ---------------------

Ft. in. 

Sandstone, with shale partings. 0 Shale __________ -- -

Clay shale. ___________________ 1 0 Sandstone _______________ . ___ . 

Coal, Upper Bennett Fork. ____ 4 0 Shale_------_.---· ___________ _ 

Clay shale ____ . ______________ 4 0 27 Coal, Lower Bennett Fork ____ _ 

Sandstone. _______ . ___________ 1 6 

a 6 inches to 1 foot. b 0 to 6 inches. 

Section near mouth of Bennett Fork. 

Stratum. Thickness. No. on map. Stratum. 

------

Ft. in. 

Sandstone, shaly, with shale Shale ___________ .. ___ . _________ 

partings .. ________ .. -------- 10 0 19 Coal, bloom --------------·--· Coal, Upper Bennett Fork---- 3 2 Shale. ________________________ 

Interval, hidden. ______ : _____ .

1 

70 0 Sandstone and interbedded 

Interval, mostly sandstone ____ 70 0 shale, makes cliffs a.t mouth 

Sandstone. ___ . ________________ 

1 

30 0 

of valley ____ • ____________ -- -

-- ·-· 

Ft.,. in. 

1 0 

(a) 

(b) 

3 6 

. Thickness. 

----~ 

Ft. in. 

30 0 

0 

20 0 

40 0 
CORRELATIONS. 65 

A section of the rocks believed' to lie between this and the Cawood sandstone 

is exposed in the road from Middlesboro to Fern Lake. 

Section on Ji'ern Lake road. 

No. on map. Stratum. 

Sandstone, thought to l:ie the same as at bottom of last sec- tion--.--- ____ ----.- ___ .-----

Shale _____ . _________________ _ 

139 Coal __________________ . _____ _ 

Shale---------- __ -------- ___ _ 

138 Coal, thin ___________________ . 

Shale, pinkish, dark blue at bottom ___________________ _ 

Sandstone, shaly __ , __________ _ 

Shale ~ ____ . _________________ _ 

Sandstone, shaly ____________ _ 

Shale _______________________ _ 

137 Coal ______ . _________________ _ 

Thickness. 

Ft. 'in. 

w 0 

5 0 

1 0 

70 0 

0 

30 0 

1 6 

l 0 

0 6 

1 0 

0 0-2 

No. on map. Stratum. 

Shale ________________________ _ 

Sandstone, shaly _____________ _ 

Shale ________________________ _ 

136 CoaL ________________________ _ 

Shale, drab to light brown ____ _ 

135 Coal ________________________ _ 

Shale, dark drab _____________ _ 

134 Coal, with partings ___________ _ 

Sandstone, light brown, soft, shaly ______________________ _ 

133 Coal ________________________ _ 

Fire clay, light drab __________ _ 

Shale, light drab ____ . _________ 

1 

a4 to 9 inches. 

CORRELATIONS. 

Thickness. 

Fl. 'i11. 

10 0 

5 0 

6 0 

0 2 

30 0 

0 2 

9 0 

(a) 

13 0 

1 0 

4 0 

3 0 

The Mingo coal may be taken as a basal stratum along Bennett Fork; as it can 

be certainly traced along that stream from the Yellow Creek mine to where it passes 

under drainage at· the Ralston No. 1 mine. With nearly, if not quite, equal 

certainty, the Fork Ridge sandstone, 40 feet below, was traced around Fork 

Ridge to the point where it passes under Stony Fork above the mouth of Coal 

Creek, though the Mingo coal is not definitely recognized on Stony Fork. 

Between 200 and 250 feet above the Mingo coal occurs the Sandstone Parting coal 

which can be traced around Fork Ridge. Above that 250 to 200 feet occur two 

workable coals within 30 to 50 feet of each other. It has been assumed. that one of 

these-probably the lower one-is the Poplar Lick bed of Canada Ridge. On the 

Stony Fork side of Fork Ridge only one. thick coal occurs at this horizon, which 

Mr. Crandall assumed to be the Klondike coal (Bryson Mountain coal of his report). 

On the north side of Stony Fork the Poplar Lick coal is everywhere workable, while 

about -115 feet above it is another coal locally workable. A comparison of the coal 

sections on Slickrock and Martin branches of. Stony Fork with sections on Hignite, 

Coal Branch, and upper Stony Fork, and the intervals between the coals leads to 

the conclusion that the 4-foot coal upqn the south side of Stony. Fork corresponds 

with the Poplar Lick coal. Since the ·c~mpletion of the field work for this report 

Mr. David White, paleontologist of the Survey, visited .the Bennett Fork f_ield, and 

he calls attention to the fact that in that area the Klondike coal always contains 

pyritized marine fossil shells, while the Poplar Lick coal, as it is correlated on 
66 OUMBERLA.ND GAl' COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Bennett Fork, carries only plant remains. With these data in mind examination 

made now would probably settle the question <?f the correlation of the 4-foot coal 

on the south side of Stony Fork, called by Mr. Crandall the Bryson Mountain coal. 

According to our interpretations, the coal worked at the Klondike mine on 

Bennett Fork corresponds with the coal 100· to 125 feet above the Poplar Lick 

coal in Canada Ridge, and with a 2- to 3-foot coal an equal distance above the "4-foot 

coal" ("Bryson Mountain coal," of Mr. Crandall) on the north side of Fork Ridge. 

The correlation of the Turner coals is also in doubt. In the field they were 

thought to be the same as the Bennett ~ork coals, an·d have generally been so 

considered. The data, however, seem to indicate that they are lower than the 

Bennett Fork coals. In the first place, a number of openings have been made 

on the lower of these coals in the eastern part of Mingo Mountain, and the 

sections obtained at these openings agree within a few inches, indicating· persistence of detail; but they are quite different from the sections of the Lower 

Bennett Fork coal near the mouth of Bennett Fork. Second, the 200 feet of 

strata below the Bennett Fork coal at the mouth of Bennett Fork are largely 

sandstone (see p. 64). As exposed on the Fern Lake road, the 200 feet of 

strata below the Turner coals are almost exclusively shale. Near the mouth of 

Bennett Fork the strata have a strong dip to the west (15 feet in 100 feet), 

which carrie::; the Bennett Fork coal from creek level, a little above the Bennett 

Fork mine, to 220 feet above the creek at a wagon mine near the motJth of the 

fork, or to about 1,400 feet above tide. The Turner coal at the Turner mine 

is about 1,430 feet above tide. On George. Creek, which lies between the 

Turner mine and the mouth of Bennett Fork, were found several openings on 

two beds at 1,230 and 1,240 feet above tide (Nos. 16, 17) that were thought 

to correspond with the Upper and Lower Turner coals. If that correlation iH 

correct, it would appear that the rise at the mouth of Bennett Fork continues 

to the east, so that the Bennett Fork coal would lie just about at the level of 

the gap at the head of the ; branch on· which the Turner mine is located. East 

of the Turner mine the dip is to the east. The question could doubtless be 

settled m the field by actually tracing the sandstone. 

COALS. 

COALS 01<' HANCE I<'ORMATION. 

TURNER (,)OALS. 

Several OJ?enings have been made on the lower of two coals on Lane Branch 

of Yellow Creek in the eastern part of Mingo Mountain, and on the south side 

of the same mountain, facing Fern Lake. The Turner mine was opening ·up on 

a commercial scale when visited in 1903 and therefore the name has been applied 

to those coals. At the Turner mine the two coals are 20 feet apart. No section 

of the upper coal was seen, hut it is supposed that the two coals of the 

foliowing section, reported by McCreath and d'lnvilliers, are the coals at the 

Turner mi~e and immediately above. 
COALS 0]' BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 

Sect,ions of Jirn .Meyers (Turner?) coal, 1~/ingo 1lfountain (Me C. and d' I.). 

Sandstone roof. 

Upper Turner coal: 

1 

Slate, 1 inch to ................................................... ~ . . . . . . . . . 4 

Coal •••.......... ~ ......................... : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Black clay, 0 inch to ............... -----------------------------------------· 2 

Coal-------·-----------------·......................... ......... ..... ...... 5 

Fire-clay(?) shale............................................................ 11 

Coal ............................. · .............. · ............................. 1 2 

Clay shale and sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Clay ........................... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Shale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Cannel coal, impure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 t 

Coal .•.•••••..••...•........................................................ 1 5 Ft. 

--- 8 

Interval, mostly sandstone ................................. ,............................ 20 

Lower Turner coal:· 

Coal .............................. :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Slate .......................................................................• 

Coal ........................................................................ 2 ' I 

8 

2~ 

4 

4 

67 

in. 

11~ 

0 

Messrs. McCreath and d'Inv-illiers desyribe the coal at this point a8 having it 

high southeasterly dip and slickensides and polished surfaces. The possibility of 

error in the measurements is admitted. At an opening in the lower coal on the 

east side of Lane Branch measurements gave fronf 18 to 25 inches of coal in the 

upper bench, 26 inches of coal in the lo·wer bench, with from 2 inches to 1 foot of 

clay between (9). This agrees so closely with the above section that it leaves little 

doubt that it is the same coal.· At most of the openings where this· coal was measured the partings were over a foot thick. On the west side or Turner Branch opposite the opening last mentioned the upper bench measures 30 inches, the lower 26, 

and the clay partings 16. A sandstone comes 1 foot below the coal. At the Turner 

mine the upper bench measured 25 inches, the lower 24 inches, with a 20-inch parting between (13). There is a cla.v shale roof of 5 feet, with sandstone above that. 

On Little Yellow Creek above Fern Lake this lower coal shows 2 benche8 as in 

the openings just mentioned, the upper being 28 inches, the lower 23, with 8 feet 

plus of shale roof, and light-drab fire clay below (7). Above the shale roof there 

is sandy shale or shaly sandstone for 12 feet or more. Taken as a whole this lower 

coal has a roof of from 1 to 5 feet of shale with sandstone above. The thickness 

of the upper bench ranges from 18 to 30 inches, and averages as far as seen about 

2 feet; that of the lower bench ranges froin 22 to 28 inches, and averages about 

26 inches. The parting is from 2 to 20 inches thick and averages about 1 foot. 

Beneath there is from 1 to 4 feet or more of drab fire clay underlain by sandstone. 
68 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

COALS OF MINGO FORMATION. 

BENNETT FORK COALS. 

These eoals are so named because the uppermost of them is extensively mined 

on Bennett Fork at the ·winona mine. They are here reported 16 feet apart; 

a short' distance west they were exposed in old openings only 8 feet apart 

(see seetion, Pl. XI). At the Bennett Fork mine the upper coal ranges from 3 

feet 6 inches to 6 feet in thickness, with an average of 4 feet (23). The section 

shows an upper bench of 6 inches, then a parting of () inches underlain by onehalf inch to H inches of bone coal, which forms the top of the middle bench 12 

inches thick. Below that is a 2-inch parting; then comes the main bench 20 inches 

thiek, with another 2-inch parting separating 3 inches of coal at the bottom. The 

roof is sandstone. Mining is in the upper 2-inch clay of the section. Where the 

coal shows its greatest thickness all the benches have thickened up, the coal gaining 

more than the clay, the upper beneh ·at such times thickening from 6 inches to 

1 foot. A thin streak of sulphur runs 1 inch from the bottom of .the 1-foot bench. 

The top and bottom benches arc the purest. The roof consists of 15 + feet of 

sandstone separated from the coal by from 1 foot to 8 inches of shale. The lower 

coal at this point is reported to be 4 feet thiek with a very hard parting 1 foot 

thick. According to the section by McCreath and d'lnvilliers, this parting is more 

than half sandstone. . 

The various sections of the upper coal show considerable regulanty; thus at 

the north side of Bennett Fork (20) the coal has a total thicknesRof 44t inches in 

four benches-6, 9, 13, and from 6 to 9 inches-with partings of 4, 2t, and from 

one-half to 1 inch. This section agrees closely with the section at the Bennett 

Fork mine. The roof here is a shaly sandstone. The section on the upper eoal 

at the old openings mentioned (28) shows the upper bench to have 4inches of coal, 

then 10 inches of clay, with 1t inches of coal 3 inches fl:om the bottom. The main 

body of coal is separated by two partings-a 2-inch parting 20t inches from the 

bottom and one-half inch parting 3 inches from the bottom. The section reported 

by McCreath and d'lnvilliers at the old Tudor mine showed the upper bench of 

5 inches divided by a one-fourth inch parting 3 inches from the top; then came 

9 inches of shale, then 32 inches of coal, with a l-inch parting 13 inches from the 

top. As seen from these figures the upper bench is from 4 to () inches thick, the 

first parting from the top from 5 to 9 inches, sometimes with a streak of coal or a 

little bone at its base. The second bench averages about 1 foot thick. Then 

comes a 1- to 2t-inch parting, then a bench from 13 to 10 inches thick, a one-half 

to 2-inch parting, and a 3- to 9-ineh bottom bench of coal. The underlying coal at 

the Tudor opening, as reported by MeCreath and d'lnvilliers, shows two benches, 

the upper of whieh is 10 inches and the lower 28 inches, with a 2-inch bone at the 

bottom. The parting between these two benches consists of 2 inches of bone, 5 

inches of shale, and 7 inches of sandstone. At the old opening on the lower coal 

(27) the coal shows 40 inches, not including a 2-inch parting 6 inches from the 

bottom. 
COALS OF BENNETT l!'ORK DISTRICT •. 69 

MINGO COAL, 

Up to 1903 this bed has supplied most of the output of Bennett Fork. There 

are commercial openings on this bed at the Nicholson, Mingo Nos. 1 and 2, Fork 

Ridge, Reliance, Bryson, and Ralston No. 1 mines. It yields from 4 to 5 feet of 

workable coal in a total thickness of 5 to 10 feet. It shows one persistent parting 

a little below the center, which varies from 2 inches to 4 feet or more. In most of the 

working mines this parting runs from 6 to 8 inches. Near the bottom of the coal is 

often another parting that varies from 0 to 6 inches, though it is usually less than 2 

inches. The main partings tend to increase in size so that at the upper and lower 

ends of the district in which this coal is being worked the coal loses it workability. 

A series of se·ctions up Bennett Fork will show the variations' in this bed. 

( 32) Section of Mingo coal at Yellow Oreek mine. 

Clay shale roof, 12 feet. Ft. in. Ft; in. 

Coal .. . . .. . . . . . .. .. . . .. .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . 2 10 to 3 2 

Clay ......................................................... ·... . . ... . . 1 10 to 1 10 

Coal .... _ .............................. :............................... 4 to 4 

Clay .................. ___ .. _ ..... _ .... ____ ... _ .... _ ............. __ .. _ _ 3 to 3 

Coal.................................................................. 1 

Clay ........................ ·_..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 to 2 0 

Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 10 to 2 0 · 

Clay................................................................. 3to 3 

Coal.................................................................. 6 to 6 

Total ....................................•....................... 9 10 to 10 5 

Sandstone, 6+ feet. 

(36) Section of Mingo coal at Nicholson mine. 

Clay shale roof, 5 feet. Ft. in. 

Coal······---·················-·····-------····························-····· 1 1 

Clay......................................................................... 1 

Coal......................................................................... 7! 

Clay......................................................................... aO!. 

Coal.......................................................................... 1~ 

Clay ........... · ............................................... ·............... bO! 

Coal. ....................................... · .......... · ................. ·....... 2! 

Clay ...... ····-.· ...... .... .... ... ... . . ....... ..... ...... .. . . .. .. . ...... ...... 3 

CoaL......................................................................... 4 

Clay ......... : ............................................................... l 4 

Coal .......................................................................... l 8 

TotaL.---............ _ .. ----._--_ ................ _ ........ _ . .' .. _--- __ .. 5 9! 

alto~ inch. b tot inch. 
70 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

In some new entries being driven here the coal was badly cut up by partings, 

as shown above. These partings are quite variable and tend in places to run out. 

In some· of the entries the partings are much reduced in number, as shown by 

the following section taken not far from the preceding: 

(36a) Section of Mingo coal at Nicholson mine. Ft. i11. 

Coal. ......................................................................... 2 10 

Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a 0! 

CoaL~........................................................................ 3 

Clay ......... · ................................................................ 1 3 

Co:J.L ................................. · ........................................ 1 8 

Total ................................ ___ .... _ ....... _ .. ____ ........• ·.... 6 0~ 

Two sections at the Mingo No. 1 mine show the average section, and a 

measurement in the lower entry shows the variableness in the upper bench. In 

the first case the roof consists of 1 foot of shale under shaly sandstone, with solid 

sandstone above. In the second case the sandstone comes down to the coal. 

(46) Section (average) of .Mingo coal at flfingo No.1 mine (type loca.lil!f). 

Shale roof. 

Coal..· .. __ .............. _____ .......... _ .. ___ .... __ . ___ ... _____ ... __ ._. ____ _ 

Clay ..................... _ .......................... " .......... _ .......... . 

Coal. ...................................................................... . 

Clay ................ , ..................................................... . 

CoaL ..................................................................... .. 

Total ................. , ......... _ ............ __ .. __ .... _ ............ , . 

(46a) Section of Mingo coal at flfin_qo No.1 mine. 

Sandstone roof. 

CoaL._ .................. ___ ., ........ _ .. __ .. _ ..... _ ..... _____ .. __ ..... _____ ._ 

Clay ................................................. · ..................... . 

Coal. ...... __ ............... , ___ ............ ____ .... _ ... _. ______ ..... _ ... _ .. 

Clay ........................................ · .............................. . 

Coal. .... · ........ __ ............• __ ......................................... . 

Total ................................... ____ ......................... . 

(59) Section of Mingo coal at Fork Ridge mine. 

Clay shale roof, 20+ feet. 

Coal. ............................. __ ......... _ .. ____ ..... _"· .... ______ .... .. 

Clay ...•........................................ __ .....•......... _. _ ...... . 

CoaL __ .............. __ ............. _____ ............. ______ . __ ....... ___ ... _ 

Clay ........................................................................ . 

Coal. .................................................................... _ .. 

Total ......... ________ .....••••.. _ . __ .. _ ....... _ .. _ ............. ___ .. . 

a 6 inches to l inch. 

b 2 to 10 inches. 

ct to 1 inch. 

d 0 to 6 inches; average 2 inches. 

• 7 inches to 1 foot. 

Ft. in. 

2 8 

b8 

1 6 

,, 1 

6 

5 .':i 

Ft. in. 

3 5! 

8 

1 6 

6 

6 

6 7! 

Ft. in. 

2 l 

10 

1 5 

d2 

e 7 

5 1 
COALS UF BENN_ETT FORK DISTRICT. 71 

From Puncheon Canip to Sugan Branch this coal runs quite regularly, as may 

be judged by comparing the section last given with the following section, measured 

at the Bryson mine. The roof here consists of 1 foot of clay shale under 5 + feet 

of firm sandy shale. 

· (57) Section r(f Mingo coal at Bryson mine. 

Shale roof. Ft. in. 

CoaL ........................... _ ............................... ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 

Clay··········'·······----------------------------------------.-------------- 8 

Coal .................................... __ .. __ . _ .......... _ .......... _ .... _ . 1 5~ 

Clay ....................... __ .. __ ....... _ ..... __ .. : ...... __ . _ ·-.- ...... _ ..... _ 2~ 

Coal __ . _ ............. _ ...... · .................. _. __ ....... _ ........... ___ · ... , _ 5~ 

TotaL .... _· ............... _ ............... _. . . . . . . . _ ............ _ . __ . _ 4 10~· 

The following section of the Mingo coal at the mouth of Sugan Branch is 

given by McCreath arid d'lnvilliers. 

Section of Mingo coal at Sugan Branch. 

Shale roof. l<'t. in.' 

CoaL .......... -._ ........... _ ........... -.- ... -- ..... -.. _. _ ... _. __ ...... .' .. _. ·2 8 

Coaly shale aml ''slate" _ ... _ ........ _ ... _ ..... _ .... · .. _. _ .. _ .......... _:. _ ... : 3 

CoaL .................... __ ... _ ...... _ ......... _ .. _ .... ·_ ... _ ... _ ........ _._._.· 1 10 

Shale streaked with coaL .... ___ ..... _ .... _. __ ... __ ... _ ... _ ............... _ . . . . 5 

Coal somewhat bony ..... _. ___ ... -..... _ - __ .. _ ........... _ ..... _ ........... _ .. 1 8 

TotaL _ ... _ ... _ ............ _ . . . . . _ .. _ ... _ ... __ ........... _ ......... _ . . . 5 9 

This section shows nearly 1 foot greater thickness than the preceding. At 

the Bryson mine an 8-inch parting thickens on going into the mountain. This 

thickening is still more pronounced at the Ralston No. 1 mine (49), where the parting 

becomes 4 feet thick. There is here from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet of coal above the 

parting and from 2 feet 4 inches to 2 feet 6 inches of coal below. A considerable 

area was worked out here in the hope that the parting would become thinner. In 

one part of the mine the parting thinned down to 7 inches and increased beyond. 

On Stony Fork the position of this coal is indicated by that of the Fork Ridge 

sandstone. It was thought that this sandstone was traced with certainty from 

Bennett Fork around the end of Fork Ridge and all around Stony Fork where it is 

above drainage, and yet nowhere· was a coal found 40 feet above its top that resembled 

in thickness or partings the Mingo coal of Bennett Fork Evidently either a mistake 

was made in tracing the sandstone or the Mingo. coal has become thin and unworkable 

in that area. In the assumed position of the Mingo coal is found a coal from 15 to 

20 inches thick, with a thin coal 20 to 30 feet ·above it and a somewhat thicker coal 

30 to 40 feet below. The position of the three coals corresponds closely with that of 

the Mingo and first coal above and below it on Bennett Fork. 
72 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The following analyses are reported by Mr. Crandall: 

Analy.~es of Mingo coc~l. 

Constituent. 

Moisture _ ~ ___________________________________________ _ 

Volatile combustible matter _____ -c __ --- __ . --------- _---

Fixed carbon _______ ---- . - _- ___ -- --- __ - __ --- _- _____ ---

Ash----------··-----------------------·--·------------

Total _________ - - _ -- . _ - _ .. _ . _- . _- ___ -- ----- ___ ---

Sulphur _ . __ .. ___________________ . __ . ____ . ________ . ___ _ 

Mingo 

Mountain, 

upper entry. 

Per cent. 

4.40 

32.80 

56.60 

6.20 

10o:oo 

•. 824 

(?) 

Per cent. 

0. 12 

37.88 

58.00 

4.00 

100.00 

.824 

Hurricane Pigeon Fork of Clear Roost Fork 

Fork. ~~~~~r 

-----

Per cent. Per cent. 

3.11 0.91 

. 32.65 34.24 

59.83 58.07 

4.41 6. 78 

100.00 100.00 

. 750 . 890 

_ This coal is soft, only a small percentage being lump; for that reason it is used 

mainly as a steam coal. When made into coke, it is washed. Mining is done in the 

8-i~ch clay seam. 

Between the Mingo and Bennett Fork coals only one coal was seen that gave 

any promise of being workable. It occurs about 200 feet below the Mingo coal. 

The best section of this coal seen was below the Yellow Creek mine, where it 

showed two benches of 17 inches each. The parting between was 7 inches. There 

is 1 inch of soft coal above and a clay shale roof. The coal here is almost 3 feet 

thick, but the parting is so thick that the bed is hardly to be considered workable. 

It may, however, prove better in other localities. 

SANDSTONE PARTING COAL. 

This coal is worked at the Yellow Creek and Nicholson mines and Ralston No. 2 

mine. It is the "middle bed" on Mingo Mountain, coming about halfway between 

the Poplar Lick and Mingo coals. It is generally characterized by a thin parting 

of sandstone, which sticks to the coal in mining. An examination of the sections 

(Pl. XI) indicates that this parting does not occur at a single horizon, as sometimes 

it is close to the bottom and at other times close to the top. This suggests that 

conditions favorable for the deposition of sandstone were potential all through the 

coal-forming epoch and liable to become active at any time. No section gave 

two beds of sandstone. 

In Mingo Mountain this coal tends to show three partings, one about 1 foot 

from the bottom, the other two coming near the top and cutting off two thin 

benches from the rest of the coal. In some cases one or both of these upper 

benches could not be worked profitably with the rest of the coal on account of 

the thickness of the parting below it or them. At the Yell ow Creek mine the 

uppermost parting is 1 foot thick at the mouth of the mine, but runs out in 250 

feet. The one-half to l-inch parting 12 inches from the top of the main bench at 

the Nicholson mine did not seem to be persistent. The 5-inch parting in this coal 

at the R~lston No. 2 mine is very regular. At the Yellow Creek mine (33) the seam 
COALS OF BENNETT FORK DISTRICT. 73 

shows a total thickness of 64 inches, of which 54t inches are coal; the sandstone 

parting is here 3 inches thick. The uppermost parting, as already stated, is from 

1 foot to nothing in thickness and 3 inches from the top; 3t inches lower is a 

l-inch parting; the roof is shale and good. At the Nicholson mine (37) the seam 

measures 68t inches, of which 53t inches are co~!, though only 44 inches are 

workable. Here the .lower parting is 6 inches thick, and a 7t-inch parting 

~eparates the two thin upper benches of H· inches and 5 inches from the coal 

below. Mr. Crandall ·reports a section of this coal on Bennett Fork below 

Puncheon Camp Creek, which shows 41 inches of workable coal, the sandstone 

parting in this case coming 6 inehes from the top of the workable coal and being 

only H ·inches thick (110). Above the coal are 11 inches of clay and shale and 

then 2 inches of coal. At the Mingo No. 1 mine (43) the sandstone parting is 

one-half inch thick and comes immediately below the uppermost 2t inches of coal. 

The second bench lies 2 inches lower, and these benches are separated from the 

main coal by a 10-inch parting. The lower coal, which is 41 inches thick, shows a 

l-inch parting 18 inches from the bottom. A section by Mr. Crandall on Bennett 

Fork above ·the mouth of Puncheon Camp Creek gave a total thickness of 60t 

inches (109). Th~re is a 5-inch parting here 1H inches from the top and a 

half-inch parting St inches from the bottom. The sandstone parting is half an inch 

thick. It comes 35 inches above the bottom. At the Ralston No. 2 mine (50) the 

sandstone parting is 1 inch thick and 6 inches from the top; a 5-inch parting 

comes in 22 inches from the bottom. On the right-hand fork of Slickrock Branch 

of Stony Fork the coal shows a half-inch parting 5 inches from the top in a total 

thickness of 40t inches (166). On the left fork of Slickrock Branch of Stony 

Fork the sandstone parting reappears H inches thick and 10 inches from the 

bottom (159). A l-inch parting occurs 3t inches from the top. In a section of 

. this coal on this branch McCreath and d'Invilliers make the coal 3 feet St inches 

·thick with a black pyritous sandstone parting· one-half inch thick 6 inches from 

the top, a Linch fire-clay parting 3 inches lower, and a 2-inch shale parting 17 

inches from the bottom. 

Taken as a whole, this coal ranges from 3 to over 5 feet thick. Of this, the 

wm·kable coal averages from 3 to H feet. On account of the cpal sticking to the 

sandstone parting, much is lost in removing the sandstone. 

This coal is harder than the other coals mined in this district, and has to be 

mined with powder at some of the mines. An analysis of this coal, reported by 

Mr. A. R Crand~ll, is as follows: 

Analysis of Sandstone Parting coal. 

Per cent . 

.i\foisture _. __ • _ .. _ -. _ .. _ .. ____ ........ _ .... _. _ .. _. _. _ .. __ . _______ . _. ______ . __ . _. _. _ ..... _. · 2. 00 

Volatile combustible matter ..................... _ .................... __ ................ __ 33. 00 

Fixed carbon ___________ ....... __ ... _ ........ _. ·_. _ ..... _ ... __ ........ _. _ ........... ___ . _ _ 57. 00 

Ash. ___ ...... _ ...... ____ ......................... : ............. _ ................... ----- 7. 20 

Sulpliur _ .. _ .. ______ . ____ . _ ............. -...... _. _ .......................... _ ... _ .... _ .. _ _ . 551 

TotaL ___ .... _____ .. __ .... _ ...... -....... _ ..... _ ..... ·._c. ___ .. _- ........ - .......... 99. 751 
74 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL I<'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

COALS OF CATRON FORMATION. 

Between the Lower Hignite coal .and the Klondike coal no coals of importance appear, as is shown by Mr. Richardson's section on Bryson Mountain. 

At the Mingo mines the Poplar Lick coal lies 36 feet below the Klondike 

coal. At the Nicholson mine these coals were 40 feet (bar.) apa1~t. In Slickrock 

and Martin branches of Stony Fork, Mr. Crandall has assumed that the. Klondike 

and Poplar Lick coals were represented by two coals 30 feet apart, of which 

only the upper is workable. This agrees well with what was found on Bennett 

Fork, but docs not agree with what occurs on the north side of Stony Fork. 

As already stated, Poplar Lick coal in Canada Ridge is a persistently workable 

coal and bas been extensively tested and mapped in that area. As a rule in that 

region no coal has been found in the first 75 to 100 feet above the Poplar Lick 

coal. The first coal above lies from 75 to 125 feet above, and though locally 

workable is not so usually. It would therefore seem more probable that the 

4-foot coal, at an elevation of 820 feet above the mouth of Slickrock Branch and 

of 563 feet above the mouth of Martin Branch, is the Poplar· Lick coal, and it 

will be so considered here. On this basis the Poplar Lick coal may be considered 

as a 4-foot coal along Stony Fork, and generally workable; and as from 3 to 4 

feet thick on Bennett Fork, and only questionably workable at most places on 

. account of its partings.. It is being mined at Mingo No. 1 mine. The roof is 

generally shale. At the Nicholson mine (38) a partial facing showed it to occur 

in two benches, apparently about 18 inches t}Iick each and 18 inches apart. .At the 

Mingo mine (42) it shows about 46 inches of coal, with a 2-inch parting in the 

middle. The floor here is sandstone and the roof shale. A section reported on 

Bennett Fork by Mr. Crandall showed 54 inches of coal with two main benches, 

the upper one 17 inches thick and the lower one 261 inches thick,. with several 

thin benches and partings between (111). On the right-hand fork of Slickrock 

Branch of Stony Fork, Mr. Crandall reports this coal to be 42 inches thick, with a 

l-inch .shale parting 7 inches from the top (167). On Martin Branch of Stony 

Fork he reports it to show 48 inches of solid coal (191). A section of this coal 

by Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers on Slickrock Branch of Stony Fork made 

this coal 3 feet 7 inches thick in four benches, of which the uppermost is . H 

inches, the next H· inches, then H inches, and the lower bench, which is somewhat bony, is 2 feet thick; 2t inches of the uppermost parting is coal and shale; 

the. lower part of the parting has a thickness of. 5t inches; the two partings 

below are H inches and 2 inches thick. On Camp Branch of Stony Fork Mr. 

Crandall reports this coal as only 21 inches thick with two shale ·partings. 

Analyses of this coal in the Clear Fork field indicate a good quality of coal, as 

shown in the discussion of that district. · · · 

KLONDIKE COAL. 

This coal is named from the Klondike, or Halston No. 3, mine where alone it 

was being worked in 1902. Since then commercial openings have been made upon 

it at Mingo and Nicholson mines, and in 1894 an opening is reported as having 
COALS OF BENNETT F'ORK DISTRICT. 75 

been made upon it in Bryson Mountain. At its type locality (51) it shows interestingly the variation in the thickness of the shale parting. At the head of the 

incline it appears in two beds, of which the upper bed is 2 feet thick, the lower is 

2t feet thick, separated by 4 feet of shale. In an entry 200 feet away the upper 

bench has thickened up to 4 feet, the lower has thinned to 2 feet, while the parting 

has become reduced to 17 inches. Over much of the mine, however, the parting 

becomes reduced to less than 1 inch, and in places practically none shows, leaving 

the coal clean for from 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet. When examined in 1902 a rough 

facing only had been made at the Nicholson mine which showed 5 feet of solid coal 

underlain by 3 inches of soft coal (39). At the Mingo mine this coal shows from 3 

feet 6 inches to 4 feet of coal (41). Ther~ is a sandstone parting one-half inch thick 

2 inches from the top. As at the Nicholson mine, the bottom 2 or 3 inches is soft 

coal. On Red Oak Branch of Bennett Fork Mr. Crandall reports this coal to be 

47 inches thick with two partings, one H inches thick 2 inches from the top, the 

other one-half inch thick 5 inches from .the bottom; the roof is shale (112). At 

Little Coal Gap Mr. Crandall reports that this coal shows a lower bench of 42 

inches overlain ·with 2 inches of bone, and that 12 inches of coal are found 31 

inches above (54). On Sugan Branch Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers give a 

section of this coal showing a total thickness of 63t inches (55). Five inches from 

the top it had a parting of clay 1 inch thick, 24 inches below there were 4t inches 

of bone, and at the bottom 2 inches of bone coal. 

A short distance away they found another opening on the same coal which 

measured 4 feet 9 inches. This had some pyritous bone 1 to 2 inches thick 9 

inches from the top and 2 inches of slaty coal 15 inches from the bottom. A 

fair section of this coal seen during · the present work showed the following 

strata: Top bench of 38 inches of coal; 3 inches of clay; 2 inches of coal; 10 

inches of clay; and llt inches of coal (97). At an opening below the Fork 

Ridge Company's new mine, on the Lower Hignite coal, what appeared to be 

the Klondike coal showed only 26 inches of coal with 2 inches of bone 11 

inches from the bottom, the roof being shale 10 feet or more in thickness. 

Mr. Crandall reports this coal to show, below the mouth of the right-hand fork 

of Puncheon Camp Creek (113), 45t inches of coal with a one-half to 2-inch 

parting 6 inches from the bottom. On the Shade Branch of Bennett Fork 

Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers report this coal as 3 feet 9 inches thick; the 

top inch is shaly, 6 inches lower is 5 ·inches of bone and hard coaly clay, and 

the bottom 1 foot 3 inches is splinty. On Slickrock Branch of Stony Fork 

McCreath and d'lnvilliers report this coal, or at least the coal correlated with 

the Klondike all along the south side of Stony Fork, as being 60t inches 

thick, but badly split up by partings. The top bench is 2 feet 7t inches thick; 

below it are benches of 5, 3, 3-i, 1, and 8 inches separated by partings of t, 2t, 

t, lt, and 2t inches. Mr .. Crandall reports this coal as 45t inches thick on the 

left-hand fork of Slickrock Branch, with a 6-inch parting 7 inches from the top 

(156). On the right-hand branch the parting is only 3 inches, but the total 

thickness of the coal is reduced to 33 inches (155). On Martin Branch of Stony ~ 

Fork this coal is reported by Mr. Crandall as showing in two benches 18 inches 

and 15 inches thick and 24 inches apart (190). · On Camp Branch of Stony Fork 

41--No.49--06----6 
76 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

this coal makes a somewhat better showing, as reported by Mr. Crandall. It 

has there two partings, the upper one, 20 inches froro. the top, is 6 inches thick, 

and the lower one, lOt inches from the bottom (203), is 5t inches thick. The 

sections that have been given show this coal to have a total thickness not 

including the extremes of from 4 to 6 feet, of which from 3 feet 6 inches to 

6 feet consist of workable coal, averaging a little over 4 feet on Bennett Fork 

and less than 4 feet oil Stony Fork. 

A·rwlyses of Klondike coal. 

Constituent. A. B. c. D. 

---·~ 

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

Moisture .......................... __ .......... _ ..... _ _ 3. 492 1. 308 3.00 1.44 

Volatile combustible matter ..... _ ... __ ... ________ . ___ ... 35. 683 38.042 32.05 32.56 

Fixed carbon ... ___ ... ___ ... _ . __ ... ____ .. ____ .. _______ . 50. 373 49.671 59.83 53.34 

Ash ................. _ ..... ____ ............... _ ..... _ _ 9. 530 8.545 4.41 12.66 

Sulphur _ ............ __ .... __ ..... _ ..... _____ .. _. _.... . 923 2.434 . 76 1. 454 

A. From opening (55) on Sngan Branch of Bennett Fork; analysis by McCreath; samples collected by McCreath and 

d'Invilliers. 

B. Shade Branch of Bennett Fork; analysis by McCreath; sample collected by ·McCreath and d'lnvilliers. 

C. Lick Hollow, Hurricttne Branch, one-fourth mile >tbove the mouth of Grays Brunch, Clear Fork drainage (122); 

analysis by Robert Peter; sample collected by A. R. Crandall. 

D. Shade Branch of Bennett Fork; analysis by Robert Peter; sample collected by R. C. B. Thruston. 

The sample obtained on Shade Branch by Mr. Thrnston was probably from 

the facing sampled by Mr. McCreath. Mr. McCreath reports that his sample 

included the two benches of bony coal, 4t and 2 inches thick, which did not occur 

at the Hurricane Branch locality. Practical coking tests of this coal are said to 

have been made at the Mingo ovens, and though the coal was not washed the result 

Wa8 reported to be entirely satisfactory. Notwithstanding the thick parting that 

develops at the Klondike mine, this coal seems to be usually rather free from 

partings and to present a thickness of coal that will make it an important factor in 

the future development of the Bennett Fork field. The bottom 2 or 3 inehes of the 

coal tends to be soft and often worthless, as at the Nicholson and Mingo mines, and at 

the opening (55) on Sugan Branch. The lowest 3 inches of the H-foot bench of coal 

.on Shade Branch is reported to be soft; the same bench is reported t? carry sulphur 

in irregular streaks and concretions at about 6 inches from the floor. This probably 

accounts for the large percentage of sulphur shown in the coal from this opening. 

COALS OF HIGNITE FORMATION. 

Th-is formation carries three workable coals in the Bennett Fork district-the 

Red Spring coal at the top, the Lower Hignite coal at the bottom, and at least one 

intermediate coal of workable thickness. 

LOWER HIGNITE COAL. 

As far as recognized the Upper Hignite coal is not workable in this area, nor 

was a workable thickness at its horizon seen at any point in the area. The Lower 
COALS OF BENNET'l' FORK DISTRICT. 77 

Hignite coal, on the contrary, has an average thickness of almost 5 feet, ranging 

from 41 inches to 69t inches. The first commercial opening upon this bed was 

made on New Cabin Creek (99) in 1903 by the Fork Ridge Coal ~nd Coke Compai)y. 

The section at this new opening shows a total thickness of 5 feet 4 inches, of which 

5 feet 1 inch are of workable coal. There are two partings-the upper, 2 inches 

thick, is 41 inches below the roof; the other, H inches thick, is 8 inches above the 

floor. The roof here is shale. This coal was found at Little Coal Gap by Mr. 

Crandall (119), who reports' that it is 69t inches thick, an upper bench of 16 inches 

being separated from the lower portion by a parting of 14 inches of clay and coal; 

the lower 37 inches of coal has a 2t-inch parting 14 inches from the top. Several 

sections have been obtained by Mr. Crandall on Puncheon Camp Creek. One below 

the right-hand fork of Puncheon Camp Creek (115) shows 65 inches of coal without 

a parting·; another (117) gives 60t inches with only one parting from 1 to 3 inches 

thick 6t inches from the bottom. The section on the right-hand fork of Puncheon 

Camp Creek (116) showed 51 inches of workable coal with a one-half inch parting 

5 inches from the bottom; 3 inches of coal appears 8 to 11 inches lower. The 

roof in all of these cases is shale. A series of section:,; across Log Mountains to 

the southwest shows this coal to maintain an excellent thickness. One of these 

.sections (120) is given on Pl. X, which shows 58t inches of coal, plus 7t inches 

of partings. On Slickrock Branch of Stony Fork Mr. Crandall reports' this coal 

to be 61 inches thick (168). There is an upper bench of 37 inches, then 3 lower 

benches of 5, 1, ·and 8 inches, with partings of 5, It, and 3t inches, respectively. 

On Martin Branch of Stony Fork Mr. Crandall reports this coal (184) to show 

42t inches of solid coal overlain by 11t inches of mixed coal and clay .. The roof 

is shale. On Camp Branch of Stony Fork Mr. Crandall reports this coal to be 

41 inches thick, with shaly sandstone roof (205). From these sections it would 

appear that the coal on Stony Fork is a little thinner than farther south, the 

minable coal there averaging nearer 40 inches. On the whole there is little 

agreement in detail, many of the sections showing clean coal the full thickness, 

while others are n'!.uch cut up by partings. While the coal thus describcdhas 

been considered to be at. one horizon and' to be the equivalent of the Lower 

Hignite coal, no satisfactory criteria were found for distinguishing the horizon 

of the lower coal from that of the upper, unless the position of the massive 

sandstone found all through this district 20 feet or so below the coal may be 

considered such. Aside from this evidence, the assumption that this coal is at 

the lower rather than at the higher horizon is arbitrary and is based on conclusions reached by Mr. Crandall and others. No analyses of this coal in this 

area were obtained. Analyses in the Clear Creek district show an excellent coal. 

The Lower Hignite can hardly be considered a workable coal in Mingo Mountain, 

as it occurs at an elevation of about 2,600 feet, and, a8 shown by the map, 

underlies only the narrow crest between Coal Gap and Wilson Gap, with a few 

acres to the cast of Wilson Gap. In Bryson Peak two barometric measurements 

gave this coal an elevation of about 2,530 feet, and, as shown by the map, that 

allows it a good acreage, measuring to a line below the crest, which is as far as 

we have data for. In Fork Ridge much the same conditions exist as in Mingo 

Mountain. The coal is too near the crest to be considered workable. 
78 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

RED SPRING COAL. 

As shown on Pl. X, p. 56, two sections o£ the Red Spring coal were 

obtained. Mr. Richardson's section of Bryson Mountain (64) gives this coal a 

thickness o£ 6 feet 7 inches, including two partings, the upper parting being 10 

inches thick and 45 inches from the top, the lower parting 3 inches thick t~:nd 3 

inches from the bottom. Another section of this coal on Martin Branch o£ 

Stony Fork (176), reported by Mr. Crandall, showed 62t inches o£ coal, including 

three partings-the upper one 1 inch thick 10 inches from the top, the lowest 

one 1 inch thick and 2 inches from the bottom, and a t-inch parting 1 inch 

higher. The roo£ here is sandstone. In the Bennett Fork section the roo£ was 

shale for 10 inches, then sandstone' above. 0£ the other coals between the Red 

Spring coal and the Lower Hignite coal, only one need be considered, and that 

is only doubtfully workable. A section o£ this coal obtained by Mr. Richardson 

(67) showed 38 inches o£ coal in 5 benches, whieh, beginning at the top, had 

thicknesses o£ 4, 4, 2, 9, and 19 inches; at the top was 4 inches of coal and clay; 

below were partings of 4, 6, 2, and 3 inches. The 9 and 19 inches o£ coal at 

the bottom separated by 3 inches of clay might be considered workable if it 

occurred. near the foot of the mountain rather than near the top. Another 

section on Puncheon Camp Creek (90) shows this coal to have 4 benches 6, 3t, 

2, and 25 inches in thickness, separated by partings of 3, 8, and 2t inches. The 

roof is sandstone. This coal lies 240 feet above the Lower Hignite coal. 

COAL OF BRYSQN FORMATION. 

The Bryson formation forms the crest of Bryson Peak and the western end 

of Fork Ridge. Two of the coals found in this formation on Bryson Mountain 

are given on Pl. X. .Mr. Richardson's section in Bryson Mountain shows three 

coals, viz, coal (61) 1 foot 3 inches, coal (62) 6 feet 8 inches, and coal (63) 3 feet 

3 inches. The 39-inch coal is of workable thickness, but can hardly be considered 

workable on account of the very limited area it necessarily underlies. Coal (62) 

given as 6 feet 8 inches thick is really divided into a large number of benches, 

no one o£ which is of workable thickness. These benches measure as follows: 20 

inches, 1 inch, 2 inches, 18 inches, 6 inches of clay and coal, 2 inches, 1 inch, and 2 

inches. Between these benches are clay partings of 3, 2, 12, 7, 2, and 2 inches. 

SUMMARY. 

In the preparation of the following summaries the attempt has been made to 

ascertain with considerable accuracy the area underlain by tlie principal coals, and 

the outcrops have been traced for that purpose. Unless the coal has been seen at a 

large number of points fairly well distributed over the district, and gives evidence 

of being workable at all places visited, as, for example, the Harlan coal in the eastern 

districts, an estimate has been made, based upon the data at hand, of the portion of the 

·coal area that may be considered as workable. In a few cases, as the Harlan coal just 

mentioned, the area of workable coal may be practically equal to the area underlain 

by the seam. In the eastern districts it is probable that the total amount of workable coal greatly exceeds the estimates, for the reason that information concerning 
COALS OF BENNETT FO"RK DISTRICT. 79 

the coal is less complete than it is of the region of the two districts of the Log 

Mountains. - On the other hand, the amount of coal which may practically be considered as. workable-that is, whieh in th~ future, if present mining conditions continue,· will actually be mined-will probably be mueh less or at least no more than 

the amount given for each district. ·It must be admitted that in many cases the 

estimate of the proportion of a given bed that will yield workable coal is so largely 

a matter of personal judgment that thosf\ figures can riot be considered as in any 

sense authentic for any given coal. Where, however, several coals are grouped 

together, it is more than possible that the error made with one coal may be offset by 

an opposite error with some other eoal, leaving the total result fairly accurate. 

With the small amount of data at present at hand about most of the coals of the 

eastern area, these figures must be considered as only tentative, to be revised when 

a careful exploitation by drilling and facing shall have yielded a large amount of 

additional information. 

Summary of coals of Bennett Fork district. 

Number of coal beds found .... -- .... _ ................ _ ...... __ ................. 50+ 

Total thickness of coals ..••.. _ ........... _____ ................•..... _ .... :feet. . 95 ± 

Number of coal beds of workable thickness (2 feet+) ___ ..... _ ................ __ . 13 

Number of coals worked at present. ............... ·c··-------··················· 7 

.Average thickness of principal workable coals •............. _____ ........... feet._-_ 5 

Total thickness of workable coal beds._ ................ , ................... do ... 40+ 

Total thickness of coal in workable coal beds_ ....................... _ ...... do ... 30+ 

Greatest thickness of single coal bed measured _ ............................ do. . . 9jGreatest thickness of coal in single bed measured ... ____ ....... _." .......... do... 5! 

Summary of coal.~ in Bennett Fork district. 

Poplar Sandstone Bennett Hignite. Red Spring. Klondike. Lick. Parting. Mingo. Fork and 

Turner. 

-- --

.Approximate elevation, 

above tide .......... feet .. 2,600 3,000 2,350 2,300 1,950 1,700 1, 400 

Thickness: 

Greatest ... ---_ .. do. ___ 5! 6r72 9~ 4~ 5j- 95 6 > .Average. _______ .do._ .. 5 5t 5-f-z 4 4~ 6~ 4 

Least ___________ do .... 31", 5-:f'.- 4 3~ 3! 4t ····------ .Average thickness of workable coal. __ . _____ .. feet .. H 5+1 4 3! 3~ H 3! 

Number of measurements ... 9 2 13 5 8 8 10 

Area of seam ........ acres .. 1,·000 200 1,500 ,3,000 2,000 8,000 5,000 

Available coal per acre, 

tons .. _ ............... ___ 6,500 6,000 5,000 4,000 4,000 6,000 4,000 

Coal available in district, tons .. ___ . ______ . _ . ______ 6,500,000 1,000,000+ 7,500,000 8,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 20,000,000 
80 Cl(MBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

STRUCTURE. 

Reference has already been made to the complicated structure of the rocks 

exposed immediately around Middlesboro. As it was believed that the folding.would 

make valueless any coal that might occur in· these rocks, no attempt was made to 

work out the details of this structure. The boundary of the area having this 

type of structure is in general coincident with th~ south line of the borough of 

Middlesboro. 

At the eastern end of Mingo Mountain the Yellow Creek sandstone is just 

above the level of. Little Yellow Creek, making prominent bluffs a little above 

the brewery. The Blacksnake ( ~) sandstone makes inconspicuous outcrops at the 

top of the ridge where crossed by the road from Middlesboro to Fern Lake. A 

coal bloom (8) just below the sandstone there is supposed to be one of the Turner 

coals. About 160 feet above this sandstone and farther west another sandstone 

caps the ridge for a short distance, then reappears 40 feet above the gap at the 

head of Lane Branch. lf correctly correlated it rises 90 feet (bar.) from its easternmost outcrop to this gap. On Lane Branch an opening on the east side on the 

Lower Turner coal (9) has an elevation (bar.) of 1,430 feet, across the ravine to 

the west there is a dip of 20 feet, an opening on that side (10) being at an elevation 

of 1,410 feet. Downstream on the west bank the coal rises, reaching an altitude of 

1,430 feet at the Turner mine (13). Farther down the rise is still higher, becoming 20 feet in 100; the dip is to the south or southwest. The southwest dip on 

Lane Branch does not agree with the rise to the southwest that was thought to 

take place just east of the head of the branch, indicating that either the structure 

along the ridge was misinterpreted or there is a sharp local flexure. Along the 

crest from the head of Lane Branch to Bennett Gap the rocks seemed to lie about 

horizontal, though as the crest lies nearly in the strike indicated in Lane .Branch 

that may not be significant. On the same stretch along Little Yellow Creek the dip 

is sharply to the west. The Turner coal at the point where it is mined above Fern 

Lake (7) is at an altitude (bar.) of 1,430 feet, having exactly the same elevationas 

its outcrop on the north of the mountain, while near the mouth of a branch which 

heads at Bennett Gap the lower coal is at an altitude (bar.) of only 1,280 feet (5 and 

6). The two coals here are 25 to 30 feet apart. If, as has been thought, two old 

openings 30 feet apart (16 and 17) on George Brauch of Yellow Creek, which heads 

at Bennett Gap, are on the Turner coals, there is a sin1ilar westward dip on the 

north t>ide of the mountain, for the two coals that were at elevations of 1,430 

and 1,450 feet at the Turner mine (1~ and 13) occur at altitudes of 1,220 and 1,240 

feet on George Branch. This dip would agree with the dip seen on Bennett Fork 

just to the west of this. The apparent westward dip here described and the 

similar dip on Bennett Fork furnish reasons for believing that the Turner coals 

are independent of the Bennett Fork coals. 

In Bennett Fork Valley the dip from the mouth to Rock Braneh is sharply to 

' the south of west, the rocks descending 70 feet in 1,000 feet. The Upper Bennett 

Fork coal was first seen at a wagon mine on the north bank (20) where it is about 

1,400 feet above tide. At the Bennett Fork mine it has descended to 1,230 feet, 

beyond which the descent is much less rapid, but sufficient to bring the coals under 
STRUCTURE OF BENNET FORK DISTRICT. 81 

drainage a short distance above. At the Bennett Fork mine (23) the main entry, 

driven straight into the hill, is about on the strike, though rising slightly. Haulage 

is difficult· on the west side of the mine. · 

On the north side of Bennett Fork opposite the Bennett Fork mine the top 

of the Fork Ridge sandstone, which there caps the top of the mountain, is 

1,680 feet (bar.) above tide. As it has practically the same elevation at the 

mouth of Puncheon Camp Branch of Bennett Fork, a line from Rock Branch 

to Puncheon Camp Branch appears to run on the general strike. As a matter 

of fact the westward dip from the mouth of the stream continues a little above 

Rock Branch. F1·om the transverse synclinal axis probably there is a slight rise 

upstream to the mouth of Puncheon Camp Branch. Above that the rise is more 

marked, probably in part due to the southward deflection of the headwaters of 

Bennett Fork. At the Yellow Creek mine the top of the Fork Ridge sandstone is found at 1,700 feet (bar.) or 320 feet above the creek. The Mingo 

coal is opened a few feet higher and just over the commissary. The Sandstone Parting coal being mined here is by barometer about 2,060 feet above 

tide. The Poplar Lick and Klondike coals should be. found in the top of the 

ridge here, underlying very small areas, at elevations of about 2,240 and 2,280 

feet, respectively. At the Nicholson mines two openings on the Mingo coal are 

at elevations (bar.) of 1,710 and 1,730 feet above tide, while the Sandstone Parting, Poplar Lick, and Klondike coall" gave a trifle lower reading than at the 

Yellow Creek mine. The Klondike coal is near the top of the ridge, but has 

enough body to lead to its being mined at this point. 

. Around the mouth of Puncheon Camp Branch and up Bennett Fork the 

structure is well shown by the following exact elevations above tide on the 

Mingo coal at the mines named: Fork Ridge mine, 1,693 feet; Reliance mine, 

1, 724 feet; Mingo No. 1 mine, 1, 739 feet; Mingo No.· 2 mine, l, 771 feet; Bryson 

mine, 1, 796 feet; ]{alston No. 1 mine, 1,814 feet. At the Mingo No. 1 mine the 

Mingo coal is 260 feet above Bennett Fork; at Ralston No. 1 mine it barely 

drains into the creek, the rise of the creek having brought its channel up to the 

level of the coal. At the Mingo No. 1 mine the spaces to the upper coals have 

been very accurately measured. From the Mingo coal to the Sandstone Parting 

coal is 285 feet; from the. latter to the Poplar Lick coal is 230 feet, with the 

Klondike coal 36 feet higher. These elevations added to the exact elevations 

given above, with due allowance for dip, should give about the position of the 

upper coals. The Lower Hignite coal may occur near the crest of Mingo Mountain near Wilson Gap, but not in minable quantity. It is· probable that along 

a northwest-southeast line through Mingo Mountain, from Bennett Fork, at right 

angles to the general strike, the rise will be more or less regular until the crest is 

passed, when it will become much sharper. What was taken to be the Fork Ridge 

sandstone was noted on the south slope of Mingo Mountain at an elevation (bar.) 

of 2,040 feet, 360 feet below the saddle at Wilson Gap and 300 feet above its 

.elevation at Mingo. At one point it dips N .. 45° (?) W. at an angle of 12°. 

Around the east end of Fork Ridge and along the north or Stony Fork 

side the top of the Fork Ridge sandstone is found to have the following 
82 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL E'IJ£I,D, KENTUCKY. 

barometric elevations above tide: On the end of the nose, 1,650 feet above tide; 

Slickrock Branch, 1,560 feet; Martin Branch, 1,670 feet; Camp .Branch, opposite 

the mouth of Coal Branch, 1, 7 40 feet; Stony Fork, about 1, 760 · feet. On 

Slickrock .Branch the top of this sandstone is 300 feet (bar.) above the mouth. 

About 300 feet higher (or at 1,855 feet) is the :)andstone Parting coal, as 

reported by Crandall and by McCreath and d'Invilliers, the interval agreeing 

with that found on Bennett Fork. On Martin Branch the top of the Fork 

Ridge sandstone is about 140 feet above the mouth •of the branch. The Sandstone 

Parting coal with a characteristic section is reported by Mr. Crandall to occur 

350 feet above the mouth. This makes the interv,al between it and the Fork 

Ridge sandstone 100 feet less than the normal. It is not possible at a distance 

to say where the discrepancy lies. The Poplar Lick coal lies from 200 to 250 

feet above the the Sandstone Parting coal, the Lower Hignite from 300 to 360 

above that, and the Red Spring coal, when present, 500 feet higher. The Red 

Spring coal is hardly workable in Fork. Ridge on account of its nearness to the 

crest. It occurs only in the western part of the ridge. 

S'l'ONY l<'ORR-CLEAR CREER DISTRICT. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

The area treated under this heading consi!3ts of the portion of the Log 

Mountains. field between Big Clear Creek on the north and Camp Creek, Stony 

Fork, and Yellow Creek on the south. In order to reduce the map to the size 

of a pagea plate, the eastern boundary is an arbitrary line up Fourmile Run, 

across the bead of Cannon Creek, down Fuson Branch of Little Clear Creek, and 

north to Pine Mountain. The topography around Middlesboro has already been · 

described (pp. 23--:28). In the rest of the territory it is of the same type as in 

the Bennett Fork district, the streams having a fa1rly uniform 'descent from head 

to mouth. Switch hacks would he required to enable railroads to reach the coal 

on the smaller streams. 

The Cumberland River and Tennessee Railroad was built up Clear Creek to 

Chenoa in 1893. A cannel coal was extensively mined at Chenoa until 1899, lm~ 

.the entries were driven down the dip, which was so steep as to finally render 

mining unprofitable. Had the railroad been run up Little Clear Creek the coal 

could have been entered at the lowest part of the bed with more satisfactory 

results.· Three mines began operations in the Stony Fork basin in 1903-4. 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

It is probable that a higher point stratigraphically is reached in the 

mountains at the heads of Hignite and Coal creeks than anywhere else in the 

area studied. Like the last district, this one has been quite thoroughly tested, 

thongh little actual mining has yet been done. A series of columnar sections is 

presented on Pl. XII. · 

a The page maps have been combined into Pl. XL, in pocket. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Near head of 

Clear Creek 

Feet · 0 

Bear Creek of 

Clear Creek 

Rep.byA.R.C 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XII 

Hignite Creek 

Coal or Spurjust 

Rockhouse Branch eastof 

of Stony Fork Martin Branch · Stony Fork of 

Yellow Creek 

Martm Branch of 

Stony Fork 

Rep. by A .R C. 

Cto" i7J 

c ,· 174 

cs't"J75 

c !'6"176 

Ct?'to''t77 

cz'2"+1?B 

Red Spring 

COB I 

Slick rock C2't'!rt81 

Branch of Stony 

c 2'11''+-18+ fork. 

Rep.byA.R.C. 

Mouth 

COLUMNAR SECTIONS, STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 mch=300 feet. 
SECTIONS· IN STONY FORK-·CLEA.R CREEK DISTRICT. 83 

The first section needs no description, the lowest coal bloom is thought to be 

the Chenoa cannel coal. The other sections may be described to ·give the details 

of the coals. 

Section on Bear C?·eek near head of Clear C'reek (A. R. Ora'{!dall). 

No. on map. Stratum. 

Total thickThickness. ness of sec- tion. 

Ft. in. Fl. in. 

J nterval from crest of mountain ..................................... . 20 0 20 0 

376 Coal ........ _ ............ _____________ .... ______ . _ _ ______________ . 1 11 21 11 

Interval, sandstone and shale ........................ ~ .............. . 60 0 81 11 

377 Coal, Red Spring ....................... _,_ .......................... . 4 7 86 6 

Interval, shale ........................................ · ............. . 20 0 106 6 

378 Coal .............................................................. . 1 8 108 2 

Int~rval, shale ................................... ·- .................. . 40 0 148 2 

379 Coal .......................... __ ... _ . __ ... _____ .. _ . _ ..... ___ .... __ _ 1 1 149 3 

Interval, shale and sandstone ....................................... . '40 0 189 ::! 

380 Coal ............................ _ ... ____ . __ ...... _. ____ .... ___ . __ . _ 1 9 191 0 

Interval, shale and sandst!)ne . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 0 251 0 

381 Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 251 10 

Interval, sandstone and covered ....... _............................. 120 0 371 10 

382 Coal, thin ........................................................................ __ .. __ 

· Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 0 386 10 

383 Coal, thin ........................... _ ......... · ............ __ .... __ . _ ..... __ . ___ .. _ .... _ 

Interval.. . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 0 431 10 

384 Coal, Copperas Lick ............................... :................. 3 0 434 10 

Interval, some sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 0 

385 Coal, Upper Hignite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 

Interval, shale........................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 0 

534 10 

539 2 

559 2 

386 Coal, Lower Hignite................................................. 3 11 563 1 

Interval, shaly, sandstone near top................................... 95 0 658 1 

387 Coal, thin ......................................... __ ........ _ ....... __ . _ ........ ____ ... . 

IntervaL....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 0 698 1 

388 Coal------·--------·········-·············---------·-···-·-·------- 2 2 700 3 

1 nterval ... _. _ ............... __ ........ _____ . __ . __ . ____ l ____ . _______ _ 40 0 740 3 

389 Coal ..................... _____ ........ __ . _ : ______ . __ . _____________ _ 2 4 742 i 

Interval .................................................... ___ .. __ . 20 0 762 7 . 390 Coal, Klondike('!) .......................................... ____ .... _ 2 6 765 1 

Interval ............ , .............................................. . 90 0 855 1 

391 Coal, Poplar Li<:k ........................................ _ ......... _ 4 2 859 3 

Interval, shale over coal. ........................................... . 10 0 869 0 

392 Coal, cannel eoal. ................................. __ .. , .. _ ... __ ... _. _ ... __ .... ______ . _ .. 

Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 0 994 0 

393 Coal ......................... __ . ___ ..... _ . _ ... ____ ... _ . _ .. _ . _ .. ___ _ 2 0 996 0 

Interval, shale .................................... _ . _. ____ . __ . _ ... _. 50 0 1,046 0 
~4 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Section on Bear Creek near head of Clear Creek (A. R. Orandall)-Continued. 

Totlll thickStratum. Thickness. ness of sec- tion . 

Ft. in. .Pt. -in. 

3H4 Coal ...... - ___ .. __ ... -. _ .. -.------.-.- .. -.. -- _ ...... ----.---...... . 1 6 1,047 6 

Interval, cannel shale_ .. __ . _________ ...... __ .. __ . ____ . _. ___________ _ ?15' 0 1,062 6 

395 Coal, Sandstone Parting, Buckeye Spring ___ ...... __________ .. ___ .... . 2 7 1,065 1 

Interval __ . ____ .. _ ....•.......... _____________ . __ .. ___ . _____ .. _. ____ _ 130 0 1,195 1 

396 Coal, thin . , .... ___ .. ______________ . ______ .. _ ... ___ ..... ____________ ...•...... _ ........• 

Interval .... ___ . ______ .. ______ ... __ ....... _. __ . __ . ____ ... _ ... _...... .100 0 1, 295 1 

397 Coal, thin _____ .... _ .. _ ..... ___ . _ . _________ . __ . _ .... __ . _ ....... _ _ _ _ _ _ .•... __ .. _ ...•..... 

Interval .. _ . _ . ____ .. _. ____ . ___ ....... __ ...... _ ....... _. ____ . __ . . . . . . 45 0 1, 340 1 

398 Coal, thin .. ________ ... ___ . __ . ___ ... _. ___ . ____________ .. __ ..... ___ . __ .•.............. __ . 

Interval ...•..•.................... _ .. _.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 0 1, 390 1 

399 Coal, Chenoa canneL .............. _ ....................... _ .. _... . . . 5 9 1, 395 10 

There appears to be considerable variation in the various report::; made on 

the Bear Creek area. 

In a report to the Log Mountain Coal, Coke, and Tl.mber Company by Mr. G. D. 

Fitzhugh, the following intervals are given: 

No. on ID!Lp. 

Section (in part) on Bear Greek._ 

Stratum. Thickness. Tot~e~~~ck-

-----------------------------------1----

F't. in. Ft. in. 

Shale roof ............................. _ ....................................... _ .....•.. 

420 Coal,Upperi-Iignite ...................... ~------------------------· 10 2~ 10 2 

Interval, shale roof .....•........................ _______ . _ ........ __ 12 0 22 2 

419 Coal, Lower Hignite ... __ ...... __ ....... _ ........... _ .. _ ........... . 4 3 26 5 

Interval, dark-blue shale roof. ....... _ ....................... _ .. ___ _ 290 0 316 5 I 

418 Coal, Poplar Lick_._ .... _ ....... ___ ._ . _____ ..... __ .......... __ .... . 

Interval, shale and clay roof. ...... _. _ .... _.: ........... _ ........... . 

417 Coal, Buckeye Spring ........... -·- .......... -.. -...... --- -..... -... ( 

4 

1~! 321 3 

105 426 3 

3 429 fi 

Interval, sandstone at bottom ... _. _______ ._ .. _. __ ._ ...... _ .. _ ....... . 130 0 559 .5 

Shale ...... _ ........ _. _ ...... _ ........... _ ....... __ .•.............. 6 559 11 

Coal, Ramsey (Pl. XIII)----··············--.----------------····--·· 2 6 562 5 

Interval to Chenoa cannel coal .. _. __ .. _______ ...................... . 130 0 692 5 
'-'• .;;r. ••.;u;;.vL.VUI\ ... M.L. .:!UttVt:.Y tJHUt-t:.titiiUNAL PAPEH NO.4~ PL. XIII 

R&D SPRING COAL. UPPER HIGNITE COAL. 

415; 346. 282. 281. 413. 411. 412. 254. 280. 

Bea.~ Creek. Polk Branch of Bean Fork Hignite Creek. (Rept. by A. R.C.) Little Clear Branch. (Rept, by A.R.C.) Polk Branch of Little Clear Creek. Bear Creek. Cany Branch of Hignite Creek. Hignite Creek. (Rept. by A. Big Clear Creek. (Rept. by A.R.C.) Creek. (Rept. by A.R.C.) 

(Rept. by A. R.C.) 

442. 409. 

Big Clear Creek. Big Clear Creek (Rept. by R.H.E.) side of Piney Spur. 

(Rept. by A.R.C'.) 

=i6" 

408. 

Cany Branch of Big Clear Creek. (Rept. by A.R.C.) 

J.!i"l36" 2" 

%" + ,38'• =38)1)" 

(Rept. by A. H. C.) 

~w· 

12" =75311" + 63J.!i" 

R. C.) (Rept. by A. R.C.) 

LOWER HIGNITE COAT.. 

346. 

Little C I e a r Creek, John Evans farm. (Rept. by A. R.C.) 

290. 307. 279. 

Bean Fork LickForkofBean Hignite Creek. Branch. J!'ork Branch. (Rept. by A.R..C.) 

(Rept. by A.R.C.) (Rept. by A.R.C.) 

8"· + 48%'' =56}4" 

I 

266. 221. 

Hignite Creek. Stony Fork. 

KLONDIKE COAL. 1\IINGO FoRMATION. 

389, 390. 374. 

Bear Creek. ·Puncheon Camp (Rept. by A. H.. C.) Branch of Lit- tle Clear Creek. 

26"+ 

417, 372. 

369. 

H'' + 50M" =64.7!!'' 

332. 

Little Clear Creek. 

SANDSTONE PARTING CoAr~. 

351. 460. 

Bear Creek. Little Clear Polk Hollow. Bean Fork 

(Re~,:~~C.:.'> C.-., <&:'lby G.~.~'.) (Rep~~~;~: .. C> 

2" 9'' 

- - 27!)" 6'' - - 1 8" 1"+37"- - 3"_+,,33" -611 

o38" 4~' + 82" - 36 5" 

=-36~" - -

0" + 35" o=«" 

293, 

Bean Fork Branch. (Rept. by A.R.C.) 

6" 1"11::: 12" 

2" 

3" 

11" + 29" =iO" 

299. 

228. 

West side Stony Fork, Luke and Drummond 

mine. 

317. 

Bean Fork Stony Fork, Hig- Branch. nite Branch. (Rept. by A. R.C.) (Rept. by MeC. andd'l.) 

+ 4.5'' =60'' 

241. 

Stony Fork. 

249. 

Stony Fork, just above mouth of Hignite. 

1

17" 

2" 

8" 

2" + 25" =27" 

275. 

Mouth of Hig- nite. 

1)1)" "118" 10" 

- -

MASON COAL. RAMSEY COAL. CHENOA CANNEL 

143, 

Clear Creek. (Rept. byR.H.E.) 

1" + 4631"" 

=47"" 

416. 

Bear Creek. (Rept. by G. D.~'.) 

6"1 30'' 

6" + 30" =86" 

CoAL. 

399. 

Bear Creek. (Rept. by A. R.C.) 

COAL SECTIONS, STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 
• 

SECTIONS IN STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 85 

Another report to the same company by Mr. R. H. Elliott gives still other 

intervals. 

Coals and ·intervals on Bear Creek. 

No. on map. Thickness of Total thickStratum. ness of interval. intervals. 

Coal, Red Spring. Feet. Feet. 

IntervaL ______ - ____ ---.. _-- ... ----- ----- .. --- -------------- ---- -- -- 1 355 355 

Coal, Upper Hignite. 

IntervaL ____________ . _______________ -- ____ - __________ -- ____ -------- 25 380 

442 Coal, Lower Hignite. (See Pl. XIII.) 

IntervaL ___________ . ___ : _____________ -·- ___ - _______ : __________ ~ ____ _ 208, 588 

Coal, Poplar Lick. 

IntervaL _____________ .. ________________________________________ ~ __ _ 157 745 

Coal, Buckeye Spring. 

IntervaL _______ . ___ - _________ ·- _. ________________ ... _______________ . llO 855 

Coal, Ralston. 

IntervaL ________ • ______________ -- ___ -------.------ .. -_--.-------.--. 20 875 

443 Coal, Mason. (See Pl. Xlii.) 

IntervaL ____________ -- ___ - - ____ - ____ --------- -:---- ___ ----- . --. - _-- 405 1,280 

Coal, Chenoa cannel. 

In May, 1896, a drilling was made £or oil on Bear Creek by the Log Mountain 

Coal, Coke, and Timbei· Company. The record is kindly furnished by their successor, the Louisville Property Company. This drilling started at 81 feet above 

the bottom o£ the Mason coal and was reported as starting "about 225 feet" below 

the Poplar Lick coal. The record as given by the drillers is as follows: 

Record of oil well drilled on Louisv·ille Property Company's lands near Chenoa, Ky. 

Stratum. Thick- TotaL Stratum. Thick· TotaL ness. ness . 

Feet. Feet. Peel. Feet. 

Clay __ .: ____________ . ____________ 27 27 Bituminous coal ·····----------- 2 311 

Slate _______ ..... -- -------- . ----- 45 72 Slate ___________ . ________ . ______ 20 331 

Sandstone, brown --------------- 5 77 Bituminous coaL _______________ . 2 333 

Bituminous coal, Mason seam ---- 4 81 Slate ___________________________ 40 373 

Slate __ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---- -- - - - - - . 10 91 Sandstone, with water __________ . 10 383 

Sandstone, with water __ -- ________ 36 127 Slate--------------------- ______ 28 411 

Slate __ -------------- . ----- ------ 5 132 Bear Creek cannel coal; "Chenoa" 

Sandstone, white---------------· 37 169 

coal _____ .. _________ .. ____ . ___ 4 415 

Slate._------------------------.- 76 245 Fire clay .... ----------- .. -.. --.---- 2 417 

Bituminous coal, "supposed Blue 

Slate _________ . _________________ 37 454 

Gem?" -.. -.... -.. -- .. ---... ----.... --- 4 249 Sandstone -- .. ---------... -.. ------ 30 484 

Slate and shale _________ • -- - _ ~--- 60 I 309 Slate _____________ . _____________ 8 492 
86 CUMBERLAND· GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Record of oil well drilled on Louisville Property Company's lands near Chenoa, Ky.-Continued. 

Stratum. Thickness. Total. Stratum. Thickness. Total. 

-------------------------1----------------------------------l----------

Sandstone, black . ______________ _ 

Slate and shale _________________ _ 

Sandstone, black _______________ _ 

Slate ____ .. __ .. - - - - - - __ - - - - - - - - - -

Sandstone, blaek ______ . ________ _ 

Slate. _________________ . ________ _ 

Sandstone, white----------------

Slate .... _______________________ _ 

Sandstone, white _____ , _____ • ___ _ 

Slate ______ ----------------------· 

Sandstone, gray_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ 

Sandstone, white----------------

Slate ________ . ______ , _________ . __ 

Sandstone, dark _______________ __ 

Slate _____________ -- ____________ _ 

Sandstone, dark _______ .. ______ __ 

Slate ____ .. _____________________ _ 

Sandstone, dark ________________ _ 

Feet. 

9 

.90 

22 

35 

5 

·5 

11 

3 

11 

30 

20 

45 

15 

10 

35 

2 

35 

10 

Feet. 

1.'01 

591 

613 

Slate ----- -.--.-.----------------

Sandstone, white; Yellow Creek 

sandstone'! _____ ..••• _ ••• _ •. __ 

648 . Slate ___ .. ___ ... ___ . _. _. __ . _. _. _ 

653 Sandstone, Naese, top of Lee 

formation ___ ... _____ ...... __ _ 

658 

669 

672 

683 

713 

733 

778 

793 

803 

838 

840 

875 

885 

Slate _ . _________ ... ____________ _ 

Sandstone, whit.e. ______________ _ 

Bituminous coaL _______________ _ 

Sandstone, white ______ ------~---

Slate ______ ---·- _______________ _ 

Sandstone, white _______________ _ 

Slate __________ . _ . _____________ _ 

Sandstone, white .. _____________ _ 

Bituminous coaL _______________ _ 

Sandstone, white ______________ _ 

Bituminous coal _____ .. ________ __ 

'Sandstone, white. ______________ _ 

Feet. 

15 

50 

38 

256 

4 

84 

4 

176 

5 

111 

5 

74 

2 

72 

6 

30 

Feet. 

900 

950 

988 

1,244 

1,248 

1,332 

1, 336 

1,512 

1,517 

·1, 628 

1,633 

1, 707 

1,709 

1,781 

1, 787 

1,817 

Along the lower course of Clear Creek the Naese sandstone makes cliffs over 

130 feet high, and its bottom is not exposed. It therefore seems probable that 

the sandstone reported 256 feet thick represents that sandstone and the top of 

the Lee. The 50 feet of sandstone 38 feet above would correspond with the 

Yellow Creek sandstone. According to that correlation, on Bear Creek the top of 

the Lee is 1,211 feet below the Poplar Lick coal. The top of the Lee is not 

exposed on Bennett Fork nor on Bear Creek, nor are the correlations of the 

.Mingo coal with any of the coals of Bear Creek or the Chenoa cannel coal with 

any of the coals on Bennett Fork certain. A comparison of the intervals between • 

the coals bel~w the Poplar Lick indicates that these intervals decrease from Bennett 

Fork to Bear Creek and that the Mingo coal occupies about the position of the 

Mason coal on Bear Creek and the Chenoa cannel coal comes at about the horizon 

of the Bennett Fork coal. While it is possible that exact correlation between 

the coals at those horizons exists, with present data such correlation can not be 

asserted. The following table shows the thinning of the spaces mentioned from 

south to north : 
SECTIONS IN STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 87 

Comparison of intervals between coals on Bennett Fork and Bea1· Creek. 

Bennett 

Fork. 

Slickrock Little Clear Bear Creek 

Branch. Creek. (drilling). 

.A ............. ·-----.... -- •• -----.- •• --------------- •• 

B .... - ............ -------- .......... -------- ...... ----

C.--- .. --------------- .. -.- .. --.------.-.-.-----------

D .. ------------------------- .... -----• ------ .. -....... 

Feet. 

230 

285 

515 

440 

~----------------------·---------··-·-···----··-···1 560? 

-~----· 

Feet . 

210 

210 

Feet. 

210 

140 

420 350 

. --------------------

A . .Interval between Poplar Lick coal and Sandstone Parting (Buckeye Spring) coal. 

B. Interval between Sandstone Parting and Mingo (J\Iason).coal. 

C. Interval between Poplar Lick and Mingo (Mason) coal. 

Feet. 

306 

334 

.571 

D. Interval between Mingo coal and Bennett Fork coal on Bennett Fork, and Mason colt! and Chenoa camu;l coal 

on Bear Creek. 

E. Interval from top of Lee sandstone to Bennett Fork or Chenoa cannel coal (hypothetical on Bennett Fork). 

This interv11l of 560 feet is based on a comparison ol the intervals between the coals on Bennett Fork and those to 

the east in Jackson Mountain, as shown below. 

Intervals between coals on Bennett Fork and .Jackson 11fountain. 

Feet. 

Top ofJ esse sandstone to ·wallins Creek coal _ .. __ .. __ .... _ ...... __ .. _____ " _ 320 

Top of sandstone just under Lower Hignite coal to Poplar Lick.coal ___ .. _. ___ 340 

WallinH Creek coal to Creech coaL .. _ .. _ ...... _____________ ....... ____ .... _ 460 

Poplar Lick coal to Mingo coal. .. ____ .. __ .. --- ________ .. ____ .. _________ .... 515 

Creech coal to Hance coal..: ... ---- ____ . ___ .... ______ .... _ .. _ ..... _____ .. __ 500 

Mingo coal to Bennett Fork coaL ..• · .. _. ____ . __________ ........... __ ..... ___ 440 

Hance coal to top of Lee sandstone_·--_ ............ _____ .. _._ ...... _ .. ___ ... 560 

Bennett Fork coal to top of Lee sandstone ____ ....... ____ ... _: ...... _____ .... 500 + (?) 

The above facts arc among those which have led us to believe that the 

Chenoa cannel coal is about at the horizon of the Bennett Fork coal on Bennett 

Fork, of the Hance coal on Hance Ridge, and of the Harlan coal of the Harlan 

district, and so has been taken as the top of the Hance formation in the Clear 

Creek district. Also that the Mason coal is about at the horizon of the Mingo 

coal, and the Mingo coal in turn at the horizon of the Creech coal on Jackson 

Mountain; and that the Poplar Lick coal of this region is at the horizon of the 

Wallins Creek coal of the eastern part of the field. a 

a Since the above was written a lll!LP has been received from the Louisville Property Company upon which nrc 

given some actual elevations on the Hignite coal, the Poplar Lick coal, the Sandstone Parting coal, nnd the Mason coal. 

Taking points at which there are elevations on two coals near each other and approximately in the strike of the 

rocks, we arc able to get differences of elevation wllich probably give with considerable accuracy the vertical intervals 

between these coals. According to these measurem·ents the interval between the Lower Hignite coal and the Poplar 

Lick coal is 280 feet on Bear Creek, 278 feet on Cany Fork of Clear Creek, 337 feet on Stony Fork, and 295 feet on Hignite 

Creek. In the last case the measurement gives the vertical distance between two outcrops some distance npart near 

the bed of the stream so that the stratigraphic interval should be somewhat greater. From this it wonld ~tppear that 

the interval from the Hignite coal to tlje Poplar Lick coal is somewhat less than 350 feet in the Stony Fork basin and 

somewhat less than 300 feet in the Cleflr Creek basih. l<'rom the Poplar Lick to the Sandstone Parting coal similar 

measurements give 152 feet on Bear Creek, 175 feet on Cany Fork of Clear Creek, 141 feet on Ben Fork of Little 

Clear Creek, 168 feet on the headwaters of Little Clear Creek, 178 on Coal Creek, and 190 on Stony Fork. From the 

Sandstone Parting coal to the Mason coal on Cany Fork is 221 feet; on Ben Fork, 259 feet, the total interval from the 

Poplar Lick coal to the l\fason coal on llen Fork being 400 feet. On Lanrcl Branch the interval from the Poplar Lick 

to the Mason coal is 365 feet. Several measurements on Stony Fork from the Hignite to the Sandstone Parting coal 

gave an average of 540 feet. 

According to this map the top of the oil well referred to above is 354 feet below the outcrop of the Poplar Lick 

coal, a few rods to the 004t and in the Jine of strike, which wonld make 435 feet from the Poplar Lick to the Milson 

41--J)[o.49--Q6----7 
88 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL Jl'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

Sections in several valleys in other parts of the district are given below: 

No. on map. 

326 

327 

328 

Section (compiled) on Little Clear Creek. 

Stratum. Thickness. Total thick- ness. 

Ft. in. Ft. ·in. 

Interval from top of mountain, shale and sandstone ___ ._ ..•••... ___ . __ 160 0 160 0 

Coal, Red Spring. ___ ... __ ..... ____ .. ____ . ______ ...... ______ ......... . 5 0 165 0 

Interval .. ________ . _. _. _______ .. _. _. _______ . __ . _. _________ ....... __ _ 210 0 375 0 

Coal .. __________ .. _________ ...... ___ ... _ .. _ ... __ ............ - _ ... .. 5 7 380 7 

Interval ..... -.. ------·----·----··----·----------------------------- 200 0 580 7 

Coal . _______________ .. _" _____ . ____________ ._ .. _. _______ . ____________________ .. _________ _ 

Interval . _ ... ___ .. ____ . _ .. _. _ . _________ ... ______ _ : .. .... _. ______ . __ _ so 0 

329 Coal . __ . ________ . _ . _ .. __ . ____ ..... ___ .. ______ . __ . _ ... ______ . _ .. __ .. 2 2 

25 0 

660 7 

662 9 

687 9 Interval. _____ . _ ... _ . _. _ ~ _ . ____ . _ ... _____ .. _ ..... _____ . __ .. ________ _ 

330 Coal __ ......... ____ ... _ ...... _____ . _ .... _ .. ____ . , _ ... _ ... _____ .. __ . ___ ..... ______ .. ___ _ 

Interval. _____ .... _ .. _. ___________ . ___ .. ____ . ___ ... ________ ... _ ... _ .. 30 0 

331 Coal, Lower Hignite _______ ..... _____ ._._ ... ___ .. _____ . __ . ___ ... ____ 4 1 

Interval ... _ .... _ .............. _ ... _ ......... __ .: _ ....... ______ . _ .. _ 185 0 

332 Coal, Klondike ... _ .... ________ . _. __ . ________ . _ ... _______ . __ .... _ _ _ _ 4 4 

Interval .......... ___ .............. _ ............ __ ........ -·- ... _.... 110 0 

333 Coal, Poplar Lick __ .... ___ .. ____ .. _ .. _________ ..... _ .. ______ . __ .. _ .. 4 4 

717 

721 

906 

911 

1, 021 

1,025 

9 

10 

10 

2 

2 

6 

0 1,205 Interval. ___ ....... _. ______ . _ ...... __ . _. _ ....... ,- ____ . __ ....... _ .. _. 180 6 

334 Coal, Sandstone Parting 3 1,207 (Buckeye Spring) .... ___ ·-_·- ____ .. ____ .... __ •. 2 9 

Interval ... __ ............ __ ............ ___ ... _ ..... ____ ....... __ .. __ 30 0 1, 237 9 

366 Coal, bloom ... _ ... _______ ...... _______ ........ ~ ___ . ____ . _: _. ________ .. _ ..... _ ... _____ .. _ 

Interval, sandstone and hidden._ ............ __ .; ....... _.~--........ 60 0 1, 297 9 

365 Coal, bloom .. __ ..• __ . ___ . ___ ... _ .. __ . _____ . ___ . ~ . ____ .. __ ... __ . ______________ .. __ .... __ _ 

Interval, shale .... __ .................................. _ ..... - _...... 90 0 1, 387 9 

364 Coal, bloom (Mingo?)·-------------------------·--------------~--------------------------

Interval, shale ...... _______ ......... ___ ......... _ _ ___ ............ _ _ 50 0 1, 437 9 

363 Coal, bloom_. ______ ..... _ ..... _____ . _ .. _ .... _______ . _. __ . _ ... __ .•. _ ... _ ....... ____ ... _ .. 

Interval, sandstone and shale ........... ___ ...... -.... ______ ....... _.. 90 0 1, 527 9 

362 Coal, Miracle ..... ____ ~ ___ ..... _ ... _____ .. _ ... ; .. ___ ............. _ _ _ 2 6 1, 530 3 

Interval .. _ .. ___ .. _ .... _ .. _ .... _ ........ _ ... ___ ...... _ ....... ___ .... 90 0 1, 620 3 

361 Coal, bloom ..... ___ ... ____ .. ___ ... _ .. ______ ·_ .. ~--. __ . ________ .. ----- __________ .. ___ . ___ _ 

Interval ______________________________________ ;~------·-------------- 120 0 1, 740 3 

359 Coal ...... ___ ................. __ ........ - -.. -. " -- -..... -- - - - - - -.. .. 1 5 1, 741 8 

Interval, to mouth of. Beri Fork .. _ .. _ .. ____ .... -; ...... ____ .. _ ... __ .. __ 30 0 1, 771 8 

coal, as correlated in the oil well. This is somewhat more th;in the measu~ernent obtained from ontcrops on Cany 

Fork or from the ontcrops in the valley of Little Clear Creek, and if correct would indicate comparatively little 

thinning between Bennett Fork and Clear Creek. The same map gives the elevation of the cannel coal at the head 

of the mine where it is but a short distance from the outcrop of the Poplar Lick coal as 858 feet below the Poplar 

Lick coal, which agrees in a general way with the assumed thickness of the Mingo formation in this district. These 

figures seem to confirm the correlations made above that the Mason co111 is about at the horizon of the Mingo coal 

an~ the cannel coal about 11t the horizon of the Bennett Fork coal. 
SECTIONS IN STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 89 

The lower part of the above section was obtained between the mouth of Ben 

Fork and Webb Gap. Along the main stream the Fork Ridge sandstone and the 

sandstone 100 feet lower make small cliffs. The Fork Ridge snndstone is thought to 

come just below coal No. 363 of the above section. On the main stream the vertical 

distance between the Poplar Lick and Klondike coal is-from 75 to 100 feet; that 

between the Poplar Lick and the Sandstone Parting coal below is from 140 to 

160 feet, and that ftoom the Sandstone Parting coal to the top of the Fork Ridge 

sandstone is 150 feet. A sandstone that is thought to immediately underlie the 

Red Spring coal makes prominent cliffs all around the top of the mountains at 

the head of tfiis creek. 

No. on map. 

282 

283 

284 

285 

286 

287 

288 

289 

290 

291 

292 

293 

294 

295 

296 

'Section on Bean Fork Branch of Yellow Creek (A. R. Crctndall). 

Stratum. 'l'l:).ickne~s. I Total thick- ness. 

Ft. in. Ft. in. 

Interval to top of ridge ______ , ___________ : ________________________ _ 70 0 70 0 

Coal, Red Spring. ___ . _______ ... ___ ~ ______________________________ _ .·5 1 75 

Interval ______________ . ___________ : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20 0 95 1 

Coal ___________________________________ . ____________________________________ . ___________ _ 

Interval, contains cliff-making sandstone _______ .____________________ SO 0 175 1. 

Coal _______ . _______________________________________________________________ . __ . _______ _ 

IntervaL ______________________________ -----______________________ '60 0 235 1 

Coal _____ • _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6+ 235 7 + 

Interval._' __________________________________________________ . ____ . _ 50 0 ' 285 7 + 

Coal _____ . __________ . __________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____ • ____ _ 

IntervaL ____ . _________ . __________________ , ________ .. _______ . ____ . 50 0 335 7 

Coal _ ... _ .. ___ . ___ .. _______ . _____________ ... __ . ________ . ___ .. _______ ...• _________ •.• __ _ 

Interval. ___ ._____________________________________________________ 35 0 370 7 

Coal _________ • _ .. _________________ . ______ .. ____________ .. ___ . _ _ _ _ 8 371 3 

Interval ..•.. ___ . __ .... _. _______ ... _._ .. _______ .. _ ... _. ______ .. _.. 75 0 446 '3 

Coal, cannel shale_ . ____ . _ . _ .. _ . ___ . __ . - __ ... ________ . __ · ... _ . _____ .. ________ . _ .. ____ • ___ _ 

Interval .. _______ . __ ... __________ ... _. _____ . _. _ ... _. ____ . _ .. _. _ _ _ _ 60 0 506 3 

Coal, Lower Hignite ...•. _ .. __ . ______ .. __ . _ . _______ ....• ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 1 509 4 

Interval. ______ . _ .. ___ . ______ ...... _ ... ____ ...... _ .. ____ •.. _. _ _ _ _ _ 55 0 564 4 

Coal _ . __ ..• ________ ... _ ... __ .. ___ .... -- • __ .. __ -... _ .. _ . _____ . __ • . l 564 8 

Interval ____ .. _ .. ___________ . _ ... _ . ______ . ___ . __ . _____ . __ . _______ . 70 0 634 8 

Coal _ ... _ ... ___ .. __ . _ .. _________ .. ___ .. ___ . ___ .. _ .. _____ . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ 1 1 635 9 

Interval ____ . __ . _______ ... __ .. _ .. _ . ___ .... _ .. __ . ____ . __ . _ . ______ . . 65 0 670 9 

Coal _. ________ . __ . _. _. ______ .... _ ... _ .. ___ --·- . -... _. ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 1 673 2 

Interval .. _ .• _ .... __ ... _ .. __ ..... _ -... -- ... -.. _-- ..... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 40 0 713 2 

Coal ______ ... _ ... __ .. ___ -..•.... _ .. ·_.--------.--.. _--. __ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9 713 11 

Interval •.... __ ... __ ........ _ ...... - -... -.. -.--. -.. --- . __ ... _ .. _.. 85 0 798 11 

Coal ___ . _ .... __ . ______ . ___ . _. _ ..... ·. _- .... -- .• _. _' __ .... _____ . _ •. _ 1 0 799 11 

Interval .. __ ... _. _ .... ____ . __ ... __ .. ~ ...... -- .......... __ -.. _ .. __ . 45 0 844 11 

Coal, Poplar Lick ___ . _ .. __ . _ .. ·. ______ . _, . _ .... _ .. __ .. __ .... __ .•... 3 3 847 2 

Interval ___ .. _ ... ___ .. ___ •.. _ ... __ . ____ - ~-.-- .. _. ___ --. _ .• ____ . _ _ _ 65 0 913 2 
90 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL ]'IJ<JLD, KENTUCKY. 

Section on Bean Fork Branch of Yellow Creek-Continued. 

No. on map. Stratum. Thickness. 

Ft. ht. 

297 Coal-------------------------------------------------------------- 1 3 

Interval ________ . ________________ . _________ .•.. __________________ _ 100 0 

298 Coal _____ . _____________ ...... ---.---.-.-.----- _. _ ...... - _---- .. -- 4 

Interval . ________ . _ ... ________ .... ______ . __________ . __ ... _ ..... --- 5 9 

299 Coal, Sandstone Parting . ________ . __ . ______ . ______________ .. _____ .. 3+ 0 

Interval ____ . __ . _ · ....... _________ .. ____ . ___ . ___ . ___________ ..... . 115 0 

300 Coal ... _____ ... _______ . _____ . _____________ . __ .. _ . ___________ . ___ . 2 2 

Interval ____ . __ . ___ . _ .... _______ .. _. _______________________ . _____ _ J15, 0 

301 Coal . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . __ . ____________________ .... ________ . _ . __ . ____ . 11+ 

Interval ___________ .. ___ .. __ ... _______ . _______ • ______________ . ___ . 50 0 

302 Coal ____ . __ . ________ .. _____________ : ______ . _ . ___ . ____ .. _____ . ___ _ 1 3 

Interval _________ . ______ . ____ . ____ ... ________ .. __________________ _ 120 0 

Total thick- ness. 

Ft. In. 

914 5 

1,014 5 

1,015 9 

J, 020 9 

1, 023+ 9 

1, 138 9 

1,140 11 

1, 255 11 

1,256 10 

1,306 10 

1,308 1 

1,428 1 

303 Coal . __ . ____ .. ____ .. ___ .. ______ . __________________ . _________________ : ____ . _ : ______ . ___ _ 

Interval to mouth of Bean Fork Branch ______________ . ______ . _____ --~ 50 0 1, 478 1 

This section has a total thickness of about 1,500 feet. The topographic map 

and the sections up Bean Fork Branch show that the strata have a thickness of 

nearly 2,000 feet vertical interval from the mouth to the top of Canada Peak, and 

as a coal bloom, taken to be of the Red Spring coal, occurs about 100 feet below 

the top of Canada Peak, it is judged that this section as given is 500 feet too short. 

The discrepancy between this section and our sections appeared to occur rriainly at 

the base. In this section the coal, that is taken as the representative of the Mingo 

coal, occurs 220 feet above the mouth of tho stream, while the position of the Fork 

Ridge sandstone, as traced into this valley, gave the elevation of the Mingo coal as 

640 feet above the mouth of the creek. This difference of 420 feet is nearly equal 

to the shortage in the section. 

The section of Hignite Creek given on Pl. XII is likewise subject to question. 

The section given is the one obtained during the present survey. Some of the 

coal sections were obtained by side climbs, and on account of the dips and the 

changes in the character of the rocks it was in many cases difficult to join such 

side sections to the section obtained along the bed of the main stream. Thus a coal 

on the bank several hundred feet above the channel of the stream can not always 

be recognized in the bed of the main stream a milo or two farther up, mainly on 

account of the lack of exposures betwe'en. 

A map prepared by the Louisville Property Company shows that the Poplar 

Lick coal on Hignite Creek is 659 feet abo.ve the mouth. Our measurements by 

barometer gave 690 feet as the elevation of the Poplar Lick coal above the mouth. 

Messrs. McCreath and d'lnvilliers give the section of a coal measured on Hignite 

Creek which has the characteristic sandstone parting of the Sandstone Parting coal. 

This, they report, is at an elevation of 650 feet" above Stony Fork. I£ the last section 

was near the southern face of the divide east of Hignite Creek, as reported by 
SECTIONS IN STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DIS'l'RICT. 91 

McCreath and d'Invilliers, it is possible that the dip would carry it a proper 

distance below the Poplar Lick coal at the point where the horizon of the latter 

crosses Hignite Creek. Again there is a variation in the measurements of the 

interval between the Poplar Lick coal and the Lower Hignite; ours, by barometer, 

gave almost 400 feet; Mr. Justice, of the Louisville Property Company, got 226.25 

feet. Whether this difference is due to measurements between different coals or to 

errors in one of the measurements it is not possible to s·ay. Accordingly the 

following section is given with some question: 

Section on Hignite Oreek. 

Stratum. Thickness. Total thick· ness. 

Ft. in. Ft. in. 

Top of Log Mountains ... _______ • ________ .••... __ .. __ ...• __ . ___________ . _________ . _. _. ___ . · _____ _ 

Interval _ ••••• ____ ...•.. __ . ____ ••• ___ . ___ . __ .. _ .. ________ . _ ••... ____ ... __ .. 230 0 ____ ...••• 

Coal, Red Spring ..... __ ------------ .... _ ... ____ .. _ ................ _ .. ____ .. 2+ 0 232 0 

Sandstone, Red. Spring, cliff making ..... __ .. ________ ...................... .. 40 

. Interval ..... ------ .................. __ ...... __ .... ______ .. ________ .. _____ . 460 

Coal, Upper Hignite Creek ................................... --.- ......... .. 4 

Interval ........ _ ........... -~-- ........... _ .. _ .. __ ....................... . 12 

Coal, Lower Hignite ...... ---- ........................ _ ...... _______ ...... .. 3 

Interval ... __ ... _ ................ _ .. ____ .... _____ ...... ________ . ___ , ______ _ 30 

CoaL .......... __ . __ ... _____ ... _ ... __ ....... _ .. _ ... ____ ... __ ..... ______ ... _ 2 

Interval, mainly sandstone ____ . _. __ . _ ............................. ___ .. _ .. . 120 

CoaL ......................................... ____ ......................... . a1 

Interval, mainly sandstone ....... _ ............................... __ .... _ ••. 30 

CoaL ..................... _ ...... __ .... __ .... __ ........ __ . _. ____ ....... ___ __ 1 

~~;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::] 15, 

1 

10 

Coal .. ------------------------------:·----·--····-----····----------------- Interval, sandstone at top ... : ..... __ .............. _ ..................... _ .. _ 90 

Sandstone, cliff making. __ .............. _ ..... _ ..... _ ....... _ .. _ .. _ .. __ .. _ . _ 50 

Interval ........ _ .................... _ ................................. ___ _ 40 

Coal, Poplar Lick ................................. __ ..................... .. b6 

Interval ................. __ .... _ ................... _ .••.. _ ........... _ .... _ 220 

CoaL .................................... _ .. __ ....................... _ ... __ 

Interval ............. ___ ............................. _ .. _ ... _ ............ .. 100 

CoaL .................................................. -................. .. 1 

Interval .. --.---.·--··· .................... ·---_ ..... _________________ ...... _ 60 

Sandstone, cliff making, massive cross-bedded, makes falls at forks of creek. __ . 60 

0 

0 

10 

0 

6 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

8 

0 

1 

0 

8 

0 

0 

~ 

8 

0 

9 

0 

4 

0 

0 

272 

732 

736 

748 

752 

782 

784 

904 

905 

935 

937 

952 

953 

963 

963 

1, 053 

1,103 

1,143 

1,-150 

1,370 

1,371 

1, 471 

1,472 

1,532 

1,592 

0 

0 

10 

10 

4 

4 

4 

4 

5 

5 

1 

1 

2 

2 

10 

10 

10 

10 

6 

6 

3 

3 

7 

7 

7 

Coal, estimated position of Mingo coal. .. __ .... _ ............... _ ..... _ ..... ,.. 2+ 0 1,594 7 

Interval ..... _ .......... -................... _ ....................... -.. -... 40 0 1, 634 7 

Coal facing fallen in ........................................................ ____ -----· .... _____ _ 

a 8 inches to 1 foot 1 inch. b 4 feet to 6 feet 8 inches. 
92 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL E'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

/Section on Hignite Creek-Continued. 

Stratum. I 

Thickness. Total thick- ness. 

--~----------------------------------------------------------1 

~Ft. 

Sandston~, Fork Ridge, makes cliffs ........................................ . 30+ 

Interval .......................................................... _ . _ ..... . 150 

CoaL ................................ -..................................... . 2 

Shale ________ ........ _ ... ~ ___ . __ .......... _ .. ___ ............ _ ...... ____ . __ _ 25 

CoaL ......... ___ .. ________________________________ ...... __________ . ______ _ 

Sandstone and Hhale ................. __ . _. _. ____ .... _ .. _ .... _. _ .. _ ' ___ . _____ _ 60 

~:~:~~1-~~ -~~~~~t-1: ·;f·~;~~~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~:: ::::: ~::: :~:: ::~: ::::::::::::::::I 1 

20 

No. on map. 

Section on Rockhouse Branch of Stony_ Fork . . 

Stratum. 

Ft. 

Interval from top of Log Mountains ........... _ ........... · .·.· .... ·.· .. ·.·.· _. 1, 200 

244 Coal, Lower Hignite(?) ............................. :· ... ...... - . ~.... .. 2 

Interval ............................................ ----------.-·.___ 50 

Sandstone, cliff making.......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 40 

246 Coal................................................................ 1 

Interval, sandy shale, sandstone, and shale ......... .- ..... .- .. __ .. . . . . . . 30 

247 Coal ...... ------ ................. -----............................. 1 

Interval ...................... : .......................... -........ -.. . 40 

245 Coal............................................................... 1 

Interval............................................................ 115 

248 Coal, Poplar Lick ... _ ...... _ ................................................ _ ........................ _ .... _ _ _ 5 

Interval ...................................... ____ .................. 150 

251 Coal, SamlHtone Parting(?) .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 3 

Interval............................................................ 100 

236 Coal............................................................... 1 

Interval " (Mingo eoal, 40? feet from bottom, not seen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 

Sandsto:i.~e, massive, eross-bedded, Fork Ridge ...•.. :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

252 Coal............................................................... 1 

Interval to mouth of ereek ......................... :.. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 30 

in. .Ft. In. 

0 1,664 7 

0 1,814 i 

6 1, 8li 1 

0 1,842 1 

6 1,842 7 

0 1,902 7 

6 1, 904 1 

0 1, 924 1 

in. Ft. ·in. 

0 1, 208 0 

10 1,202 10 

0 1,252 10 

0 1,292 10 

8 1,294 6 

0 1, 324 6 

2 1,325 8 

0 1,365 8 

11 1,367 7 

0 1,482 7 

0 1,487 7 

1, 637 7 

0 1,640 7 

0 1, 740 7 

6 1, 742 1 

0 1,922 1 

0 1,972 1 

~I 1,970 9 

2,000 9 

Several openings on the Poplar Lick coal had the position of that coal_as mapped 

by the Louisville Property Company. ' 
SECTIONS IN S10NY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 

No. on map. 

, Section on head of Stony Fork. 

Strutum. 

Interval from top of mount~in __ ....••.... __ .... _ .............. __ .. __ 

221 Coal, Lower Hignite-------------------------·········-------------- ; 

Sandstone, massive •.•... _ ..................... _ .............. ___ ... . 

Interval, Jargel~.sandstone ....................... _ ................. . 

Coal ...................... __ ............ _ ................... __ ...... . 

Shale _ .......................... ~ ........... - --.-.- -.-. -.----------

228 Coal, Klondike'/ ....... _ ............. _._ .............. _ ......•....... 

Interval .. _ ..........•... _ ..... __ .. _ .... __ ._ .. __ .... _ .... __ ... ___ .. __ . 

223 Coal .......•......................... -..... - -..................... . ••\..) 

Interval ............... __ ........... __ .. _____ .... __ . _________ ... _ .. . 

224 Coal ............. ----- ... ----. -- -----. ------ - - - --- -- ---- - ----- -----

IntervaL._ .................................. -................. c ..•. 

229 Coal, Poplar Lick ... __ ... ______ .. _. ___ . _ ·- _________ . ________________ . 

IntervaL ___ , .-c ___ •••• _ ••••••••• __ • ___ ••• ___ • ___ •• ______ •••••• _____ _ 

231 Coal ......• -.. , ......................................... __ .... _ .. _ .. 

Interval, sh~l~ •. -•...... __ ... ____ . ________ ... _ ... _ .... ___ .. _. _______ .. 

232 Coal ..... { .. -.- ..... : ............................................ __ . 

Interval, shl}i~ ....... -... -------------------------- · · ., :- · ·- ·- · ·-- · · · 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

780 0 

3 4 

40 0 

170 0 

2--f- 0 

5 0 

3 5 

45 0 

1 4 

20 Q 

0 10 

40 0 

5--j- 0 

90 0 

0 3 

70 0 

1 6 

30 0 

93 

Total thick- ness. 

Ft. in. 

780 0 

783 4 

823 4 

993 4 

995 4 

1,000 4 

1, 003 9 

1,048 9 

1,050 1 

1, 070 1 

1,070 11 

1, 110 11 

1,115 11 

1,205 11 

1, 206 2 

1,276 2 

1,277 8 

1,:307 8 

233 Coal, bloorn .. " ... - - - -... -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "f- - - - - - · - - - - - - · - • - - · - • - - - - - - - · - - - - --

Interval, shal~ ~tnd sandstone .................... _· .

1 

•• _· •••• _ ••••• _.... 35 0 1, 342 8 

234 Coal ....... •-,--······------------------------------················ 1 0 1,343 8 

Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 0 1, 363 8 

238 Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 . 1, 365 2 

IntervaL ___ .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 0 1, 435 2 

Coal(?) (estimated position· of Mingo coal not found) ........... _ .. _ ... ,- ... ___ ....... ____ . _ 

Interval .. ." ..................... -------------------------·.......... 40 :O 1,475 2 

Sandstone, .Fork Ridge, massive, c1iff making......................... 40 , 0 1, 515 2 

252 Coal----'-~---------------------~---------------------------·------- 1 ,9 1,516 11 

Interval to inouth of Coal Branch ............. --··--···-------------- 30 . 0 1, 546 11 

Though th~se last two sections differ in detail they seem to be in general agreement, if the ,Poplar Lick coal is used as a key stratum. On these streams the Poplar 

Lick coal appears to be about 110 feet below what is correlated !lS the Klondike coal, 

and about 320 feet below the coal that is considered to be same aR the Lower Hignite on Hignite Creek. On Stony Fork the most prominent cliff-making sandstone 

above the Fork Ridge occurs just below the Lower Hignite coal. ". 

The F01:k Ridge sandstone, which was used as a key rock in theJ'Bennett Fork 

district, can also be traced through part of this district. It crosses.~ Stony Fork a 

short distance above the !nouth of Coal Branch, and from there can "Be traced down 

on the north s~d.e of Stony Fork to the flat area around Middlesboro. The lower 

sandstone keeps about 'the same distance below, 100 to 120 feet, along the flank of 
94 CUMDERLAND GA.P COAL FIELD, :KENTUCKY. 

the mountains. At the mouth of Hignite Creek the top of th\3 Fork Ridge sand'-

stone is about 230 feet above the mouth of the creek, or nearly 1,600 feet above 

sea level. Up Hignite Creek it is carried down by' the northwest dip, so that it 

crossel'! the creek at a much lower elevation. These two sandstones are prominent 

on Bean Fork Branch, the top of the Fork Ridge sandstone crossing the creek bed 

at an elevation of about 1,670 feet by barometer. On Little Clear Creek the two 

sandstones are again seen in places, the top of the upper sandstone crossing the 

headwaters of Little Clear Creek at an elevation of about 1,590 feet. These sandstones were not certainly recognized on Clear Creek. These sandstones and the 

facings on the Poplar Lick coal were the main factors in detet·tnining the stratigraphy and structure of this district. 

So far as known no coals have been found in the Lee formation as exposed in 

this district in Pine Mountain. Several thick coals are repo:rted in the oil-well 

drilling. But such data are not usually reliable as to thickness of coals. 

COALS. 

COALS OF MINGO FORMATION. 

The Mmgo formation is define~ in this area as running from t~e bottom of the 

Poplar Lick coal to the bottom of the Chenoa cannel coal of Bear Creek. It contains the Sandstone Parting coal, or, as it has frequently been cail~d in this district, 

the "Buckeye Spring" coal, the Mason coal, which is thought to be the representative of the Mingo coal, the Chenoa cannel coal, and possibly one or hvo coals between 

the Mingo coal and Chenoa cannel coal which may locally reach a {vorkable thickness. The Chenoa cannel coal is thought to have about tM salrle stratigraphic 

position as the Bennett Fork coal, though it can not be asserted that they are 

actually at the same horizon. 

CHENOA CANNEL COAL. 

This coal was mined extensively at the Mary Hull mine at Chenoa from 

November, 1893, ·until the mine was abandoned in July, 1899. Tl:ie cannel coal 

here, as is usual with cannel coal, proved to be in a basin, which cduld be mined 

for a width of about 600 feet and which was followed down the dip for a distance 

of about 4,000 feet. In the first 400 or 500 feet the dip is about 8°, in the next 

400 or 500 feet its dip is 5°,· gradually decreasing to 2° or less. On :ibcount of the 

position of the coal and of the fact that it has been entered from the upper end 

of the dip, the cost of working necessarily increased constantly until it became 

prohibitive. At the time operations ceased plans w~re on foot for hiaking a new 

·opening by a r>lope, in order to reach the coal near 'the present face. This coal 

sp.ows a total section of over 7 feet in the center of . the basin, tllinning out to 

the edges of the basin. The upper part is bituminous while the lower part is 

cannel. One section reported by Mr. Crandall, gave 34 inches of bituminous coal 

on top, separated by 1 inch of charcoal from 52 inches of cannel coal at the bottom. 

Near the ventilating furnace the section showed 7 inche..'l of cannel coal, 9~ inches 

of bituminous coal, 18 inches of hard clay shale, 17 inches of bituminous coal, and 

14 inches of cannel coal-a total of 97 inches. Usually' there is a sitigle block of 
COALS OF STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 95 

bituminous coal above the shale parting which may resemble cannel at the top or 

bottom. The thickness of the cannel coal bench ranges from about 55 inches in the 

center of the basin to 30 inches at the sides. The, following analyses are by Dr. 

Robert Peter: 

Analyses of Chenoa coal. 

Constituent-. cannel. Bituminous. 

Moisture ................................................................. . 1. 00 1. 70 

Volatile com bnstible matter ............................................... . 51.60 32.60 

Fixed carbon ........................................... ~ ................. . 40.40 62.30 

Ash ...................................................................... . 7.00 3.40 

Sulphur ............ · ...................................................... . . 739 .684 

From the nature and origin of cannel coal it will be impossible to predict 

the further extent of this coal. According to the usually accepted theory of its 

origin, cannel coal is always confined to more or less limited basins, often 

showing a good thickness in the center of the basin, but usually running out to 

a feather edge on the margin. The further extent of this coal can be determined 

only by drilling; or, by driving entries from the old works, if that is possible. 

No outcrop of this coal showing similar characters has been noted on Little 

Clear Creek, while its horizon is entirely below drainage on Stony Fork. 

l\HNGO COAL. 

No outcrop that could be certainly recognized as the Mingo coal was seen 

on Stony Fork or its branches. At several places evidence of a coal having 

been faced at this horizon was found, but when visited all of the facings had 

fallen in, suggesting that th'e coal had not proved of workable thickness. On 

Bean Fork Branch this coal may be represented by 11 inches of coal with 5 inches 

of cannel shale 3 inches above, which Mr. Crandall gives in his section on Bean 

Fork Branch (301), or it may be represented by the 26 inches of coal 100 feet 

higher (300). On Little Clear Creek a coal at what was thought to be the 

horizon of the Mingo coal was reported; being a low-gradq cannel, its thickness 

was not obtained. On Ch~ar Creek Mr. Elliott states that this seam has a thickness 

of 47t inches with a l-inch parting 14t inches from the top. He gives 46 inches as 

the average thickness of the coal as shown by three measurements. The Ramsey 

coal reported on Bear Creek by Mr. Fitzhugh may be the same coal. He gives its 

thickness as 30 inches. On Bean Fork Branch the coal at this horizon was reported 

to be 5 feet thick, and at one place appeared to have been opened and worked, but 

the opening was Closed when examined and the report could not be verified. A 

sample of the Mason coal, representing the entire thickness of the seam, was sent to 

Mr. Hislop, of Paisley, Scotland, who describes it as follows: 

''The coal is black, of considerable luster and brown streak, while in texture 

it is irregular and resinoid, containing some deposits of charcoal; cross fractures, 

angular, highly crystalline, and pure in composition, moderately cohesive and 

compact; on the fire it intumesces and agglomerates; color of ash, brown; thickness 
96 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

of seam, 50 inches, and of very uniform density; mean specific gravity, 1,225 

(water, 1,000); weight of one cubic. foot, 76.56 pounds." 

Chem·ical analysi.~ of coal on Bear· Creek. 

Per cent. 

Moisture _ ~ __ . _ .. _ -·- _____________ . --.- -... -- .. - -.. -- --- -......... -.. -- .... --.. 4. 35 

Volatile combustible matter ... _. __ . ___ ... ___ .. ___ --- _____ - __ .. ______ . __ .. ____ . 33. 01 

Fixed carbon _. __ . ___ . __________ .. _ .. _________ .. __ ... _. ___ ... __ . __ ........ ____ . 61. 44 

Sulphur ____ . __ .. _. ____ . ___ . ____ ...... __ . ________ .------_._.- .. -- .... _ .c.--._.. . 45 

Ash . _____ . _ .. _ . _ • ______ . _ • __ . _____ - - -.. - ... -. - - - -... -.....•.•....• -. - -. . . . . . . • . 75 

Mr. Hislop reports that this coal showed the smallest. amount of ash and 

sulphur he had ever obtained in a bituminous coal. On the whole, therefore, this 

coal may be ·considered workable in a limited area on Clear Creek side, but 

elsewhere its workability must be considered doubtful unless further exploration 

shall show the coal to be better and thicker than it is at present known on the 

· Little Clear Creek and Stony Fork side .. 

Below the Mingo coal several coals of nearly workable thickness have been 

opened. Just below the mouth of Coal Branch a coal opened immediately under 

the Fork Ridge sandstone shows a thickness of o~ly 21 inches, and is separated 

by 3 feet of shale from the sandstone above. At the mouth. of Hignite Creek 

the coal has a thickness of 29t inches, and a H-inch parting 10 inches from the 

bottom. This immediately underlies a sandstone. A short distance farther up 

Stony Fork the same coal shows a thickness of only 27 inches with a 2-inch 

parting 8 inches from the bottom. On Little Clear Creek what ·is sometimes 

called the "Miracle" coal was reported at one place to show a thickness of 40 

inches with 3 to 4 inches of clay parting near the top. At another point, supposedly the same coal was report~d as 30 inches thick, but only 12 inches were 

seen. It here has from 2 to 10 inches of clay over it with 5+ feet of sandstone 

above. On the whole it may be said that as far as found no workable coals 

exist between the Mingo and the Chenoa cannel. 

SANDSTONE PARTING COAL. 

Mr. Fitzhugh reports the Sandstone Parting coal (Buckeye Spring) as showing 

on Bear Creek (417) 38 inches of coal with a l-inch bench of soft coal 4 inches from 

the top. ' Mr. Crandall reports this coal as 2 feet 7 inches thick on Bear Creek (395). 

On Little Olear Creek this coal has a total thickness of 36t inches (372). The sandstone parting here is 2 inches thick and 26 inches from the top. Below it are 2t 

inches of cannel shitle. The roof is a gray shale. The parting here ranges from a 

sandy or gritty shale to a sandstone. On Polk Hollow Mr. Fitzhugh reports this 

coal as 36 inches thick with a 3-inch shale parting 24 inches from the top. In the 

section of the coals at the head of Little Clear Creek Mr. Crandall reports this coal as 7 

inches thick (334). On Bean Fork Branch Mr. Crandall reports this coal as 44: inches 

thick (460). The sandstone parting here is from 1 to 3 inches thick and comes 30 

inches from the top; below it is 6 inches of shale. The section here, as will be seen, 

very closely resembles that on Little Clear Creek. In his sections of the coals on 

Bean Fork Branch Mr. Crandall makes this coal 45 inches thick with a 7-inch shale 

parting 16 inches from the top, and with a 2~inch sandstone parting 9 inches from the 
COALS OF STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 97 

bottom (299). Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers give a section of this coal as measured by them on Hignite Creek (251) which shows a total of 50 inches of coal, a 2-inch 

parting 14 inches from the top, and 1 inch of sandstone 11 inches from the bottom. 

Two inches of bone coal immediately overlie the top bench. From these sections it 

will be seen that this coal presents a thickness of usually 3 feet or over, but that 

includes generally some shale and from 1 to 3 inches of sandstone. If the sandstone 

here, as in the Bennett Fork district, tends to stick to the coal and render the mining 

pf the coal difficult, it is probable that this bed will be put in the class of nonworkable coals. The thickest single bench ranges from about H to 2t feet, and is 

too thin to work by itself, so that while this coal will have a large area it will not be 

classed with the workable coals. 

COALS OF CATRON FORMATION. 

In the Log Mountains the Catron formation extends from the bottom of the 

Lower Hignite coal to the bottom of the Poplar Lick coal. In this region it appears 

to contain six coals, of which only two are workable, the Poplar Lick coal, at the 

bottom of the formation, and the coal which is correlated with the Klondike coal, 

and which in this district is a hundred feet or a little more above the Poplar Lick 

coal. On Bean Fork Branch, 170 feet above the Poplar Lick coal, is a coal which is 

thought to be too high to be the Klondike coal, and which shows the following (293): • 

Coal, 16 inches; clay, 1 inch; coal,. 1 inch; clay, 5 inches; coal, 12 inches; clay, 2 

inches. On Bear Creek (388) a 26-inch coal is reported by Mr. Crandall at about 

the same elevation above the Poplar Lick coal. Mr. Fitzhugh reports a co.al on. 

Little Clear Creek, 170 feet above the Poplar Lick, that there shows a main 

bench of 32 inches with o inches of coal 10 inches above. These sections would all 

appear to be on the same coal, but only in the last section is it more than a little 

over the minimum workable thickness. It is thought that a workable coal can not 

be counted upon at this horizon. 

POPLAR LICK COAL, 

This coal has long been considered, and rightly, the principal coal of this 

district. The sections given on PI. XIV give a good idea of this coal. They occur 

. at intervals along its outcrop. Though most of these sections were not measured 

by i1s, enough of them were measured to indicate that the others are reliable and 

to lead us to aceept them without question. A large number of these sections were 

kindly furnished by Mr. Thomas Cairns, general manager for the Louisville 

Property C~mpany. These were obtained in the course of a careful instrumental 

survey along the outcrop of this coal. The location of the different facings is 

accurately shown on the map. Beginning, as before, on Bear Creek (±01), the coal 

shows a total thickness of 54 inches with a 3-inch parting 17 inches from the top. On 

the east side of Bear Creek, directly opposite the last opening (403), the coal shows 

the same total thickness and the same thickness in the upper bench, but has a 5t-inch 

parting. On .Cany Fork (404) the coal has a total thickness of 46 inches with an 

8-inch parting 16 inches from the top. This is one of the poorest sections of this 

coal obtained. On Major Branch of Clear Creek east of the head the coal shows 

• 
98 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

a total thickness of 69 inches with a 12-inch parting 20 inches from the top. Mr. 

Crandall gives a section on Major Branch showing the coal 66 inches thick, with a 

13-inch parting 18 inches from the top (340). · Right at Webb Gap, at the head of 

Ben Fork of Little Clear, the coal is 63 inches thick with an 8-inch parting 19 

inches from the top. At the head of Ben Fork (339) the coal has a thickness of 72 

inches with a 15-inch parting 19 inches from the top. A little fartherto the east, 

still on Ben Fork (338), it shows 46 inches of coal without a parting. Along Little 

Clear Creek (337) the coal has a total thickness of 46t inches with 11 2t-inch parting 16 inches from the top. Near the head of Little Clear, but on the east side, it 

shows 51 inches of coal, and here the 2-inch parting is 18 inches from the top. 

Nearer the head of Little Clear (335) the coal is only 41 inches thiek with a 2-ineh 

parting 11 inches from the top. Farther downstream and o.n the west side the coal 

has thickened to 71 inches with a 3-ineli parting 3 feet from the bottom. Still 

farther downstream along the outcrop (342) the coal is 58 inches thick and without 

partings. Mr. Fitzhugh states that this coal in Polk Hollow (352) has a thickness of 

4 feet with a 6-inch shale parting 1 foot from the bottom. At another point 180 

feet above the valley, on Moses Lake Hollow, he reports this coal as 39 inches thick 

with a 2-inch parting D~ inches from the top. Mr. Crandall reports this coal near 

Mart Heads on Little Clear Creek (343) as showing 63 inches of coal with a 2-inch 

. parting 31 inches from the bottom, and 5 inches of shale parting and coal 14 inches 

higher. Above this parting for 3t inches the coal is cannel. The section measured 

bv us on .the William K. Evans farm (368) showed 71 inches of coal with a 4-incb 

b~nch"of bone,18 inches from the top and a 2-inch parting of bone 14 inches lower. 

This resembles quite strongly the section given by Mr. Crandall, but is. given because 

of some differences. On Bean Fork Branch Mr. Crandall reports this coal as 54t 

inches thick with a 2-inch parting 19 inches from the bottom, a H-inch parting 7 

inches from the top, and 11 5-inch parting 2 inches lower down (305). In his 

columnar section on Bean Fork Branch he reports this coal (296) as showing a total 

of 49 inches with 2 inches of shale 7 inches from the top, another 2-inch parting 4 

inches lower, a 4-inch parting of clay 12 inches from the bottom, and another 2-inch 

parting of shale 3 inches higher. On Cow Branch he reports this coal as 31 inches 

thick with a 2-inch clay parting (306). On Lick .Fork this coal showed 43 inches 

thick with a 3-inch clay parting near the top. On Hignite Creek two sections of 

this coal were measured; at the first (268) it showed 46 inches thick without parting; 

at the second (266) it showed an upper bench of 18 inches, separated by 18 inches 

of clay from a lower bench 42 inches thick. This section was measured in a 

stream bed and may not be entirely accurate. The facing near this had fallen in. 

Mr. Cairns reports this coal on this creek (278) as showing an upper bench of 

29 inches, of which the upper. 14 inches are cannel, and another bench 19 inehes 

below and 34 inches thick, with a 2-inch clay parting 13 inches from the bottom. 

On Rockhouse, or Coal Branch, we obtained two measurements in 1902 in addition 

to a measurement at the Ralston mine in 1903. The first measurem\=lnt obtained 

by Mr. Cairns on the east side of ~he ,creek (243) is reported to have shown 78 

inches as a total thickness o£ the seam, but the coal appeared in three benches, an 

upper bench of 19 inches separated by 7 ·inches of parting £rom a middle 22-inch 

bench, and that in turn by 18 inches of pa~ting from a bottom 12-inch bench. A 
COALS OF STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 99 

little farther upstream on the same side the coal was reported to show an upper 

bench of 44 inches, separated by 11 inches of parting from a lower 16-inch bench 

with 4 inches of shale and coal below (242). On the right-hand fork (251) the 

section showed a total thickness of 6 feet, with a t-inch parting of soft coal 8 

inches from the top, a H-inch parting 13 inches lower, and a H-inch parting 18 

inches from the bottom. Near the point where the coal passed under the stream 

we measured a section of 69 inches, including an 8-inch parting 24 inches from the 

bottom (258). · Near the same point and possibly at the same facing the section 

reported gave 7H inches as a total thickness of the seam, with a H-inch parting 38 

inches from the top, while a lower bench carries 12 inches of shale and coal· 9! 

inches from the bottom. At the Ralston mine (250) opened in 1903, the coal shows 

a total thickness of 63 inches, with from 2 to 3 inches of bone at the top and from 

2 to 12 inches of parting 12 inches from the bottom. At the Sagamore Coal 

Company's mine on Stony Fork the coal shows 4 inches of bone at the top and 

a main bench of 2 feet 11 ·inches, then a bottom bench of 11 inches below an 

18-inch parting. This 18-inch parting is variable, but usually shows several inches 

of coal from 1 to 4 inches from the top. Below the 4-inch band of coal the parting 

is shale, coal, and sulphur. Th~· ro()f is _shale with nodules (230). Nearly across 

Stony Fork the following section was measured in an old drift in 1902-coal 39 

inches; parting, 8t inches; coal, 14 inches; shale roof. At the Luke and Drummond mine, near the same point, the coal shows 4 inches of bone, as on the 

other side of thy creek, then a main bench of 3 feet 6 inches of coal. The bottom 

ben.ch is here 15 inches thick, but is over 4 feet from the main bench. The upper 

part of this thick parting gave 8 inches of clay, then 6 inches of coal, then·3 feet 

of shale. A section ncar the same point, reported by Mr. Cairns, gave the top 

bench 27 inches of coal, 5 inches of parting, and lH inches of coal, with 14 inches 

of coal in the bottom bench 18 inches below the rest (239). On Sowder Creek 

(240), across the Log Mou"ntains to the west, this coal shows a total of 81 inches. 

There are in it 6 inches of soft coal 26 inches from the top and i2 inches of 

shale 18 inches from the bottom. On Copperas Fork of Laurel Fork of Clear 

Fork of Cumberland River, just north of the last (400), the coal is reported as 

having a total thickness of 55! inches, with a 3-inch parting 12 inches from the 

top, and a 2t-inch parting 19t inches lower, and a H-inch parting 12 inches 

from the bottom. 

' Taken as a whole, this coal has a good workable thickness and tends to be 

characterized by one main parting the thickness of which ranges from 0 to 4 

feet or more, but is usually less than 12 inches. In most cases it would pay to 

mine in the parting and to take both benches. In a few cases where the parting 

is very ·near the top or very near the bottom, and very thick, the thinner bench 

of coal probably would be left. In most of such instances ~he .thicker bench of 

coal is over 3 feet thick and would pay to work by itself. · In a few of the 

sections two or more partings appear, the extra partings usually being . thin. 

The coal with its parting runs quite regularly on Clear Creek. Where it makes 

perhaps its best showing, the parting is thinnest or runs out entirely around the 

head of Little Clear Creek. On the west side of Stony Fork the parting reaches 

its maximum thickness in this district. As far as seen, this coal is workable 
100 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

under the whole of this district within its line of outcrop. It is of course 

possible that the facings measured and the sections reported are not representative, 

but from what was seen it has seemed certain that this bed will yield a large 

amount of workable coal. Mr. Hislop, of Paisley, Scotland, who examined a 

sample of the entire seam, describes this coal as follows: · 

"The coal is black, possesses considerable luster and brown streak; fracture 

rather irregular, partly defined by thin deposits of charcoal; cross fracture, angular, 

partly inclined to resinoid, and crystalline, and in part merging into· a semicannel 

coal with slight deposits of calcic carbonate and ferrie bi.sulphide in the natural 

partings; moderately compact and cohesive; on the fire it intumesces and agglomeru.tes; 

color of ash, brown; thickness of seam, 52 inches, and of very uniform density; the 

mean specific gravity being 1,237 (water 1,000); weight of 1 cubic foot, 77.31 pounds." 

Chemical analysis. 

Per cent. 

'Vater. .•....................................................... __ ... _ . . . . . . . . 4. 46 

Volatile combustible matter ...........................•..........•............. 33. 57 

Fixed carbon .................•......................................•........ 60. 12 

Ash ................................ -.- ...........•........ __ .............. __ .. 1. 43 

Sulphur ....•.............................•............................ ·....... . 52 

The following analyses by Dr. Robert Peter are reported by Mr. Crandall: 

Constituent. A. B. c. D. 

-----------

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Pe,r cent. 

Moisture ..... _.~ ....... _. __ .... _. __ .. ___ ...... _._._._. ____ ... _ 1. 00 1. 20 1. so 

Volatile combustible matter_ .... __ .......... __ ._ .• _ ........... . 34.40 35.60 33.00 1. 03 

Fixed carbon. __ ........... __ ........................... __ . __ .. 59.40 58.20 60. 10 90 .. 97 

Ash . _____ .. __ ........ __ .......... __ .............. __ ......... . 4.60 5.00 5.10 8.00 

Sulphur .. _ ... __ ,_._ .. _ ........ _ ....... : ..... _ .... _ .......... __ . . 682 .408 . 658 . 693 

A. Little Clear Creek (343). 

B. John Evans (344), 1 mile above A. 

C. Bear Creek (406). · 

D. Coke made from the sample obtained on Bear Creek, a test having been made at the Pineville ovens. 

According to these analyses this coal shows a remarkably low percentage of 

moisture, an average percentage of sulphur, a fair percentage of ash, 11nd a 

little over the average percentage of fixed carbon. In comparing these analyses, 

however, with those obtained by us in 1902 and 1903 to the east of Middlesboro, it must be remembered that samples were taken of the whole seam, except 

of such partings as would naturally be rejected, and placed at once in glass jars 

which allowed no evaporation of the water. In these cases it is probable that 

the same precautions were not taken to prevent evaporation; it is more than 

likely that the analyses given above, and the most of those given in this and 

the preceding district, were made from air-dried samples. Considering the quality 

and favorable section of this coal, as well as the large area underlain by it, it is 

evident that this coal will yield a large value, probably more than that of any 

other seam in this district. 
COALS OF STONY FORK-CLERR CREEK DISTRICT. 101 

KLONDIKE COAL. 

On Bear Creek, Mr. Crandall reports two coals at this horizon (389, 390) 

about 10 or 12 feet apart. The upper is 2 feet 4 inches thick and the lower is 

2 feet 6 inches thick. The comparison of these coals with the Klondike coal as 

exposed on Stony Fork leads one to conclude that these are the two benches of 

the Klondike coal he1·e separated by. much more than the usual interval. Mr. 

Crandall reports that on Little Clear Creek this coal lies about 110 feet aboye 

the Poplar Lick, and shows the following section (332): · Inches. 

ccial .. ,oo·--ooooo.oooooooooo···oo···oooo·-·-···-oo··--oo·oo·oo·-·OooooOOOOoOOo • 9 

Shale . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • , 0 0 0 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 __ 0 0 ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 0 0 ' 1 

Coal 00 .. 00 .. 00 0 ·0 • 00 00. 00 0 .. 0 00 00 0 00 00 0 0 .. 0 00 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 00 00 0 00 00. __ 00 _ 9 

Sh!tle .. 00 00 .. 00 ______ 00 __ .. _____ • 0 • 00 00 __ 0 0 ~ 0 • 0 0 __ 0 ____ 00 0 0 00 0 __ 0 __ • __ .. 0 __ __ 7 

Coal . _____ 0 0 0 _ 0 _ 0 • 0 _ •• 0 0 __ 0 0 • ___ 0 0 • 0 •• 0 0 _ 0 __ •• 0 0 0 •• 0 •• 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 • _ ••••••• _ 0 0 • 20 

Clay o,o.·OOoo·-----o--ooo.ooo·--00000° 0000 • ·o-ooooooo •• o. ooo-·o o.o.o.o· •••• oo. 1 

Coal 000·------ __ 0 0 ooOOOOoooO 00 0. 0000 oo .... 0--.0. ooO 000 .. o. ooOO .oo. 0 00 ••• 0 0000 3 

Shale .. __ 00 • ___ ... __ ... 00 .. 00 ___ 00. __ 00 00.00 0 0. 0 •• 00 0 .. 00 0 0 00 .. __ • 00 0 .. 0 0.... 1~ 

Coal __ ....... 0 00 ....... 00 ........ __ ..... __ ............ __ .. 00 0 0 ..... 00.00 __ 0.. 11 

Another section of this coal on Little Clear Creek gave a top b~nch of 8 

inches; then came 28 inches of shale, fire clay or shale; :3~ inches of semicaimel 

coal, 9 to 10 inches of black cannel, 26 inches of shale, while of the bottom 

bench but 5 inches were seen, 'though this is reported as from 22 to 24 inches 

thick. The coal here is reported to be 50 ·to 75 feet above the Poplar Lick. 

This was on the F. W. Martin place on Puncheon Camp Branch (374). At 

another point on Little Clear Creek, on the J. J. Evans place, the section given 

below was obtained (369). In the field there was some doubt as to whether this 

was not the Poplar Lick coal, but at the outcrop where measured it was 120 

feet higher than the Poplar Lick coal at the nearest point. Furthermore, the 

agreement of this section with the one given by Mr. Crandall suggests that this 

section may have been measured at the same opening as his, at least upon ·the 

same coal. Our section gave 64t inches as the total thickness of the seam, 

including a l-inch parting 12. inches from the top, a 7-inch shale parting 8 

inches lower, 7 inches of bone with thin coal streaks 9 inches from the bottom, 

and a 5-inch bench of splinty to cannel coal 5 inches below the 7-inch parting. 

The roof is shale. One hundred feet above the Poplar Lick coal on Polk 

Branch of Little Clear Creek Mr. Fitzhugh. reports the following section (353): 

Inches. 

Coal .. 0 0. 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 0 0 ••• 0 ••••• 0 • 0 0 0 0. 0 0 •• 0 • 0 o. 0 • 0 ° 0 0 0 ••••••• _ 0 0 ° 0 • 0 0. 0 0 0 0 •• :. 0 0 0 12 

Clay ----00 .. ooo 0 ... 0 oo•. 00--.00 0 ° ... 000. o

0

000 ... 000 .. 0 0 ooO. 0 0 .. 0 0 00 .. 00 .... 00 0 1~ 

Coal __ 00 00 0 00 00 "00 .. 00 .. 0, .. -- __ -- -- 0 .. 0 -- 0 -- .. 0 0 -- 0 0 0 0 0 ·-- 0 0 -- 0 0 __ 0 0 00 .... __ 0 10 

Clay .. __ .. __ ----.. -- ...... -- 0 0 ... 0 .. -- .... 0 0 0 0 -------- .. : 0 0 0 .... --, .. 0 ...... 0 6 

, Coal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 24 

Shale 0 0 0 0 ·0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ____ 0 ° 0 0 0 0 ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 

Coal 0 0 0 0 _ 0 _ :·. 0 __ 0. 0 ..... __ ---- 0 0.- 0 0 0 ° 0 0 0 0.-- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 °-- 0 0 0 0 0 0 __ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0. 0 0 16 

41-No. 49--06-8' 
102 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

' At another point on Little Clear Creek Mr. Fit:r.hugh reports the following 

section of a coal 90 feet above the Poplar Lick: 

Inches. 

Coal ___ - _______ -- ___ -- ___ --_-------- ___ -- __ ------- ____ -_-----.--- _____ · ______ " 24 

Shale ___________ - _________ - __ -- ________ -- ___ -- ________ - ___ -- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 18 

Coal _______ - __ --- ___ -- _ ------ -- ___ -- _-- - - _- . -- ___ - ___ -- _--- - ___ , ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21 

Shale ____________________________ -- ____ - - _____________ - _________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4 

Coal ____________ - ___ -- ___ ·- ________ . ____________________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 14 

This coal was not definitely recognized on Bean Fork Branch or Hignite Branch 

of Stony Fork. On Coal or Rockhouse Branch it showed in the stream bed (2.45) 23 

inches of coal immediately overlying a massive sandstone and 115 feet above the 

Poplar Lick coal. Up the right-hand fork of the same branch it showed 20 inches 

of coal with 1 it~ch of elay 7 inches from the bottom. The roof here was a lightbrown shale (250). On the headwaters of Stony Fork the coal at this horizon 

showed 16 incheE>, but close by is reported to show a seam 44 inches thick. Above 

the Luke and Drummond mine on the Poplar Lick coal an opening has been made 

on this coal that shows 4 feet of coal with 1 inch of soft coal 15 inches from the 

top, and 1 inch of coal 3 inches below the main coal with 3 feet plus of fire clay 

below. Abore the coal there is reported to be 4 or 5 feet of shale overlain by 20 

inches of coal, then another 6-ineh bench 15 inches higher, and 18 inches of shale 

separating this from the sandstone. This coal lies from 115 to 125 feet above the 

Poplat· Lick (228). A little lower down on the northeast bank this coal showed a 

section of about 47 inches, but the facing was not in to hard firm coal (241). From 

what has been given it will he evident that there is a •coal of some thickness and 

locally workable about 100 feet above the Poplar Lick coal all through this district. 

Comparing these intervals and sections with those given on Camp Branch and 

Martin Branch it has seemed to us quite probable that the 4-foot seam there 

represents the Poplar Lick of this district, while the coal 100 feet higher on Camp 

Branch (203), which, by referring back, it will be seen closely resembles the sections 

of tliis coal just given, would appear to be the same as this coal. On Martin Branch 

of Stony Fork the section shows two coals, orie 2 feet 1 inch, the other 2 feet 8 

inches, the lower being just 100 feet above tho 4-foot coal. Apparently the 

Klondike coal at this point has Rplit into two benches, as on Stony Fork and Bear 

Creek, and they appear to he the same as at the Klondike mine. On the whole it 

may be doubted if there is much workable coal in this horizon in this district. 

Only a few of the sections give much hope, as the coal as !1. whole is badly split by 

partings so that the workable part of the bed will usually run under 3 feet, though 

it sometimes re~ches 4 feet. 

COALS OJ<' HIGNITE FORl\IATION. 

As previously described, the Hignit~ formation extends from the top o£ the 

Red Spring coal to the bottom of the Lower Hignite coal. The coals at the top 

and bottom just mentioned are the main coals in the formation, though three 

other coals reach a workable thickness locally. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PR::JFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. X IV 

401. 

Dear Creek. (Rept. by T. C.) 

337. 

(Rept. by T. C.) 

2M'" + 4.4" 

=46U" 

403. 

Bear Creek. (Rept. by T. C.) 

336. 

(Rept. by T. U.) 

CLF.AR CREF.K. 

404. 

Cany Fork. (Rept. by T. U.) 

335. 

. (Rept. by T. C.) 

2" + 39'' =:il" 

407. 

Major Branch. (Hept. by A. R.U.) 

405. 

Major Rranch. (Rept. by T. C.) 

12" + 57" =69" 

LlTTJ.E CLEAR CREEK. 

341. 

(Rept. by T. C.) 

342. 

(Rept. by T. C.) 

340. 

Webb Gap. 

(Rept. by T. C.) 

352. 

Polk Hollow. (Rept. by G. D. F.) 

339. 

Bens Fork. (Rept. by T. C.) 

343. 

Near .1\Iart Head's. (Rept. by A. R.C.) 

7" + 56" =63" 

338. 

Bcns Fork. (Rept. by T. C.) 

=:!6" 

368. 

Evans farm. 

1----------------------~-----------------------------------------~--~~ 

268. 

HIGNITE CREEK. 

266. 

18" + 60" =78'' 

BEA..'l FORK BRANCH, 

305. 296. 

(Rept. by A.H.U.) (Rept. by A. R.C.) 

10" + 39" =:i9" 

278. 243. 

(Rept. hy T. C.) 

19" 

22" 

12" 

53" 

242. 

(Rept. by T. U.) 

15" + 60" =75" 

ROCKHOUSE OR COAT. CmmK, 

248. 251. 

lU~ht ]1-.ork. 

241. 

(Rept. by T. C.) 

19~" + 52" =71}11" 

HKAV 01.<' STOl'o.~ FORK. SOWDER CREEK. 

230. 

Sagamore mine. 

226. 

sw• 

8%" + 53" ~61J.;i'· 

229. 239. 

Luke and Drum- (Hept. by T. C.) mondmine. 

240. 

(Rept. by T. C.) 

__ .!___ _______________ -

SECTIONS OF POPLAR LICK COAL, STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=5 feet. 

260. 

Ralston mine. 

15'" + 4.8" -63" 

LAURRL FoRK. 

400. 

Copperas Fork. (Rept. by T. C.) 
COALS OF STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 1D3 

LO\Vl<~R HHi NIT F. COAJ.J. 

The following sections of this coal obtained in this district, as represented on 

Pl. XIII (p. 84), will give a good idea of the thickness of this coal and its partings. 

Mr. R. H. Elliott gives an average section of this coal as 49 inches, with 2 inches 

·of shale 8 inches from the bottom and a shale roof. He reports the average thickness 

of the coal as shown by measurements made by him on four different faces as 

47t inches. Mr. Crarydall reports this eoal on the Clear Creek side of Piney Spur 

near Bear Creek as showing 46 inches of coal without partings (409). On Cany 

Fork of Clear Creek he reports it as 38t inches thick with a t-inch pa1'ting 2 

inches from the bottom (408). On the John Evans farm on Little Clear Creek he 

reports the coal as 61 inches thick, but this includes 9 inches of shale !5 inches from 

the bottom (346). On Bean Fork Branch he reports the coal as 37 inche:,; thick 

without pat~tings, with a shale roof. On Lick Fork what was supposed to he the 

same coal was reported by Mr. Crandall as 56t inches thick, of which practically 4 

feet are coal, but the top is badly broken by partings, there being tir;.;t a 6-inch 

bench, then 2t inches of clay, 2t inches of coal, 2t inches of clay, 1 inch of coal, 

1 inch of clay, 1 inch of coal, 2 inches of clay, then the main bench, 38 inches 

thick, of coal. The roof is shale (307). On Hignite Creek Mr. Crandall reports 

this coal as showing a mttin bench 46 inches thick. One inch . below this is 1 inch 

of coal, while 5t inches lower are 3 inches of coal (279). The section we measured 

·showed on Hignite Creek (255} 40 inches of coal with 1 inch of coal above separated 

by a t-inch parting and 1 inch of coal below separated by 2 inches of clay. The 

roof is ~>hale. At this point the interval batween the Lower and Upper Hignite 

coals is only 12 feet. On Stony Fork what is supposed to be this coal is 40 inches 

thick and has a shale roof (221). 'Below this coal O!t Hignite Creek and Stony Fork 

is a masilive sandstone which is supposed to be equivalent to the niassive sandstone 

noted on Puncheon Camp Branch of Bennett Fork, just below the coal being 

opened for mining. ,Mr. Fitzhugh's section of the Lower Hignite coal differs from 

Mr. Elliott's, showing 51 inches of coal with a 4-ineh parting of shale 6 inches from 

the bottom. In Mr. Crandall's section of the cmils, at the head of Little Clear Creek, 

the Lower Hignite is 49 inches thick. Mr. Fitzhugh gives the following section of 

this coal on Little Clear. Creek (419): Coal, 30 inches; shale, 1 inch; coal, 6 inches; 

shale, 2t inches; and coal, 10 inches. On Polk Hollow of Little Clear Creek he 

reports this coal as 45 inches thick. Mr. Crandall reports this coal on Stony Fork 

as 45 inche:'l thick, it being 5 inches thicker than at the point where we saw it (410). 

At the head of Clear Fork of Cumberland, above Ben Sowder's (121), Mr. Crandall 

reports this coal ail 49 inches thick with a t-inch clay parting 9t inches from the 

top. The roof is shale and the floor fire clay. As shown by these sections, this coal 

shows from 3 to 4 feet of solid coal; at some places, benches above o"r below that 

could be worked with it. On the whole, however, in this district, it can not be 

counted upon to yi"eld more than about 40 inches on the average, with the proba- · 

bility that it will yield more mther than less. The roof is generally shale, and is 

judged to be good. The floor is fire clay. 
104" CUMBERLAND, GAP C)AL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

A study was made of this coal by Mr. George E .. Hislop, gas engineer, of 

Paisley, Scotland, who gives the following description of the coal sent him, the 

sample representing the entire product of the seam: 

"The coal is black, considerable luster, and brown streak; fracture rather 

irregular, partly defined by thin deposits of charcoal, partly resinoid to crystalline; 

cross fracture, angular and resinoid to crystalline with laminre of semicannel. with 

trace of calcium carbonate ·and ferric bisulphide; cohesive and compact; on the fi!-e 

it intumesces and agglomerates; color of ash, brown; thickness of seam, 48 inches, 

and of very uniform density; mean specific gravity being 1,237 (water, 1,000); 

weight of 1 cubic foot, 77.31 pounds." 

He gives the following analysis: 

Chem·ical analysis of Lawer Hignite coal. Per cent. Moisture ____________________ .. ______________ . _________ · __________________ . 4. 25 

Volatile matters ________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 34. 88 

Fixed carbon ___________________________________ ._. ____________________________ 58. 25 

Sulphur ___________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . 49 

Ash __________ · ______________________ . _____________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. 13 

Mr. Crandall reports the following analyses: 

Analyses of Lower Hignite coa.l in Stony J!'ork-Clea1· Creek d-istrict. 

-------------------------;- ---,-----·--------~--

_________ con_st-it_n_en_t_. ---------'-"-l--A_._j __ B_. _____ c_. ___ n_. -t--E-'. __ 

Per cent. 

Moisture _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. 40 

Volatile combustible matter _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 33. 90 

Fixed carbon _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 60. 30 

Ash ___________ . , _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3. 48 

Sulphur ________ .. ______ . _______________________ - _ _ _ _ _ . 794 

A. Cany Fork (408). 

B. Clear Creek side of Piney Spur ( 409). 

C. Head of Hignite Creek (279). 

D. Sngar Creek Bmnch of Bear Creek (•109a) of Clear Fork of Cnmbcrland. 

E. Head of Stony Fork (410). 

Per cent. 

1.60 

33.40 

61.52 

3.50 

. 840 

Pc>· cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

2.66 3.00 3.00 

34. 14 30.40 31.96 

59.70 64.00 62.04 

3.50 2.60 3.00 

. 840 .601 . 478 

These analyses show a low percentag·e of moisture, average percentage of 

sulphur, a low percentage of ash, and an unusually high percentage of fixed 

carbon. On account of the good showing made by the chemical analyses, and of 

its having few or no partings at most of the sections shown, this coal has been 

considered one of the best coals of this region. Its main disadvantage is, of 

course, its height in the mountain and the consequent small area underlain by it. 

UPPER HTGNIT~' COAL. 

The Uppe.r Hignite coal takes its name from Hignite Creek, near the head of 

which it is exposed. In a few places it shows a considerable body of coal, locally 

,. from 5 to 6 feet or more in thickness, but it can hardly be classed as workable, as 

the thickest benches in most cases are only from 2 to 3t feet ·thick, and in many of 
COALS OF STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 105 

the sections the whole coal appears to have either nearly pinched out or to have 

so far split up as not· to be recognized as the benches of a single coal. In any 

case, wherever seen, it occurs in several benches too much separated by partings, as 

a rule, to be workable in the same mine. On Bear Creek Mr. Crandall reports this 

coal (411) as showing· three benches-an upper bench 22 inches thick, separated 

by 15 inc;hcs of shale from the main or middle bench, which is 42 inehcs thick, while 

the bottom bench of 4 inehes is separated from the main b~nch by 10 inches of 

shale and coal. 

Mr. G. D. Fitzhugh gives the foHowing· section of the Upi)er Hignite coal 

(4-20) on Bear Creek, where it has a shale roof: . Inches. 

Coal .. ____ ........... __ ........ _ ............•.................................. 27 

Shale and clay _ ... _ ..... ____ ............ _ ............ _ ........... __ ... . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Coal _ ........ __ .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . .. . .. .. .. . . . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . . . . .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. 6 

ShaJ.e and clay .. __ ............. _. __ .............................. .' ....... __ ..... 9 

Coal . ____ .. _ ... _ . ___ . _ .... _ ...... ___ ........... __ .......... __ .... _ ... _ . __ . .. . . 19 

Clay····------·--·-··----··--··---·-------··-···-···------·-··------·· ...... ____ ~ 

Coal . ___ .. _____ .. _ ... _. _ . __ .................................. _ ... _ ............ _ 9 

"Mother of coal" __ . __ .. _ ... _ ... _· ...... _ ... __ ......................... _ ... ,..... 2 

Coal ........................... _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Shale .............................................. c .......................... ,. 4· 

Coal ........................................................................... 6 

On Cany Fork of Clear Creek Mr. Crandall reports the following section (412): 

Inches. 

Shal y sandstone roof, slaty shale ............ _ ....................... _.... .. .. .. .. 6 

Coal ........................................................................... 14 

Clay--·············-----····················-·-----··-··------········-----·-·· t 

Coal ....... , ................................................................... 9! 

Bituminous shale ......... ___ .......... _ ...... • .... , ............ _................ 5z 

Coal ........ __ ............. _ . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. . 26 

Clay . _ ........................................................................ _ ! 

Coal ........................................................................... 2! 

Clay and shale ................................................ · .................. 15 

This section gives a total of '73-! inches, of which 4 feet 4 inches are coal. On 

Hignite .Creek we measured the following section, poorly exposed in the stream 

bed on rather a long slope, and therefore our figures are not as reliable as might 

be wished. As nearly as could be measured the section gave two upper benches 

of 12 inches each, separated by 6 inches of clay, then a parting of 12 inches, then 

a lower main bench of 32 in.ches. Six inches below this main bench was a 2-inch 

bench of coal. A hove the coal is 5 feet of clay shale with 10 feet or more of 

massive sandstone a'bove. The floor is clay. Mr. Crandall gives a section on the 

same creek, probably obtained from a better exposure, which gave as follows (280): 

An upper bench of 32 ·inches under shale roof, with a 2-inch parting of shale 18 

inches from the top; this is separated by 11 ii1ches of shale from a 36-inch bench; 

20 inches below the last comes an llt-inch bench, with 2t inches of clay 3 inches 

from the bottom. The total section here is over 9 feet thick with over 6 feet of 

coal,. but so split up that it is barely, if at all, workable. In Mr. Crandall's 

sections of the coals at the head of Little Clear Creek, he has indicated a coal of 

which the thickness is not given (probably very thin), 30 feet above the Lower 
106 CUMBERLAND HAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Hig·nite, as the representative of the Upper Hignite coal. Thirty feet still higher 

there is a 26-inch coal. On Bean Fork Branch his section does not show the 

Upper Hignite coal at all. Fi·om these sections, and from the fact that it lies so 

close to the much better Lower Hignite coal, it is evident that the Upper ):lignite 

may not be considered as of workable thickness, and is of no value in this district. 

It is possible that future exploration may show that in some places thetie benches 

tun closer together, or some of the partings run out so that a limited area of 

workable coal ma}; exist at this horizon. As shown by the sections, the total 

amount of coal runs from 4 feet to over 6 feet, so that if any of the partings 

should run out it would leave benches of good workable thickness. On the whole, 

however, this coal will not be considered in determining the value of the coal of 

this district. 

The following analyses have been made of this coal and may be inserted here 

notwithstanding the poor showing the coal as a whole makes. The analyses of 

the coal on Hignite Creek take account only of the 36-inch bench. Of the three 

analyses, A is of the coal on Bear Creek (411); B of the coal on Cany Fork of Clear 

Creek (412); and C of the coal on Hignite Creek (280). 

Analyses of Upper TTignite coal in Stony Fork-Clear C1·eek dist1·ict. 

Constituent. A. B. c~ 

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

Moisture ......... _ .. _____ . ____ .. _______________________________ _ 2.00 2.50 2.50 

Volatile combustible matter .. _ ................. , ............ ____ . 32.80 32. 16 29. 70 

Fixed carbon ..................................... __ ........ _ .. _. 59.50 57.54 52.80 

Ash.. .. .. .. . . .................. _ .... - -... , .................. : . .. 5.70 7.80 5.00 

Sulphur .. · ..... __ ... ___ .. __ . __ ... ________ ... ____ __ ... __ ... _ .. __ __ .986 .55() . 554 

These analyses, reported by Mr. Crandall, show this coal to be low in moisture, averaging fairly well in percentage of sulphur, a little above the average in 

percentage of ash, and about averaging with the other coals in the district m 

fixed carbon and volatile combustible matter. 

RED SPRING COAL. 

The Red Spring coal in this district, as in the preceding, is a 5-foot coal of 

good section, though its workability may be questioned on account of the smallness of the bodies in which it lies. The following sections ·will give an idea as 

to its thickness and partings. On Bear Creek, Mr. Crandall reports this coal to 

show a total thickness of 5 feet and 1 inch, of which 4 feet and 7 inches are 

coal (415). There is an upper bench of 13 inches, then a sbale parting of 5 inches, 

while the lower bench of 43 inches has a l-inch parting 10 inches from the top. 

Below that are 6 inches of coal and shale. On Little Clear Creek the coal shows 

one bench of 48 inches, which would probably furnish the minable coal. Above 

this is 5 inches of clay and coal, then a 10-inch bench, while two thin benches of 

1 inch and 2 inches, separated by partings of 5 inches in each case, lie below the 
COALS OF STONY FORK-CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. 107 

coal (346). On Bean Fork Branch, Mr. Crandall reports this coal (308), as showing 

63 inches of coal, including 5 inches of clay shale of which the position is not 

given. On Hignite Creek the same authority reports that this coal is 56 inches 

thick and carries a 3-inch parting of shale 11 inches from the top and a l-inch 

parting 2 inches· from the bottom ~281). No exposure of this coal giving a full 

section was seen by our party. On Hignite Creek, immediately above a massive 

sandstone~ coal was noticed in a spring and dug into to· a depth of more than 2 

feet (253). This was thought to be at the horizon of the Red Spring coal, judging from intervals. -On the whole these sections show this coal to carry at least 

one bench of from 3t to 4 feet of coal, and if the coal above. the parting is 

taken in the mine, the scam will probably yield 4t feet of coal. The following 

analyses of this coal (reported by Crandall) will give an idea of its quality: 

Analyses of Red Spring coal. 

Con~tituent. A. I ' R. C. 

Per cent. I Per cent. Per cent. 

1\'Ioisture .. _ ............................................... : .... . 3.40 2.20 2.60 

' Volatile combustible matter ..................................... . 31.60 34.20 33.20 

Fixed ear bon ............•....................................... 58.24 60.40 60.20 

Ash ....................... · ................. ~-----· ............. . 7.00 3.20 4.00 

Sulphur ........................................................ . . 601 . 670 . 576 

---

A. Little Clear Creek, opposite otnd one-half mile below Mr. W. F. Parton's house (414). 

B. Head of Hignite Creek (281 ). 

C. Bear Creek ( 415 ). 

According to these analyses this coal is below the average in percentage of 

sulphur.· It shows above the average in percentage of fixed carbon with a low 

percentage of volatile combustible matter and a fair percen.tagc of a8h. According 

to these analyses it should make a good quality of coke when sufficient mi~1ing 

has been done upon· it to obtain unweathered coal. 

The following analysis was obtained of the coke made from this coal as 

reported by Crandall: 

\ 

Analysis of coke from Red Spr·h<g coal. Per cent . 

.Fixed carbon ........ _ ................................... .". . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 91. 16 

Ash ... _..................................................................... 8. 50 

Sulphur ..............•.................................. -.................. _. . 416 

Volatile matter .................................................... -.· ..... _.. . 34 

. Three hundred and forty· feet above the Lower Hig·nitc coal occurs a seam 

giving a total seCtion, according to Mr; Crandall, of 6 feet 3 inches, of which 

5 feet 3 inches are coal (413). This seam, which he reports from Polk Branch 

of Little Clear Creek, shows a top bench of H inches, separated by 5 inche8 of 

bituminous sandstone from the rest of the coal. Below that there is a 7-inch . I 

bench, then 2! inches of bituminous shale and 14t inches of coal, 2 inches· of 

clay, 3 inche, of coal, 2 inches of clay, and 34 inches of coal, with only a !-inch 

parting 8 inches from the top. On account of the number and thickness of the 
108 CU~IBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

partings, only the lower 34-inch bench would be considered as workable, and 

on account of its elevation and the fact that it is not found at least showing 

anything like this thickness anywhere else we are led to class it among the nonworkable coals. Three hundred and forty feet above the Hignite coal the following 

section on Bean Fork Branch may be of the same coal as the last; it shows coal 

and clay, 8 inches; coal, 6 inches; clay, 17 inches; clay and coal, 7 inches; cannel 

shale, 3 inches (285). 

On Bear Creek a 3-foot coal, locally known as the Copperas Lick coal (384), 

is found about 115 feet above the Lower Hignite coal. Mr. G. D. Fitzhugh, in 

a report to the Log Mountain Coal, Coke, and Timber Company, reports a 

30-inch coal 70 feet above the Lower Hignite (355). This would appear to be 

too high above the Lower Hignite to be the Upper Hignite. 

COALS OF BRYSON FORMATION. 

On Bear Creek one coal (376) in this formation gives a thickness of 1 foot 11 

inches. This was the only measurement obtained of the coal in this formation, and 

considering that the formation occupies only a very limited area on the summit of 

the mountains it may be con~idered as containing no workable coal. 

SUMMARY. 

The facts ·concerning the Stony Fork-Clear Creek district are summarized below: 

Sttrnmary of coals of Stony l!'ork-Clear Creek d-istrict. 

Number of coal beds found ......................................... ____ .. -----. 40+ 

Total thickness of coals ................................................... feet.. 40+ 

Number of coal beds of workable thickness (2+ feet) ... _........................ 9+ 

Number of coals worked at present ....................... __ ........ _ ........ _ .. _ 1 

Average thickness of principal workable coals ............ _ .... _ ........ _ ... feet.. 4+ 

Approximate amount of workable coal .. _ .......... ___ ._ .......... _. tons .. 90,000,000 

Hignite. Poplar Lick. Other coals. 

Approximate elevation ... _. ____ . _ .......... feet above tide .. 2,300 2,000 ·····------- Thickness: 

Greatest ...... _ .............. _ ................... feet .. 9+ 8f"2' 7+ 

Average ................. --~-- ..................... do .. . 3!+ 4~+ ·----------- Least .............................. ____ .......... do .. . 0 3r'z .. -----------

Average thickness of workable coal ................. _ .. do .. . 3! 4 3! 

· Number of measurements .... _ ................ __ .... _ ...... . 13 30--f- 20+ 

Area of seam ... _ .................................... acres_ . 5l000 10,800 5,,000 

A vailablc coal per acre ........................... · ..... tons .. 4,000 5,000 4,000 

Coal available in district ............................ _ .do .. . 20,000,000 50,000,000 20;000,000 
YELLOW CREEK DISTRICT. 109 

STRUCTURE. 

The general structure of this district is that of a syncline whose axis runs 

in a general way N. 60° E., a little southeast of the crest of Log Mountain:,;. 

Starting from the head of Big Creek of Clear Fork of Cumberland River, the axis 

crosses the head of Copperas Fork and the head of Stony Fork in this district, 

it then probably swings south and crosses the heads of Coal Branch, Hignite, 

Little Clear, Puncheon, and Lam:el branches of Little Clear, and Little Clear at 

the mouth of Ben Fork. As the Louisville Property Company supplied us with 

a copy of an instrumental survey, based on accurate levels on the Poplar Lick 

coal, we are able to present a contoured map of a large part of this district. 

Where the contour lines are dotted they are purely conjeetural. On the Clear 

Creek side the dip is steeper north of the outcrop of the Poplar Lick coal than 

within the northern limits of that outcrop, as the strata .rise more and more 

rapidly to the upturning in Pine .Mountain. For the details of the structure, it 

is believed the contours ttre self explanatory .. It gives a good idea of the variations from simple monoclinal slopes such as we must necessarily assume probably 

exi:st all over the field. · 

YELLOW CREEK DISTRICT. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

The dominant feature of this district is the valley of Yellow Creek. Attention has previously been called to some features of the physiographic history 

which indicate that the general lowness of the region is due to the erosion by 

the pre-Cumberland River in this basin before its headwaters had been cut off 

by the southward-flowing streams common in the Gr((at Valley. The present 

drainage presents many suggestions of greater age than is found in most parts of 

this basin, notably in the low gaps which have been cut in the divides." This is 

probably due not to greater age but to the fact that as a result of the nearness 

of the main line of drainage the greater part of the erosion of the rocks in this 

district occurred early in recent history. Through such gaps the Louisville and 

Nashville Railroad gains access to and egress from Cannon Creek Valley. Just 

west of Moore Knob such a gap is crossed by the State road, and there are many 

others. It has been suggested that the gap east of Moore Knob may have been 

at one time in the line of drainage of Yell ow Creek. Under the heading "Physiography," was discussed a recent change of drainage near the mouth of Clear 

Fork of Yell ow Creek, and the possibility of there soon being another somewhat 

similar cut from Yell ow Creek into the drainage of Clear Fork, a short distance 

above the mouth of Clear Fork. At the mouth of Sugar Rnn the topography 

suggests that the run formerly emptied into Clear Fork a little above the present 

mouth, but that it was tapped by a branch of Clear Fork at the position of the 

present mouth. These low gaps greatly facilitate transportation in this district. 

Hocky Face, Cumberland, and Pine mountains, as well as Cumbei:land Gap, have 

all been sufficiently described and figured and do not need further description here. 

The district is crossed by the Cumberland Valley branch of the Louisville and Nash-
110 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

ville Railroad. It is entered at Cumberland Gap by the Southern Railway, and 

surveys have been made for the extension of the latter railroad dc\wn Yellow Creek 

to Cumberland River. 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

The rocks found in this district are confined to the Lee, Hance, and Mingo 

formations. The higher formations have been cut out by the erosion already mentioned, which reduce the hills in this region to at~ elevation in the main of less than 

2,000 feet. The Lee formation occurs on Cumberland and Pine mountains and i"' 

brought up over a large area by the Rocky Face fault. The Mingo formation occupies a very limited area in this district,, occurring only in the extreme hilltops on 

the eastern edge, though on the west it is found on the mountain tops for several 

hundred feet from their summits. Even in the latter case the area within the 

outcrop is very limited. The larger part of the slopes, therefore, are occupied by 

the Hance formation. The belt of faulting described under the heading "Structure" (p. 47) occupies a large percentage of this district, and not alone in the main 

Rocky Face fault, but usually for some little distance either side of that the rocks 

are so disturbed as to make it difficult to trace any given rock layer or coal or to 

correlate coal beds when found. The low relief in this district, as is usually the 

case, is accompanied by lack of outcrops, so that on the whole our knowledge of the 

stratigraphy and coals of this district is limited. Again, the fact that in this district 

the principal formation outcropping is the Hance formation, which in the Log 

Mountains carries little workable coal, has discouraged exploration, and as a result 

at most points at which coal was seen .the exposures were not of such a nature that 

the coal could be measured or examined. The Y cllow Creek sandstone makes rather 

notable bluffs along all of the lower course of Yellow Creek, and along the north 

side of Cannon Creek for a short distance above its mouth. 

COALS. 

AREAL DISTRIBU'NON. 

On account of the conditions under which the coals of this district occur and 

. which have been described, it will be convenient to discuss the coals in the 

main, not so much by beds as by areas. Between Clear Creek, Cannon Creek, 

and Yellow Creek at most of the points at which coal was seen there were only 

blooms. Datum points 465 to 468 on Clear Creek are all of this character. Coals 

at 469 and 4 70 come between the N aese sandstone and the Yell ow Creek sandstone; 

469 showed in poor exposure two coals, each 18 to 20 inches thick and 8 feet apart. 

At 470, 6'0 feet lower but apparently close above the Naese sandstone, the coal 

was reported as from 24 to 30 inches thick. At 467, supposed to be in the 

same horizon as the last, the coal was reported as 20 inches thick. At both of 

these places the coal is overlain by a fine dark-blue shale. The Yellow Creek 

sandstone makes bluffs of some prominence above these along Clear Creek n.nd 

for a short distance up Little Clear Creek. At 356, on Little Clear Creek near 

the mouth of Bull Branch, is a coal bloom immediately over what was taken to 

be the Cawood sandstone. Its position, therefore, corresponds with the Turner 

coal of the Bennett Fork district or the Puckett Creek coal to the east. At 357 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Cranes 

c,...eek 

CoLUliiNAR SECTIOSS. 

Williams Branch 

-LF.H FOR~IATION. 

Cumberland. Gap road. 

Laurel H;ll 

357. 

Little Clear Creek. 

15" + 32" =!7" 

496. 

'Ve&t of tunnel. 

=57" 

v MINGO CoAr,, 

45B. 

Excelsior mine. 

PUCKETT COAT,. 

473. 

Right Fork of 'Villiam~::; Branch. Am. Association. 

472. 

Right Fork of Williams. Top of diVide. 

+ S7•• =Jl" 

489. 

Clear Fork of Yt>llow Creek •. Jas. Barnett. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XV 

HANCE COAL, 

484. 

Cranes Creek. C. c. ·wright farm. 

27:!" + fJ9" =6131i'' 

CRANES CREEK C::O.-\I,. 

491. 

Crane~ Creek. J. C. Robbin!:!. 

475. 

Cranes Creek, Wm. Denny farm. 

i;Ji" + 52" =56)(" 

492. 

Cranes Creek. J. C. Robbins. 

=46" 

CoALS IN 1\IINGO AND HANCF. FoRlllATIOKS, 

514. 

Yellow Creek. Evans. (Rept. by Mcc. andd'I.) 

1~" + 42.!1" =5!7;!" 

T!iNNEJ. CO.\L. 

496c. 

=8" 

515. 

Cannon Creek. Jas. Bussell. (Rept. by R. C. 

B. T.) 

17" + 48" =65" 

495. 

516. 

Yellow Creek. Hiram Ho~kills. 

(Hep~~d IJ;r.?IcU. 

··~' 7f" + 35.%"" =36" 

517. 

Yellow Creek. (Rept. hy :McO._ 

andd'l.) 

W'l2" ll" 

18" 

76" + 3!" =34,7;)'' 

CUIIIBERLAND GAP COAT ... 

500. 

Gap-Harlan road. 

=!4" 

499. 

At Gap. 

COLUMNAR AND COAL SECTIONS, YELLOW CREEK DISTRICT. 

Scales: Columnar sections, 1 inch-=300 feet; coal sections, 1 inch=·S feet. 
COALS OF YELLOW CREEK DISTRICT. 111 

the coal shows a thickness of from 31 to 32 inches, and appears bright and 

g·ood. Above the coal is 60 feet of sandstone separated from tJw coal by a 

15-inch parting of ~lay. The coal here is 310 feet (bar.) above Little Clear Creek 

and would seem to correspond in stratigraphic position with coal No. 30 in the 

columnar section of Bennett Fork, as given on Pl. XI. Near ,Terry Gap (464) 

coal is reported 32 inches thick at an elevatio·n of about 1,890 feet. This is thought 

to lie at the same horizon as the last. No trace of coal was found in either Clear 

or Little Clear creeks in this district at the horizon at which it waii estimated 

the Bennett Fork or Hance coal should lie. Where the State road meets Clear 

Creek, coals 461 and 462 showed, respectively, a layer 4 inches thick, and a 

coal bloom. All the coals seen on the east side of Moore Knob Ridge gave 

only blooms. These all lie low in the Hance formation. On Little Cannon 

Creek (463) is a coal bloom which was estimated to occupy the position of the 

Cranes Creek coal of the Hance district. Judging from the condition of the 

rocks seen in outcrop in Moore Knob Ridge, no workable coal need he looked 

for in that hill. 

The hills between the railroad and the portion of Yell ow Creek below the 

mouth of Cannon Creek probably contain no workable coal. Near the top of 

the hill, on the Hiram Hoskins place, McCr~ath and d'Invilliers report a 3-foot 

coal with a shale roof and a half-inch parting of shale 2 feet from the top. 

They give the following analysis of this coal: 

Analysis of Hoskins coal, Yellow Creek. 

Per cent. 'Vater _____________________________________________ .. _____ .. _ , _____ . _ .• _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. 240 

Volatile matter ____ .... ____________ .. __ .... __ ........ _ ... _ .. _ ... __ . . . . . . . . . . . 40. 785 

Fixed carbon _____________ .. _______ ... _ .... _ .. ____________________ ........... 51. 841 

Sulphur _____________ • _____________ ..... _____________________________________ 2. 289 

Ash ................ _ ...................... _ ..... _ ... __ . __ . _______ ....... _ _ _ _ _ 3. 845 

Color of ash, red. 

This is described as having been opened on the west side of Yellow Creek, 

a short distance above the mouth of Williams Branch, about 360 feet vertically 

above the level of the creek. The coal oceurs in yellow ferriferous shales 

immediately above a massive sandstone rock. Though the coal was not seen by 

ns, probably the same sandstone which is thought to be the Cawood was noted 

in cliffs near the top of the hill. If this view is correct, this coal is the 

representative of the Turner coal of the Bennett Fork district or the Puckett 

Creek coal,· farther to the east. McCreath and d'Invilliers described the coal as 

"bright and firm and to have a large area through the high knob between 

Yellow Creek and the river." According to the topographic map, the top of 

this hill is about 125 feet above the coal and in the form of a knob, and the 

coal would underlie but a very few acres. It is po~sihle that the Cranes Creek 

coal, which lies 100 feet or more lower, may be found in this hill, and if s.o it 

would yield a small quantity of workable coal. 

Of the portion of the area just studied west of the State road little can be 

said. This contains the horizons of the Bennett Fork coal and of the Mingo 

coal, though the latter would occupy only a very limited area. It is possible 
112 CUMBERLAND GAP OOAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

that both of these coals, or at least the lower of them, may in the future be 

found in this part of the district and may yield some workable coal. One or 

two exposures on what was taken to be the Turner coal .seem to indicate that 

that coal was too thin to be of any value. Rocky Face Mountain contains no 

workable coal unless one of the Lee coals found in Cumberland Gap should 

occur here. In that ease it would lie in a more or less nearly perpendicular 

position and could not be considered minable. 

In the Sawmill Ridge hills between Cannon Creek and Yellow Creek the 

indications are more favorable for the existence of workable coals. At 451 on 

Cannon Creek a coal 2 feet thick was seen and was estimated to lie at the 

horizon of the Turner and Puckett coals. At 452 just above this and ncar the 

top of the hill the coal was reported as 4t feet thick. It appeared to occur in 

the stratigraphic position of the Mingo coal. From it::~ position in the hill it 

would occupy but a small area, though probably large enough to pay for mining. 

Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers report a coal as having been opened upon the 

F. Barne1· place, described as close to the State road and about a mile south from 

the Cannon Creek divide and a short distance west of Yellow Creek. It is 

correlated by them as at the same horizon as the Hoskins coal. The coal here 

was formerly mined considerably for local use, especially for smithing. It is 

described as 2 feet 10 inches thick, with a small black slate parting 2 inches 

from the top and a band of iron pyrites about 16 inches from the top. The 

State .reports contain the following analyses of this coal. The first is of the 

whole bed, including the parting and pyrite, and the second is of the coal 

without these impurities. 

Analyses of Barner coal on Cannon Creek (Peter). 

Constituent. A. B. 

Per cent. Per cent. 

:Moisture_._ .. ___ .. _ .. _____ . ________ . ______ . _. _. _______ . _____ .. ____________ _ 0.86 0.86 

Volatile combustible matter. ______ . _ ... _ ............ _ ..... ____ .. ___ .. ______ _ 35.60 36.04 

.Fixed carbon ______________ · ________ . __________ . ________ · _____________ . ___ . __ _ 57.88 59.20 

Ash (color, bright lilac gray) ... _ .. _ .............................. _. ________ . 5.66 3.90 

Sulphur _____________________________________________________ .. ___________ . 2.455 2.032 

Specific gravity ... ---. ______________________________________________________ _ 1.281 l. 270 

-·---------·----------------____________ _--'. ___ __,__ 

The coke from this coal was light and spongy. The analysis of the coke 

showed as follows: 

Coke from Barner coal on Cannon Greek (Peter). 

Per cent. 

Moisture ______ .'. ______ . __ . ___ . _. _. ___ .....•. _. _ ... _____ · __ ... _ ....... _. _ _ _ _ _ _ 0. 06 

Volatile combustible matter. ____ ~-----_. ______ ---- _________ . __ ._._----________ . 60 

.Fixed carbon ____________________ . _________________ .. ________ .. _ .. _. ___ ... __ . 93. 34 

Ash ___ .. ________________ ... _______________________ .. ________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6. 00 

Sulphur ________ .. __ .•.. _ . ___ .. _ ... __ ................ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. 335 
COALS OF ~ELLOW CREEK DISTRICT. llH 

This analysis shows this coal to give a very hig·h percentage of fixed carbon 

in the coke and a 8rnall percentage of ash, while the percentage of sulphur is 

high. In the chemical reports of the Kentucky Survey a coal described as the 

Cockerall coal i8 said to outcrop on Cannon Creek 1 mile above the railroad. 

Of the three analyse8 g'iven, the first is described as the "Lower Barner seam.'' 

The sample was averaged from the 32-inch face of the bed. The second is described 

as the "Cockerall's coal, Barner seam;" sample was averaged from the 34-inch face 

of the bed. The third is described as "Cockerall's coal" from the 37 -inch faee.of the 

bed under the sandstone ledge 500 feet above the creek. These samples were colleeted by .Mr. A. R. Crandall and analyzed by Peter. These analy8es, like those 

given above, are of the air-dried coals. · 

Analyses of coal.~ on Cannon Creek. 

---------------'- ------'----- ------------------

Constituent. Lower Bar- Coekerall's Coekerall's 

ner seam.a co~~~~~~er coal.b 

----- Per cent. Per cent. Perceut. 

Moisture ... ~ ......................................... _ .. _ ... __ . _ 1. 00 1. 20 2.00 

Volatile combustible matter .................................... .. 36.50 36.30 33.80 

Fixed carbon ................................................... . 56. 10 56.80 62.80 

Ash ...... -----···--·--------------··-------------·-···---------- 6.40 5. 70 1. 40 

Sulphur _ ...... ____ ......... __ . __________ : ..... -------- .... _____ _ 2.193 2.335 .. 577 

aColor of ash, purplish gray. b Color of ash, light brownish. 

According to the8e analyses the 37-inch bed shows a very high percentage of 

fixed carbon and a correspondingly low percentage of ash. All of them yield 

a spongy coke. In another place one of the same reports gives a section of 

the coal on the .Tames Bussell place on Cannon Creek, where it wa8 sampled by 

Mr. R. C. B. Thruston, who describes the coal as occurring in two benches--the 

upper 25 inches, the lower 23 inches--separated by 17 inches of shale (515). An 

analysis of this coal by Peter is as follows: 

Arwlyliis of Bu.~8ell coal on Cannon Creek. 

Per cent. 

Moisture .............. -: .................................. -.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. SO 

Volatile combustible matter ................................................... 33. 90 

Fixed carbon .............................................................. ·.. 59. 90 

Ash (color, gray brown) .......... -.... -.......... -.......... ·c·-- ........ .... 5. 40 

Sulphur..................................................................... 1. 508 

This is described as a good splint or semicannel coal, averaging toward bituminous coal. As none of these coals were accurately located, they are here siinply 

described as in the original reports. In addition to the coals given above McCreath 

and d'Invilliers report that a coal occurs on a small branch northwest from Yell ow 

Creek and about 225 feet vertically above drainage level. The locality is ahont 4 

miles from Cumberland Gap, and a section (514) reported by them shows 4 feet 6t 

inches all told. There is a top bench 1 foot 8 inches, 2 inches of shale, 10 inches of 

coal, a knife-edge of slate, 3 inches of coal, 3 inches of shale, 2! inches of coal, 4 

inches of shale .and clay, 7 inches of coal, 1 inch of shale, and 1 inch 'of shaly 
114 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

coal. All told there is about 3t feet of coal here, but so badly split up as to be 

non workable. 

On the north end of Dark Ridge we find. the only commercial mine worked in this 

district in 1902 and 1903. At the Excelsior mine (458) the coal worked is considered 

to be the Mingo coal. The principal bench of coal runs from about 2t to 3 feet in 

thickness. Above "it is from 4 to 18 inches of shale and above that occasionally a 

thin strip of coal that reaches a thickness of 4 inches. Nine feet higher is an 

18-inch bench of coal. Below the main bench the coal ha~S a parting usually 

running from 3 to 10 inches thick, averaging about 8 inches, though in the first 

left entry this parting thickens up to 3 feet; Below the parting is 18 inches of 

coal. Where measured near the furnace this parting showed 10 inches of clay, 

4 inches of coal, and 8 inches of clay. A few feet below the entrance to the 

mine and to the south is an outcrop of massive sandstone considered to be the 

Fork Ridge sandstone. The coal here dips slightly to the east, and as far as 

entered the main entry had been cut 350 yards S. 66° E. A coal that is 

supposed to be this seam was reported by Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers in 

this mountain at an elevation of 550 feet above the creek. Their seetion, 

however, differs considerably from that obtained in the mine, as it showed a 

total of 4 feet 9t inches of coal with a sandstone roof. Their section gives 1 

foot of coal at the top, 1 inch of shale, 11 inches of coal, 7 inches of clay shale, 

2 inches of coal, 1 inch of clay, and 1 foot ,llt inches of coal. A barometric 

measurement in 1902 showed the mine to be 610 feet above Yellow Creek. In 

view of the possibility of differences in the reading of the barometer, or of the 

dip of the coal, if these measurements were made any considerable distance apart 

these differences in ~levation above the creek need not necessarily mean that the 

two coals are not at the same horizon. They give the following analysis of thi:s 

coal: 

Analys-is of coal on Dark -~fonntwi:u. 

Per cent. 

Moisture ......................... ; ______ . __ . _ ..... · ... _ .. _______________ . ___ . 2. 412 

Volatile combustible matter ..... _ .... __ . _ .. _. _ ......... ____ ... _. _ .. ______ .. _. 37.148 

Fixed carbon . _ ............... _ .... __ •. _ ................ __ , _. _ ........ _ . . . . . . 54. 677 

Snlphnr ................................. _ ....... ___ .... _ .. _ .. __ . __ . ____ .... _ 1. 013 

Ash (color, dark red) _ ......... _ ..... ___________ . _. __ .....•. _. ______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4. 750 

The large parting in this coal necessarily interferes more or less with its 

workability. It is possible that the Hance, Bennett Fork, or Turner coals may 

yet be found in this mountain, and prove of workable thickness. In any case the 

area of workable coal is apt to be limited, as the Rocky Face fault, or (as it 

appears here) anticline, has disturbed the rocks in the eastern half of the mountain. Whether this disturbance continues through the whole of the eastern part 

of the mountain or whether it dies out a short distance south of the southern 

end of Rocky Face Mountain was not learned. 

On the ridges between Yellow and Williams creeks it is possible to again 

consider the individual coals. Thei·e appear to be four coals in these ridges, all 

of which may prove locally workable, and one of which gives promise of being 

persistently workable. Unfortunately, however, the Hance coal lies near the top 

of the mountain, so that its area will be quite limited. . 
COALS OF YELLOW CREEK DISTRICT. 115 

COALS IN THE LEE FORMATION. 

On the road from Middlesboro to Cumberland Gap two coals in· the Lee 

formation have been mined. The first of these met in going i1p the road 

outcrops at several point~ and has about the same strike as the coal mined on 

the road. One of these points is just outside the northern end of the railroad 

tunnel under the gap. This coal, therefore, we have called the Tunnel coal. The 

upper coal (lower stratigraphically) has been opened at several points only a few 

rods below the· gap, and will be called the Cumbedand Gap coal. The Tunnel 

coal was being mined in 1902 a little to the cast of the north end of the tunnel, 

where its thickness was from 22 to 57 inches,· averaging· between 40 and 42 

inches. At this point it dips N. 68° W. at an angle of 29° or 30°. Part of the 

coal blocks· out well, while part of it is softer. and breaks down nearly to nut 

size. The coal is mined by shooting·. The roof is of drab-gray shale and not 

very firm. Below the coal are 4 feet of fire clay. In 1903 this mine had been 

abandoned; it was reported that the coal was follo~ed until it ran down to 8 

inches, and then an entry was continued into it until it had risen to 17 incheti, 

·when further mining was discontinued. Over the coal are 14 feet of shale and 

15 feet of massive sandstone, with an equal amount of less massh·e sandstone 

above. On account of the dip the usual method of mining rooms on ~ipping 

faces was followed. It is reported that at the old mine on the Cumberland Gap 

· road the coal was 4 feet thick, blocked out well, being hard and but little crushed. 

At-~ at the other mine, it was mined with powder, though it could be mined 

without. Part of the roof needed no timbering. The Cumberland Gap coal, which 

was· being mined actively, though on a small scale, in 1903 showed at different 

openings a thickness of from 4 to 6 feet. A typical section (499) would show a 

massive eonglomerate sandstone roof, then clay, 0 to 2 inches; soft coal, 5 inches; 

eoal, 20 inches; brown coal, 5 inches; bright coal, 33 inches, and a light-gray fire 

clay below. At this point the coal dips N. 65° ~W. at an angle o£ 48°. It was 

reported that this coal was crossed by the railroad tunnel, where it showed a 

thickness of 6 feet. One-fourth o£ a mile or more fmm Cumberland, Gap on the 

road to Harlan (500), the same coal has been mined close to the fault line. It 

showed a thickness of 44 inches and a dip of 52° ·in the direction of N. 78° W. 

· It is very irregular. In places the roof is a sandstone, and near the bottom of 

this entry there is from 5 to 6 feet of soft clay shale between the sandstone and 

coal. This opening lies N. 10° E. from the opening previously described (499). 

Comparing the pmdtion with reference to the first opening and the strike o£ the 

coal at the several openings close by the gap, it is evident that the coal bed has 

been strongly twisted in a horizontal plane so that the strike has been changed 

from N. 65° W. to N. 12° W. 

CRANES CREEK COAL. 

The type locality for thi~ coal was on the ,J. Cal Robbins place (492), on the 

right-hand fork ·o£ Sugar Hollow Branch of Cranes Creek. The coal here shows 

a solid face o£ 46 inches, with a drab clay shale roo£; some bard, bony streaks 

show locally in the coal. The faces show markedly and run S. 50° W. The hill 

rises about 250 feet above the coal. At another ·place o~ the Robbins farm 

41-No. 4\l-06-l:l 
116 UUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

lower down Cranes Creek and on the other :::;ide this coal :::;howed 39t inches without parting·s. According to the barometer i·eadings it was there 50 feet higher 

than at the first-mentioned opening (491). Across the ridge from the first opening 

mentioned (492) this coal has been mined on the ,Tames Barnett place (489), whence 

it was hauled over Cumberland Gap into Virginia. The coal here showed 40 

inches without parting, with a drab clay shale roof 14+ feet thick. A little 

farther up Cranes Creek this coal in 2 openings shows solid faces of 25 inches 

at 482 and 32 inches at 483, the latter point being north of Cranes Creek. At 

the former place the coal has a sandstone ~oqr and a sandy shale roof; at the 

latter it has a dark hard fire-clay floor and a sandy shale roof. Of the two 

analyses of this coal the fit;st is by McCreath .from a sample at the type locality 

obtained in 1902, and the second is by Peter from a sample at the .James Barnett 

mine, obtained by Mr. R. C. B. Thruston. 

Analyses of Omne.9 Greek coal on (}ranex Creek and Cze,Jr Bork. 

~~~- ----- --.---- --------------- -~---.-~~-

Ct)ll~tituent. By 1\!cCreath. By Peter. 

-~-~~~~~- -~~~~~~~-~~---~~-~~~-!~- ------

::\ioistnre ... _ ......... _ ......... _ .......... _ .............................. __ 

Volatile combustible matter ................... _ ........ _ ................... . 

Fixed carbon ............................................................. . 

Sulphur .................................................................. . 

Ash ....................................... -............................... _. 

Per cent. 

1. 470 

:37.610 

52.76:3 

1.:347 

6.810 

Per cent. 

O.t!O 

33.94 

58.86 

1. 398 

6.40 

The coke from the coal whose analysis is given in the first column ·is fair 

but somewhat granular, that from coal whose composition is given in the second 

column is described as light and spongy. The color of the ~sh in the second 

case is light-purple gray. As is usual with analyses by Peter, the sample was an 

air-dried coal. Both of these analyses seem to indicate that this coal is high in 

sulphur, and above the average in percentage of ash. On account of its low 

position in the hills and the fact that at every point where it was seen it showed a 

solid body without partings, it is possible that it will yield considerable workable 

coal. lts thickness is not all that could be desired, and ovei" part of the district 

it will probably prove too thin to be workable, especially if the analyses at other 

points do not show much better than at the two given. 

PUCK ~:T'l' COAL. 

Near the head of the middle prong of the right-hand fork of Williams Branch 

this coal was seen in two benches, the upper of which was 49! inches thick, 

including 3 inches of black- shale, 6 inches from the bottom, and H inches of black 

shale 15 inches from the top. Between the two benches are, fii:st, 18 inches of 

dark-drab fire clay and 6 inches of black shale. The lower bench, which was 

only partly exposed, was reported as 2 feet thick. Where seen. this coal was 400 

feet above the main forks. of the right-hand branch and 20 feet above the adjacent 

drainage. Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers report a section of a coal, which 
COAL~ OF YELLOW CREEK DI8TRICT. 117 

would seem to be the same bed, as it gives a very similar se~tion. Their section 

shows 1 foot of coal at the top, a knife-edge of slate and 2 inches of coal, 2 inches 

of slate, 1 foot 7 inches of coal, a knife-edge of slate, 1 inch of coal, 5 inches of 

splinty and bony coal, 2 inches of slate, 4 inches of coal, 1 foot 8 inches of slate, 

and 1 foot 6 inches of coal, the total thickness being 7 feet 1 inch~ They report 

this opening as being on the right-hand fork of Williams Branch, a small stream 

flowing westward, in the creek near R. Marlar's cabin about 1t miles from the main 

creek and practically 450 feet above the level of Williams Branch. Notwithstanding 

the fact that this coal is thick it can not be com>idered workable at this point on 

account of the number of partings, though it may prove workable at other points 

should one or more of the thinner partings die out. 

HANCE COALS. 

· These twv coals were poorly exposed at the head of Turnhole Branch (472). 

The coal at this point lies only about 50 feet below the crest of the ridge, though 

to the south the ridge becomes much higher. The two coals appear to be about 

9 feet apart vertically; the uppc1· coal showed a thickness of 2 feet with a clayshale roof; the lower coal bas a shaly sandstone roof 4 feet plus thick. As far 

as seen it is composed of an upper bench of 15 inches, and a clay paiting of 4 

inches, while of .the lower bench only 22 inches could be seen. On the William 

Denny place (475), at the head of a branch of Cranes Creek, the lower coal shows 

a ·thickness of 4 feet 8 inches. There is a lower bench of 22 inches separated by 

4 inches of shale from an upper bench of 30 inches. The latter has tt t-inch 

parting 9 inches from the bottom and a t-inch partii1g 9 inches higher. Above 

it is 1 inch of bone. TlH~ roof is of sandstone. The uppm· coal shows in a spring 

above M1:. Denny's. In a spring to the east of Denny's house the lower Hance 

coal shows again, and, though very poorly exposed, seems to have about the 

same thickness. According to barometer measurements, there is a rise of about 40 

feet in the coal when passing through this hill. The upper coal shows faintly about 

25 feet above the spring (476). On the C. C. Wright place the coal has a total" 

thickness of over 5 feet in practically two benches-the upper one 3 feet thick and 

the lower 2 feet, or a trifle undm·, thick, with 2t inches of clay between. The roof 

is shale. A section of what is probably this coal on the J. M. Robbins place, by 

. Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers, shows practically.the same strata-that is, an upper 

bench 3 feet thick and a lower bench 2 feet thick, and 3 inches of shale between; the 

roof is sandstone and the floor fire clay. The faces of this coal up Denny 

Run lie N. 30° E. The same coal is reported to occur in Clear Fork Ridge just 

level with the gap at the head of Yell ow Branch, and to have a thickness of 

about 4 feet (488). At the head of a small branch of the middle or main prong of 

Williams Creek, and about 90 feet barometrically above . the Robbins opening, 

Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers report a coal which probably occurs at this same 

horizon. It is given as on the B. F. Gross place. It shows a top bench of 2 feet 9 

inches, with a knife-edge of slate 11 inches from the bottom, and a 2-inch slate 

parting. Below that were reported, though not seen by them, 3 feet 10 inches of 

coal', 1 foot 6 inches of clay, and 10 inches of coal, giving a total thickness, if 
118 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

correctly reported, Of 6 feet 9 inches. The coal was seen in an old opening that had 

fallen in, so that it was impossible either to get a sample or to make satisfactory 

measurements. 

The first analysis below is by McCreath, from a sample obtained in 1902 at the 

William Denny bank. This included all but the 4-inch shale bench. 'The second 

analysis is by McCreath, from a sample obtained by McCreath and d'Invilliers at 

the J. M. Robbins opening, as examined by them. 

Analy.~e.~ of Hance coal in ridges east of Yellow Creek. 

From \Vi!- Fron!J. l>f. 

liamDenny Robbins 

bank. opening. 

Constituent. 

Per cent. Per cent. 

Moisture ________________ ---- ------ __ --- _-- --- --- _____________ -- ___ •... --.- 2.000 1.582 

Volatile combustible matter _______________________________________ . _______ _ :n.21o 36.313 

Fixed carbon ____________________ . ________________________________________ _ 57.483 58.832 

Sulphur ________________________ -- _______ -- _________________________ --· __ ._ . 867 . 733 

Ash _____ - - _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- 2.580 2.540 

-------------------·-··-------

These amilyses are very much alike and show a good grade of coal. The 

coke from the coal at the Denny opening was of fair quality but somewhat granular. The sample was obtained from the face a few feet from the opening, and 

the upper part of the coal was noticeably weathered. These ridges should give 

a fair body of coal at this horizon, though the coal occurs above the gaps at one 

or two points. 

STRUCTURE. 

Under " Structure" (pp. 44-50) was given a description of the Rocky .Face 

anticline and fault. As a result of that fault the coals in a narrow belt immediately north or south of Rocky Face 'Mountain are probably unworkable, and 

the coals for a short distance on each side of that belt are likely to be so disturbed as not to be minable. In that portion of the district near .the plains 

above Middlesboro the effect of the local disturbance there is carried over into 

this district, and will prevent the working of coab close to that edge of the 

distric~. The coals on Cranes and Yellow creeks, Clear Fork and Williams Rranch 

appear to lie ·better, as they did not seem to be greatly disturbed. They have a 

general northward dip, which is possibly northeastward rather than northwestward. 

On account of the disturbed condition of much of the area of the Yellow 

Creek district and the difficulty or impossibility of correlating the coals exposed 

at many points, until _more exploitation has taken place, estimates of the areas 

of the different coal beds would have little value and are therefore. omitted. 
GEOLOGY OF THE COALS. 119 

HANCE DISTHIC'l'. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

This district is practically included in the two. ridges on each side of Hance 

Creek-Williams Ridge on the west and Hance Ridge on the east. Coal occurs in 

Laurel Hill, and is of. workable thickness in Cumberland Mountain, but practically 

all the workable coal is confined to the two ridges mentioned, with their numerous 

spurs. In ·general this district is low, seldom rising above 2,000 feet, while the 

rocks exposed are low in the stratigraphic column, so that the total body of workable 

coal here is quite limi~ed. The streams give easy access to all of the coal. Railroads 

should approach from the Cumberland River side and mining should begin on the 

north side and extend southeastward up the dip. The massive sandstone above the 

Hance coal has helped to make the ridges in the district rather broad topped, so that 

a much larger body of coal has been preserved than would have been the case if the 

ridges had been sharp crested; as they are farther east. · 

STRATIGRAPHY~ 

The rocks of this district belong almost entirely in the Hance formation. The 

vailey bottoms are largely cut out of the Lee sandstone, and the hilltops are mainly 

in the Mingo formation. The stratigraphy and structure in this district are much 

'3implified by the occurrence of four cliff-making sandstones. 

LEE FORMATION. 

NAESE SANDSTON~' MEMBER. 

The Naesc sandstone has its typical exposure in this district, and forms cliffs 

all along· the Cumberland River from Brownies Creek to Yellow Creek, where its 

top is just about at river level. On the north side of the river low cliffs of this 

sandstone appear just above the road at Campbells Ford and eastward these cliffs 

recur at short intervals, gradually gaining in height, until above the mouth of. Hanc~ Creek they become almost continuous to the mouth of Tanyard Branch. 

The Naese Cliff and the Seven Sisters shown in Pl. VIII well illustrate the character of the exposures of these sandstones in this region. Though the top of this 

sandstone is but little above drainage at the mouths of Hance and Williams creeks, 

-the rise to the southeast keeps it above the level of Hance Creek for some distance 

above the mouth of Wolfpen Branch,,and for some distance up Williams Branch. 

It is, of course, very prominent on the northern flank of Cumberland and Brush 

mountains and the southern side of Pine Mountain. 

HANCE FORJ.VIATION. 

YELLOW CREEK SANDSTONE )JEMBEH. 

A bout 100 feet above the top of the Seven Sisters sandstone is the top of the 

Yellow Creek sandstone, which has its typical exposure in this district, at the mouth 

of Yellow Creek, on the right-band side. This sandstone runs from 25 to 60 feet 

thick, and, though not so prominent a cliff maker as the Naese sandstone, bare 
120 CUMBEHI,AND GAl' COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

outcrops are usually found where it io; crossed by roads or streams, and fairly 

prominent cliff:; occur with some frequency. The 60-foot cliff at the mouth of 

Yellow Creek extends to the mouth of V{illiams Branch, and is rather pronounced 

at one or two places up Willi~ms Branch. . It can readily be traced up Hance 

Creek and Pitmans Creek, where it makes occasional cliffs, usually 100 to 150 feet 

above the stream. Tt is below drainage on Brownies Creek from the end of the 

lower Sam Low road to the mouth of Elk Branch.' From that point to above the 

mouth of Cubage Creek it makes almost continuous cliffs, usually within 50 to 75 

feet of the stream. 

Between the Yellow Creek and Naese sandstones arc shales which are usually 

fissile and are frequently black. At one or two horizons near the bottom of this 

shale arc coals, usually thin, and generally cannel in character. In places these 

cannel coals are replaced by cannelly shale. 

CAWOOD ~ANDSTONE }!EoiBER. 

From 200 to 260 feet above the Yellow Creek sandstone occurs the top of 

the third ma:,;sivc sandstone. This sandstone has the same position as has been 

thought to be equivalent to the Cawood sandstone of the region farther east. 

On account of the elevation at which this o;andstone occurs, it is not so noticeable 

from the valley roads and trails as the Yell ow Creek sandstone. A long Brownies 

Creek it produces cliffs 200 to 300 feet above the stream that are easily seen 

from the road. On most of the trails or roads crossing its horizon it makes 

bold and often cliffy outcrops, while on the branches it tends to produce marked 

benches. These benches, just above the outcrop of this sandstone, are mmally 

made more noticeable by being under cultivation, the bench frequently yielding· 

40 acres or mo!'e of fairly flat land. These benches are not shown on the topographic map, or it might be possible to indicate the position of the sandstone 

from the map. An illustration of this type of bench is seen on the Brownies 

Creek side of the lower Sam Low road about 300 feet above the end of the 

. road at Brownies Creek. 

Between this sandstone and the one below, the strata are composed 1p.ainly 

of shale. In some places they appear to be nearly all shale, but toward the top 

there is generally a little shaly sandstone wliich locally is hard and resistant. 

There appear to be at least three coal horizons in this space, though seldom 

more than .one is seen in a single section. One of these coals is just above the 

Yellow Creek sandstone, another is 100 feet higher, and the third is 100 feet 

below the top of the Cawood sandstone, 01: 50 feet above the middle coal. It is 

thought that the middle coal corresponds to the Cranes Creek coal. 

The top of the fourth of these sandstones is about 240 feet above the top of 

the Cawood sandstone. 'Vhile this sandstone makes cliffs and bold outerops, these 

are not very conspicuous and would attract little notice if the principal coal of 

this district did not occur about 40 feet below them. This sandstone is well 

expo:,;ed on the summit of Hance Ridge along the upper Sam Low road, and at 

various points along the crest a little below the road. The spur or ridge between 

Hance Creek and '''illiams Branch io; too low to catch it, but it makes several 

small eli ffs near the top of the ridge between vV olfpen Branch of Hance and 

Cranes creeks. 

COALS OF HANCE DISTRICT. 121 

Between this sandstone and the ,cawood sandstone the rocks are mainly shale, 

but there is some hard sandstone, especially a short distance below the Hance 

coal. A small but variable distance below the upper sandi'tone arc two coals 

which are workable and are' from 10. to 40 feet apart. The upper one is about 

20 feet below the upper sandstone. 4. third coal, workable in places, is a few 

feet above the Cawood. sandstone. This last coal is considered to be the equivalent of the Puckett Creek coal in the Lower Puckett district .. 

A summary. of the coals and principal sandstones of this district follows: 

Condensed section of rocks of Hance d:istrict. 

Stratum. 

i 

Sandstone. ____ . _______ • ____ -I 

Shale _ : ______________ .. ___ . __ 

Coal, Upper Hance----------

.Shale and sandstone ________ _ 

Coal, Lower Hance _________ -

Shale, some sandstone. ____ . __ 

Coal, Puckett Creek ________ _ 

Shale _____ .... . ...... _____ . 

Sandstone, Cawood ... _ ..... . 

Shale and sandstone. ___ -. __ ... 

1 

/ 

Depth. 

Feet. 

40-20' 

20 

3 

a 15 

4 

180 

3 

10-20 

60-40 

100 

.Total Stratum. depth . 

.... 

Feet. 

20 Coal ··--------------------· 

40 Shale .. __ -· ..... ------.-----

43 Coal, Cranes Creek ____ . _____ 

58 Shale _____ - . ___ - - ___ - - - - - - - -

62 Coal ----------------------- 242 Shale .... ________ ·----------

245 Sandstone, Yellow Creek ____ 

265 Shale, black and thin coal ___ 

305 Sandstone, Naese, exposed_· __ 

40.5 

"10 to 40 feet. 

COALS. 

Depth. Total 

depth. 

- ·--

Feel. Feet. 

? 

50 455 

2!-3 458 

80 538 

t-2 540 

20 560 

60 620 

60 680 

150 830 

Near the bead of Clear Fork of Yell ow Creek three coals were measured. 

The lowest is 4 ·feet 7 inches thick; the next, 177 feet above, is 4 feet thick; 

while the highest, 70 feet above the middle scam, is nearly 3 feet thick. In view 

of the distance between the coals and their relative thicknesses it seems probable 

that the middle seam is one of the Hance coals, and, as the upper bed is too 

far above it to be the Upper Hance coal, it has been considered to belong in 

the Mingo formation. If. this view is correct this coal is the only· one in the 

Mingo foi·mation measured in this district. It shows 35 inches of coal· with a 

l-inch parting 10 inches from the top, and a sandstone. roof (549). It is 310 feet 

above Clear Fork. CUMBERLAND GAP COAL. 

A short distance below the point where Shillaly Fork turns from a westward 

course to a lwrthward course and descends to the level of Clear Fork there is an 

exposure of a 5-foot coal that from its position was thought to be the representative 

of the Cumberland Gap coal at Cumberland Gap. It is immediately overlain by the 

massive coarse-grained conglomerate. It shows two benches, the upper has a 

thickness of 25t inches, and is sepat:ated by from 4 to 5 inches of clay from the 

lower, which has a thickness of 3 feet and is underlain by a brown clay floor. This 

seam is exposed on the east side of the creek only a few feet above the creek leveL 
122 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

It dips N. 80° W. at an angle of 15°. The coal shows abundant evidence of the 

stresses it· has been under, and is badly cut up with slips and faults, and in the 

main appears to lie in flakes twisted in all diredions. It is a bright, clean coal, 

though it show,'? a few plates of pyritct-~. On account of its broken-up condition 

and its dip it, inay be doubted if it can be considered as workable. ·what was 

thought to be th.e same coal was seen at the western end of Brush Mountain at an 

elevation 500 feet higher. The coal here is immediately below a bluff of coarse 

conglomerate. Thorc was poorly exposed an upper bench of 2 feet of coal, then 

a thin parting of shale with coal below. At the foot of the bluff the contact of the 

coal and the conglomerate roof suggested that the weight of the cliff above had compressed or b1·okcn the eoal in the vertical line of the cliff t-~o that the coal on the 

outside of the cliff runs 7 inches above the level of the top of the coal under the cliff. 

CRANES CREEK COAL. 

Another coal of barely workable thickness is found from 100 to 1'70 feet below 

the Puckett coal. It is not certain that these coab arc all at the same horizon; in 

places they are certainly the same as the Cranes CreeTt eoal in its type locality. 

This coal is not as thick a<; those considered above, but tends to be solid or nearly 

so. On Cranes Creek in this district, as in the Y cllow Creek district, it is solid, 

ranging from 25 to 33 inches thick (482 and 483). It is opened on the Lum Green 

place on Hance Creek, a little below the mouth of W olfpcn Branch and 250 feet 

above the m·eek (535). Here it shows 40 inches of coal with a l-inch parting 24 

inches from the top. The roof is a dark-drab shale. The dip here is slightly into 

the hill, or to the west. It was also opened on the William Durham place on White 

Sow Brandl at an elevation of about 1,420 feet (540). It shows 29 inches of coal with . 

a l-inch parting 12 inches from the top. The roof is a dark-blue clay shale, and the 

floor a drab fire clay. On Pitmans Creek it is opened upon the Sampson Thompson 

place (567). There is here from 30 to 31 inches of coal with one-half inch of bone in 

the middle, and a shale roof. This coal is also opened on the same creek on the 

John Buell place (569), where the thickness is praetically the same and there is a 

3-inch hard band 1 foot from the bottom. The elevation here is 1,353 feet above 

tid·e, and the faces run due east. On the whole this coal averages ttbout 31 inches 

in thickness, being little thicker than the lower limit of workable coal, but on account . · 

of its good quality and its low position in the hills it may prove of future value. 

Only one analysis was obtained of this coal and that was of a sample from. the 

Buell opening (569). 

Analysis of Cranes Creek coal on Pitmans Creek. 

Per cent. Moisture, a~ received_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. 043 

Moisture, ground coal __________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ l. 372 

V ola~ile combustible matter __________________________________________________ 36. 62~ 

Fixed carbon ___________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 58. 917 

Sui phur _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . \J93 

Ash ____________________ ------ __________________________________ ------_------ 2. 090 

Phosphorus ______________________________ ... ________________________ . ____ . _ _ . 002 

Coke, good. 
COALS OF HANCE DISTRlOT. 123 

If this analysis is representative, this is an excellent coal, and, like the Iianee 

coals, will make a good coking coal. It is low in phosphorus and ash and above 

the average in fixed carbon. PUCKETT COAL. 

Only a limited ·number of openings on thi:-; coal were seen and measured. 

These show a workable coal that is in most cases from 3 to 4 feet ·thick and has a 

tendency. to be rather badly broken up with partings. The coal was seen at the 

north end of \'Villiams ~pur, on the Campbell place (566), where it showed 46 

inches all told, including 7 inches of clay 15 inches from the top. · At the' south 

end of the same ridge it shows a somewhat better section on \V olfpen Branch of 

Hance Creek, there being 40 inches of coal and only one-half inch parting 11 

inches from the bottom. The roof is a light-brown to light-drab shale. Across 

Hance Creek Valley on the southern end of Hance Ridge. two openings show a 

good thickness of the coal. On Clear Fork of Yell ow Creek it is · exp~sed on the 

Andy Miracle place (547). The coal here is 49 inches thick, not induding a 

~-inch to l-inch clay parting 17 inches from the top, a 5~inch clay parting 5 

inches farther down, and one-half inch of soft coal 5 inches below the last. The 

roof is composed of 2~ feet of light-drab clay shale overlain by light-brown shaly 

sandstone. On the William Durham place on White Sow Branch (537) this coal 

makes an equally good showing. The seam here is 50 inches thick, with a t-inch 

to l-inch parting 30 inches from the top and'a 2-inch parting 5 .inches from the 

bottom. It is in a good position for mining. Faces run N. 60° E. Traces of thi• 

coal were seen at several other points. It is not certain that the 17-inch coal seen 

below Gabe Green's house is the same coal. . On the whole this bed seems to offer 

pos:-;ibility of considerable workable coal. 

The only analysis of this coal obtair1ed in this region was that of a sample 

from the opening on the William Durham place (537). 

, Analysis of Puckett coal on Hance Creek. 

Per cent. 

J\!Ioisture ..... __ .• _ , ............. _ ........ _ .............. _ .. __ ...... _. _ . _.... 1. 416 

Volatile comlmstible matter ..................................... _. . . . . . . . . . . . . 36. 424 

Fixed carbon ................................................................ · 48. 867 

Sulphur..................................................................... 2. 193 

Ash .......... _ .............................................................. 11. 100 

· / This analysis indicates a rather poor quality of coal, much below the average 

of this region. It is not possible to tell, however, how repi·esentative this may 

be of the whole seam. 

HANCE COALS. 

The type locality of these coals is on the .James L. Green farm, on the Betsy 

Ann Branch of Brownies Creek, near the upper Sam Low road. 
124 i CUMBERLAND GAP. COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Section of Hance coals on J. L. Green fm·rn. 

!Thickness. Tot~,~~~ickFt. in. Ft. in. 

No. on) map. 

~-I 

Stratum. 

· Samlstone __ .. _ ... ___ .. _ ........ _ .......... _ ........ , ............. . ··------- 10 0 

Shale, dark blue ........ ___ ........ ~. ___ ........ __ ... _ ...... ___ ... _ . --------- ag 0 

560 Coal, upper: 

Coal--------·----·----·---------------------------------------- 0 1 

Clay _. _ .. _ ... _ ... ___ ...... _____ .. __ .. _. _____ ... ____ ... ______ . _. 2 

Coal._.---------------. __ ----. ___ .------ ___ .------- _____ .----- 3 3 

--- --- 3 6 

Fireclay, drab ..... --------------------------------·---------------- ------ ... 1 0 

Coal and black shale . __ ... ___ .. _____ . __ ... _ .... __ ...... _ .. ____ . _ . __ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 

Shale, brown, day ......... ____ ......... ___ ..•... _ .... ____ . _ ... _ .. ________ .. _. 10 0 

561 Coal, lower: 

Coal __ ...... ' . ___ .... _ ...... __ ........... _ ........ _ ... ___ . ___ . _ 2 1 

Clay, black. ___ .. --- ... _____ .. ___ .. ______ ......... ___ . ___ .. __ .... 1~ 

Coal . ___ .......... __ ... _ ...... __ .. : ....... _. _ ........ _ .. _____ . _ 9 

Fire clay, dark drab ......... ____ ------.-----_----- ...... ------ __________ . ____ _ 

Shale .......... _ ..... _ .... __ .....•. _ . ___ .. _ .... __ . _____ .. __ ...... _ _ _ _ . _ ... _ .. 

Sandstone, shaly _ .. ____ .. _ .. _ .... ___ .. _ ..... _____ .. _ .. _ ... _______ . __ . ________ _ 

"4 to 9 feet. 

3 11~ 

0 

4 0 

6+ 

The sandstone and ~>hale above the upper coal overlap so that the thickness 

of the shale varies from 4 to 8 feet at points but a few feet apart. Both coals 

were seen at only comparatively few places. Not including the thin streak of 

coal from a few inches to 4 feet below, the upper coal appears _to be generally 

a solid coal between 3 and 4 feet thick. While the lower coal may run from 3t 

to 5 feet or more thick, it is usually cut by one or two partings. These are 

commonly thin, but an exception is found on the Gabe Green place at the head 

of ·Cranes Creek. 

One of these coals was seen near the head of Hance Creek on the George 

Pursifull place (541). Here it has a thickness of 5 feet 2 inches, with one 3-inch' 

parting 22 inches fr.om the top. It is 345 feet above the creek (1, 738 feet above 

tide, actual elevation). · 

At the head of W olfpen Branch of Hance Creek one of these coals has been 

faced (533) and shows a thickness of 3 feet 2t inches, with a t-inch parting 2 

feet from the top. The roof is light-brown to light-drab shale, 7 feet plus thick . 

. The small thickness here suggests that this may be the upper bed. The coal_ is 

ahout 30 feet below the cliff-making sandstone and ne·arl.v 100 feet below the 

level of the gap between W olfpen Branch and Cranes Creek. On the opposite 

side of this ridge at the head of Cranes Creek one of these coals shows an interesting development on the Gabe Green place (481). It has a total thickness of 

over 8 feet, of which over 6 feet are coa,l and almost 3 feet are partings. The 
COALS OF HANCE DISTRICT. 125 

coal benches beginning at the top measure a;,; follows: 16, 8, 15, 3, 16, and 17 

inches; total, 75 inches. The parting;,; from the top down measure 6, 15, 2, 3, 

and 8 inches, making a, total of 34 inches, or 109 inches for the whole bed. The 

roof is clay shale · 5 feet plus thick. This appears to be at almost the same 

elevation as the last coal, possibly a few feet higher and but a short distance 

horizontally away. It does not seem probable that these openings are on the 

same bed. Northward toward the head of Williams Branch an excellent section 

of one of these coals occurs on the Pink Green farm. It shows 69 inches of coal, 

with only two thin partings. One is composed of one-fourth inch of soft coal 20 

inche;,; from the top; the other is composed of one-half to 1t inches of clay 9 inches 

· lower. The top 8 inches of the coal was weathered, but below that the coal is 

good and bright. An opening had been driven on the coal for a distance of 8 

to 10 feet. The roof is clay shale 10 feet plus thick. The hill rises at least 170 

feet above the coal. 

One of the Hance coals was partly exposed on a spur running toward Cranes 

Creek on the J. C. Robbins place (485). The bottom bench shows 2 feet of coal. 

On the John Denny farm, at the gap betweeii-tne~·head of-the ·right-hand -fork of~---· 

Williams Branch and a branch of Cranes Creek, both coals occur only 8 or 10 

feet apart. The upper coal (479) is 3 feet thick. A partial facing on the lower 

emil shows the lower bench to be 38 inches thick. Mr. Creech reports the coal 

here to be 100 feet higher than on the William Denny place a short distance to 

the west. (8ee pp. 117, 118.) 

The Hance coals were not seen on the rest of the ridge west of Hance 

Creek in this district, and it may be doubted if the northern part of the ridge 

is quite high enough to catch them. The highest point between the left-hand 

fork and main fork of Williams Creek must just about reach their horizon. 

On Hance Ridge one of these coals makes an excellent showing on the Andy 

Miracle farm, close to and about 75 feet above the gap between Cubage Creek 

and Clear Fork (550). The bed, which has been drifted on a few feet, shows 

from 4 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 5 inches solid coal. Over it there is 8 feet of 

light-drab clay shale under 3 feet of sandstone. The shale shows clearly the 

effect of stresses, being broken and slightly folded, and it is probable that the 

variation in thickness of the coal is due to the same cause, as it shows irregular 

jointing, clay slips, etc. The coal here is ver-y close 'to the line of folding, where 

the rocks are upturned in Brush Mountain, so that the coal at this end of the 

ridge may be expected to be crushed and liable to produce a large amount of 

fine or slack coal. The floor here is dark-drab clay. There are two openings in 

this same ridge between the head of Bill Green Branch of Cubage and Clear 

Fork. At one of these (551) the coal is reported to be 43 inches thick, without 

partings. At the other opening (552) the bed shows a thickness of ,4 feet, ·with 

a 3-inch clay parting 3 inches from the bottom. This is a facing well driven into 

the bill. The roof i;,; light-drab clay shale 6+ feet thick, and the floor is drab 

fire clay. The coal here Mr. Creech reports to be 3 feet higher by levels than 

at the head of Cubage Creek. The coal still shows some of the same disturbed 

condition as at the head of Cubage Creek. 
126 CUMBERLAND HAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Several facings have been made on the spur, between Sal and White Sow 

branches of Hance Creek and Clear Fork. On the Clear Fork side a facing on 

one of these coals (548) on the Andy Miracle place show;,; ± feet of coal without 

partings. The roof b light-brown friable clay shale and the floor drab fire 

clay. It is 240 feet above Clear Forlc On the Hance Creek side of the ridge 

there are facings on the George Pursifull and William Durham farm;,;. On the 

former (539) the eoal shows a thickne;,;s of 5 teet 3 inches, with 4 inches of clay 

15 inches from the top. The roof is light-brown clay shale. At the facing on 

the William Durham farm the coal is 4 feet thick, without partings (538). The 

:tioor is dark-drab tire clay and the roof light-drab clay shale. The coal here has 

an elevation of 1, 778 feet above tide-practically the same as the last facing. 

What is probably the lower coal is opened at the head of Right-hand Fork 

of Cnhage Creek (553). It shows 41t inches of solid coal. The floor is lightdrab fire clay, the roof light-drab clay shale. About a foot above the coal occur 

a number of thin streaks of coal an inch or less thick. At ±0 feet above occurs 

from 12 to 18 inches of coal under ± feet plu::; of gray ;,;haly sandstone. Halfway 

hetween ·is a faiut smut, mark suggesti'ng a thin intermediate coal. 

At the head of Harter Branch there are two openings on the Julia Miracle 

place. At one of these (555) the coal shows 42 inches of coal without partings. 

The facing had not reached solid roof. Below the coal is 4 feet of dark- to lightdrab clay, with ± inches of coal below that. About 50 feet above the coal comes 

the bottom of about 50 feet of light-brown shale, well exposed, ::;uggesting that 

this coal is probably close to the cliff-making sandstone, which nm,.;t come in 

the 50-foot interval ju::;t ahove it, and so indicating that thi::; is the Upper Hance 

coal. At the other opening- on this farm (556) the main bench is 4:4 inehes 

thick, the 4-inch coal at the preceding opening is here 5 inches, while the 4 feet 

of clay at that opening is here only 8 inches. The roof itl brown clay shale 7 + 

feet thick. At the "Low Gap of Pitmans" at the head of Pitmans Creek the 

-two Hance coaltl are hoth tleen about 25 feet apart. The lower coal is about 10 

feet above the level of the gap (557), and by levels reported 58 feet below the 

last-mentioned .Tulia Miracle coal. If, as supposed, the latter is the upper coal, 

thi;,; gives a dip of about 25 feet between these points. The lower coal here 

is 4 feet 5 inches thick with 1 inch of soft coal in the center. Over the coal is 

2 to 3 feet of brown clay f:lhale overlain unconformably hy 2 feet of sandstone. 

Below the coal is clay showing a streak of co~l 1 foot down. The upper coal, 

25 feet above, waf:l only partly opened. 

A :-;hort distance farther north, still at the headwaters of Pitmans Creek, 

both coals are well exposed on the Phelan Risner farm. They appear to be 

ahout 17 feet apart vertically. The coal::; gi \Te the following section: 
U. s. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XVII 

A. H ANCE COAL AT JOS EPH GREEN 'S, WEST SID E OF HANCE RIDGE. 

B. ENTRAN CE TO H ANC E COAL M I NE OF P HE LAN RISNER. 

Head of Pitmans Branch of Hance Cree k. 
OO.ALS OF HANCE DISTRIC'r. 127 

Section of Hance coals at the Phelan Ris1w1· farm, Pitmans Creek (Pl. XYJT). 

:i~o.on 

map. Strntum. Thiekness. 1 

Tot~c~~-ick-

-----------------~--~ ------- --~- ----

Ft. in. 

Shale and sandstone ................... ____ . __________ . __ . _. ____ . _ ... __ . _____ . _ . 558 Coal, upper _________________________________ . ______________ _- __________________ : 

Fire clay, drab. _______________________________________ ------ ______ -- ______ .... i 

Shale, light <Ira h. _____________ .--_-----------------------,-· __ ------- ----------

Shale, blue _____________________ ._--- __ - ____ .. _______ ..... _______ -.- ____ . _.-.-

559 Coal, lower: 

Coal __ . _ __ __ _ _______ ... _______________ . _________ . ______ . ______ _ ~ 5 

Clay ... --- .. -.---- ---- - ----- - ----- ---- -- -- -- -- ------ ---- -- -- -·- - n3 · 

Uoal ______ , __ . ______________ . _________ . __ . _______________ ~ __ __ __ 2 5 

Shale, black . ____ ... _ ... _ ... ____ .. __ . _________________ . __________ .. ______ ". _. _ 

Clay, dark drab .. _______________ . __ --. _____ ... ____________ . ___________________ .. , 

n 1 to 3 inches. 

Ft. 'in. 

0 0 

3 4 

1 0 

8 0 

8 0 

5 1 

2 

2 0 

In places thin bands of coal appear just above the lower coal, a 2-inch band 

is 3 inches above, and a 3-inch band occurs 10 inches higher. ,Just at the lower 

opening the coal and rocks dip N. 10° W .. at an angle of from 2° to 3°. This 

dip is probably local. The difference in ash in the analyses of samples of this coal 

obtained by Mi·. McCreath and by our party is probably accounted for by the 

fact that the clay parting was thrown out by Mr. McCreath and retained by us. 

The elevation of the lower coal here is 1,669 feet above tide, actual elevation. 

A section has already been given at the J. L. Green facings (560 and 561). 

The upper part of the upper bed is somewhat splintery, and there is a thin streak 

·of bony coal 8 inches from the top. Notwithstanding this the analysis shows a· 

low ash. The upper coal is harder than the lower coal, though chemically they are 

very similar. The block structure of the coal shows unusually well here, the face 

slips running N. 40° E. The coals have elevations of 1, 731 and 1, 715 feet above 

tide, respectively. 

On the Hance Creek side of the ridge a coal, probably 'the lower, has been 

opened on the ,Joseph Green place at the head of Sam Low Branch and south of 

the upper Sam Low Branch road. A facing on the coal here has been driven in 

and walled up in a rather unusual manner, but the section of coal exposed is also 

unusually good. (See Pl. XVII.) The section shows the whole bed to have a 

thickness of over 6 feet (562) with two thin partil'lgs. The upper parting, 18 inches 

from the top, is black clay from 1 to 2 inches thick; the lower parting, 25 inches 

from the bottom, is drab shale 2t inches thick, leaving a total of 5 feet 9 inches pf 

coal. The top of the cliff-making sandstone is here 50 feet above the top of the 

coal. The coal is here 1, 709 feet above tide. 

Beyond the upper Sam Low road the summit of the ridge is lower, but the 

influence of the upper sandstone is still more marked. The fields on the summit of 

the ridge are broad and fiat and very different from those on any other crest in this 
128 CUMBERLAND' GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

field. From the standpoint of the coal content this is fortunate, as a good body of 

the Hance coal has been preserved notwithstanding tha:t north of this road the coal 

is usually within 75 feet of the crest of the hill. 

An outcrop of probably the upper coal on the w· ~ M. Bingham farm has been 

described by Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers. It is on the Brownies Creek side of 

theridge and only 30 to 40 feet below the top of the ridge. It shows a total of 3 

feet 4 inches of coal with a l-inch shale parting 15 inches from the top. The roof 

is shale. The coal here is described as rather sulphurous, the sulphur occurring 

both in this parting and in small irregular masses through the bed. Another bed of 

coal shows 30 or 40 feet lower down the same hollow. 

The same coal is exposed at the spring below the W. 0. Miracle house (563). 

The top of the coal was not seen, only 34 inches being exposed. The floor is a drab 

fire clay. The coal is about 40 feet below the top of the ridge and 12 to 15 feet 

below the base of the cliff-making sandstone. 

The lower coal is again seen at the spring below Elijah Miracle's house. 

Except for a ·1-inch clay parting 1 inch from the bottom it showed a solid thickness 

of 4 feet 6 inches. The roof is drab and pink shale 6 feet plus thick, and the floor 

drab clay 2 feet plus. At the surface end of the .cut the dip is N. 37° W., an angle 

of from 5° to 10° N., but quickly disappears toward the hill. Mr. Creech reports 

the coal here to be 25 feet lower than at the .T oseph Green opening. 

Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers report a still better section of this coal as 

found on the Richard Risner place, not seen by us. It 'is reported as on the crest of 

the ridge facing the river, but nearly 2 miles to the south. The coal shows 5 feet 

10 inches thick with a l-inch shale parting 14t inches from the top. The roof is 

shale. 

The quality of the Hance coals is well shown by the following analyses. These, 

it should be remembered, are all from samples of outcrop coal. The numbers refer 

to the following openings, those matked (McC.) having been sampled by McCreath 

and d'Invilliers and reported in their report: 541, George Pm;sifull farm, head of 

Hanc.e Creek; 559, Phelan Risner opening, head of Pitmans Creek lower coal; 

560, James L. Green's upper opening, head of Long Branch of Brownies Creek; 

561, same, lower coal; 562, Joseph Green coal,· head of Sam Low Branch of Hance 

Creek; 580, Richard Risner coal, north end of Hance Ridge. 

Of the above the samples obtained at 559 and 580 were of much weathered coal. 
COALS OF HANCE DISTRICT. 129 

Analyses of the riance coals, Hant,:e district. 

~--· 

Volatile I 

Water Water 

Number. as re- ground comb us- Fixed Sulphur. Ash. ·Phos- Color of ash. Coke. tible carbon. phorus. ceivcd. coal. matter. 

--~ 

--- --~ 

Per cent. Pe1· cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

541. ........ ······- 1. 740 36.420 57.392 0.998 3.450 ....... ------------ .Fair but granular. 

559 ......... 2.487 1. 510 35.970 55,919 . 761 I 5.840 0.046 ------------ Good . 

559 (McC.) ------- 4.204 37 .. 501 54. 785 . 720 2. 790 ----··- Cream ..... - 560 ......... 2.836 1. 240 37.130 56.165 1. 285 4.180 .006 ------------ ·Do. 

560 (McC.). ------- L 170 38.110 57.097 1.158 

I 

2.465 ------- Reddish 

gray .. 

561 (McC.) t ...... 1. 320 37.330 57.058 1. 147 3.145 ------- . .... do ---- 562 ......... 3. 262 1. 600 35.550 55.147 1. 033 6.670 ·------ ------------ Do. 

580 (McC.) ........ 5.860 34.300 54.608 . 922 4.310 ------- Red ....... 

560a ...•... ------- . 60 35.00 61.90 1. 068 2.50 ------· Light-gray 

brown. 

561 a.----·· ------- 1. 20 32.20 -------- ·------ ----·-- ------- ------------ ' I 

a Collected by R. C. B. Thruston; awtlyses by R. P ter, Kentucky Geological Survey. 

The analyses indicate that these coals (when not weathered) contain about 1t 

per cent of water, about 36 per cent of volatile combustible matter, about 56 per 

cent of fixed carbon, about 1 per cent of sulphur,. and about 4 per cent of ash. 

The laboratory tests of coke from the samples obtained in 1902 indicate that most 

of this coal will make good coke, probably better coke than that from any of the 

other samples obtained east of Middlesboro. The sulphur is a little high, and in 

the Phelan. Risner co31 the phosphorus is high. Otherwise the analyses . indicate 

that this is a high-grade· coal, and prqbably better suited for coking than most of 

the others of this region. . . 

SUMMARY. 

There are two coals here, both of which are at least locally workable, and it 

seems safe to assume that one or the other is workable ·under all of · the area 

underlain by them, and ·possibly both are workable over a large part of that area. 

The minable coal will range from 3 to nearly 6 feet, with an average for the upper 

bed of 3l feet and for the lower bed o£ at least H feet. 

Summary of coals of Hance district,. 

Number of coal beds found.----- ... _ .................... · ...... · .......... . 

Total thickness of co~ls . _ .. _ ...... _ . _____ .. _ ...... __ .. -. _ ... , .... _ ... _feet .. 

Nu:mber of coal beds of workable thickness (2+ feet) ------~----·-········· 

Average thickness of principal workable coals . _: ........ _ ....... _. __ .feet._ 

Total thickness of workable coal beds ... "· ........... _ .....•. ; ..... :do.: __ 

Total thickness of coal in workable coal beds ........................ do ... _ 

.Greatest thickness of single coal in single bed measured._ ........•... do ... . 

Greatest thickness of single coal bed measured., ............. _. ___ .... do ... . 

A-pproximate area underlain by workable coaL __ .. _ .............. _ .. acres._ 

Estimated available tonnage of dis_trict .• _. ~ ·. __ ~ .. : .• _ ••..•• ~ _ ... _ ... tons .. 

41-No. 49-06~--10 

8 

20 

4 

4 

15 

15 

6l 

9 

3,000. 

30,000,000 
130 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Upper H!lnce. Lower Hance. Puckett. Cranes Creek. 

Approximate elevation, above tide .. , ..... feet .. 

Thickness: 

Greatest ............................ do ... . 

Average ... , ........................ do ... . 

Least. ............................ :.do .. .. 

Average thickness of workable coal ............ . 

Number of measurements .................... . 

Area of seam ............................ acres. 

Total coal per acre ....................... tons. 

A vailablc coal per acre .................. do .. .. 

Coal available in i:listrict. __ .............. do ... . 

1, 700+ 

8 

4~ 

2!} 

:3~ 

6 

2,000 

5, 740 

4,000 

H,OOO,OOO 

STRUCTURE. 

1,700 

9 

5+ 

Rt5 

14 

2,100 

8,000 

6,500 

13,650,00? 

1, 500 

4~ 

3~ 

1~ 

:3+ 

5 

1,000 

5,000 

4,000 

4,000,000 

1,400 

R 

5 

1, 000 

5,000 

4,000 

4,000,000 

This district is part of a syncline that extends entirely across the basin, the workable coal lying on the eastern and southern limb of the syncline. On Hance Creek 

the top of the Nacse sandstone is at an elevation of about 1,120 feet at the mouth 

of Wolfpen Branch, of about 1,080 feet at the mouth of Pitmans Creek, of 1,070 

feet at the mouth of tlam Low Branch, and of 1,000 feet, at Campbells Ford where 

it reaches river level. Along Hance Ridge the descent is seen by comparing the 

elevation of the Hance coals from south to north. Thus, starting at the south the 

Lower Hance coal is at an elevation of 1,820 feet on the Andy Miracle place at the 

head of Cubage Creek, of 1,825 and 1,810 feet at the two openings on the ,J. M. 

Miracle place. On the Julia Miracle place the elevation of the upper coal is 1, 755 

feet; at the head of Pitmans Creek that of the upper coal is1,730 feet, and that of the 

lower coal is 1, 706 feet; at the Phelan Risner place that of the lower coal is 1,669 feet. 

On the Jim Green farm the two coals are at elevations of 1, 731 and 1. 715 feet. The 

elevation of the coal on theW. 0. Miracle place is 1, 709 feet, and on the Joseph Green 

place 1,710. On the Elijah Miracle place the lower coal is at an altitude of 1,665 feet. 

These elevations indicate that the coal dips more or less uniformly along the 

ridge from south to north. From the mouth of Hance Creek the iocks rise rapidly 

to the north; the Naese sandstone, which is at river level at Campbells Ford, is 140 

feet above the river at the Seven Sister8. The axis of the major syncline crosses 

Hance Creek near its mouth and Brownies Creek near Oaks. In a· transverse 

direction the dip is from Hance Cn~ek toward Brownies Creek. Th~s the Y e11ow 

Creek sandstone is below drainage along most of Brownies Creek, but it is 100 feet 

or more above drainage along most of Hance Creek. On Hance Ridge along the 

upper Sam Low road the Cawood sandstone is a b~ut 20 feet lower on the Brownies 

Creek side than on the opposite side, while on the same ndge along the lower Sam Low 

Branch road there is a difference of nearly but not quite 100 feet m the elevation of 

the Cawood sandstone on the two sides of the ridge, indicating torsipnal twisting. 

The coal in this ridge should therefore be mined from the north ap.d east on the 

Brownies Creek side. From the Williams Spur the dip is to the west, so that the coal 

in that ridge would best be reached from Williams Branch or from Yellow Creek. 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIO~IAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XVIII 

Reynol<is Mtn 

COLU!lNAR SECTIONS. 

Jackson Mtn 

(compiled) 

z' + 

Brownies Ridge (Compiled) 

---------.---

WALLINS CREEK 

CoAL, 

667. 

Reynolds Moun- tain be 1 ow flanging Roek. 

IS}1 + 47'' =fi:-17:}" 

Gl6. 

Blacksnake 

Bru.nt..~h of BrowniesCreek. 

IY.i" + 617:J" =GJ" 

Gas. 

Camphell Branch of Puckett Creek, Pine Hill Opening. 

1" + 1.9" ~50" 

BEJ,OW PUCKETT SANDSTONE. 

709. 

Path Fork of Puckett Creek. 

688. 

Tom~ Creek. H.obt. Johnson. 

I I

::::;,:;~ ·'"'""·' ••. 0. 

34-" 34" 

=M" }{J.:.?:-S'l 

=34" 

CREECH COAL ON BROWNIES AND '1'0)1~ CRF.HKS. 

628. 

Black Lick B1·anch of BrowJliesCreek. 

636. 

Toms Creek. RobL. Johnson. 

=52" 

CRF.F.CJI COAL ON J-'UC:K.WrT CHEEK. 

696. 

Right FOJ·k of 

Blacksnake 

BranchofPuckettCreek. 

+ 59" =6074., 

697. 698. 

Bla.cksnalce 

Branch of Puclrett Creek. Iliram Ellis. (Typelocatity.) 

5" + 57~" 

~62Y.i" 

712. 

CREECH COAT. 0) ON ~llLL CREEK. 

703. 705. 

Path J:i'ork of Puckett Creek. Branch ot Mill Spanish Oak Hol- D ranch of low,~Iill.Branch Pucklett Creek. ~~~~;:c~e~ t 

4.0'' 

30" 

W' 

22'' 

H6Y.)" + •o" =231M" 

COLUMNAR AND COAL SECTIONS, LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

S::ales: Columnar sedinns, 1 inch=300 feet; coal sections, 1 inch=S feet. 

711. 

Head of Path li'ork of Puek· ett Creek. 

706. 

Left Fork of '!'oms Creek. 

1" + CO" =61'' 

6:;9. 

:Blacksnake 

:Branch of Puckett Creek. 

KF.LLIOKA ( l) 

CoAt. 

642. 

Toms Creek. Levi Miracle. 
GEOLOGY OF 'l'HE COALS. 131 

LOWER PUCKET'l' DIS'l'RICT. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

This district includes all o£ Jackson Mountain and Brownies Ridge to the 

head o£ Path Fork, and the lower end o£ Reynolds Mountain from 1t line £rom 

Halfway Branch to Saylor Creek. The name Lower Puckett is used because 

nearly all the coal in this district can probably , best be min~d £rom lower 

Puckett Creek or its 1branches. The general topography o£ this region is very 

rugged, Jackson Mountain and Reynolds Mountain rising about 1,000 feet highei· 

than Hance Ridge, which is described on pages 127, 128. The crests o£ these 

mountains are narrow and irregular, and the slope £rom the· crest is very steep, 

so that, unlike the last-described district, coals that occur near the summit o£ the 

mountain underlie but comparatively small areas. Puckett Creek has broad 

bottoms and a fairly gentle rise, making an almost ideal method o£ approach. 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

The key rock in this district is the Puckett sandstone. Around the north 

end o£ Jackson Mountain this sandstone makes prominent cliffs, which are locally 

called the "Big Cliff." So prominent is this that in sonie cases it serves £or 

land lines. Along the western flank o£ Reynolds Mountain it sometimes produces 

cliffs 100 feet high.' On the southern end o£ Brownies Ridge it is not so distinct, 

other sandstones not far above or below producing equally prominent cliffs. In 

places op. Reynolds Mountain, especially near the north end, it gets very thin, 

sometimes being only 10 or 15 feet thick. The stratigraphic position o£ this 

sandstone is about 800 feet above the Hance coal, or 160 feet below the top o£ 

the Mingo £ormation. This district also contains the type locality o£ the Reynolds 

sandstone, which caps the crest o£ Reynolds Mountain £or some distance, for part 

o£ the crest rises above it. Its top is about 180 feet above the top o£ tlie Jesse 

sandstone, which marks the bottom o£ the Hignite £ormation. The Jesse sandstone, which is characterized all through this region by its coarse grain and by 

often carrying pebbles, was first noticed on Reynolds Mountain. The interval 

between these· three sandstones is constant when not affected by the dip. Likewise the distances £rom these sandstones to the principal coals are constant. 

These intervals Clin be arranged as a skeleton columnar section as follows: 

Intervals between tops of principal sandstones and principal coa{s. 

Feet. 

From Reynolds sandstone to Jesse sandstone .••••.••.......................•.... 180 

From Jesse sandstone to Wallins Creek coal ........ __ .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 320 

From Wallins Creek coal to Puckett sandstone .................................. 160 

From Puckett sandstone to Creech coal. ............. ·...... .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. 300 

From Creech coal to Hance coaL ........................................ _ .... _ _ 500 

From Hance coal to Puckett coal .. .. .. . .. . . . • • . .. . . .. .. • . . . .. . . . .. .. .. . . . .. .. . . 200 
132 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The best section of the coals in this region is obt_tined on Toms Creek. 

Coals and intervals, on Toms Creek. Ft. jn .. 

,Interval from top of Puckett mudstone. _______________________________ . ___ _ 120 0 

Coa._l _____________________________________________________________________ :_ 2 10 

Interval . _______ . ___________________ .. ____________ . _ . __ , ___ . _ .. _ .... _ ...... . 140 0 

Coal.------ __ · ______________ ------------------------------------------------ 14 

Interval ______ ... __ ... __ . _______ ..... ___ ... _ .. ____ . _ .... ____ .......... _ ... __ 40 0 

Coal, Creech. _ .. ___ . __ . _ .. _ .... ____ ... _ ...... _ ..... __ . _ .. _ ....... 1 .••...••• __ 5 0 

IntervaL_. ___ . ___ ...... _ .. _._ ... _ ... ________ ._._ .. _ ..... ___ . ______________ _ 180 0 

Coal, Kellioka ____________________ ------ ______________ . __ . ---- _ --- ______ : __ _ 5 0 

Interval ____ . _________________________ ....... _____ . _. _. _ .......... __ .. __ .. _. 250 0 

Coal ------------ : _____ ------ ______ ------------------------------------ ____ _ 1 :3 

Interval .. ______ .. __ ... ___ . _ ... _ ...... __ . _ ....... _ ... __ .. _ ... _ ...... __ ..... . 40 0 

Coal, Upper Hance . _ ...... __ ................ _ .. __ . ____________ ...... ___ ... _ 4 0 

Interval ________ ... _ .......... __ .. _ .... ________ ... ____ .. __________ . ________ _ 15 0 

Coal ______________________________________ -------------------------------- 1 0 

1 n terval ______ . _ . _ .... ____________ . __ ... _ . _ . __ . ______ .. _____ .. _ ... _ .. ·_ . ____ _ 8 0 

Coal, reported _ .... ____ ... _ ..... ___ .. __________ ........ __ . _____ .... _ ..... __ 2 0 

Interval _____ .. ________ ........ ___ . . ____________________ ... _ .. __ . _ ..... ___ . 120 0 

Coal-------------------------·--------------------------------------------- 8 

Interval ......... _ .... _ .............. _._.,., .. _._ ......... _ ..... ____ . __ ... __ 60 0 

Coal ................ -------------------------------------------------'----- 2 6 

A detailed section of the upper part of the section 1s as follows: 

Section on Tom.~ Creek. Ft. in. 

Sandstone, massive, cro~s-bedded .... ". _. _. _ ...... _. _ ...................•.... :20 0 

Sandstone, brown, thin bedded ........... _. __ .... _ .. _._. _ ....... _ .......... _ 50 0 

Interval, hidden ....... _ ..... _ ..................... _. _ ..... _. __ . _ .......... . 8 0 

Shale, drab, sandy .................... _ . __ ... _ .. _ ............ __ . __ ......... . 5 0 

Interval, appears to contain a coal ...... _ ......................... ___ ... _ ... . 8 0 

Sandstone, drab, shaly ........ __ ... _ .. __ .. __ .................... _ .... __ ... _. 2 0 

Clay shale, drab ..... ------_-------- .... ____ ... ___ . -------- .......... _____ _ 2 0 

Sandstone .......... _ ........... _ .... ___ . __________ •. ________________ . __ ~ . __ 2 0 

Shah;, sandy, blue .. __ ... ______ . __ . ____ .. ____ . __ . _ . _ . __________ . _____ .... _ .. 2 0 

Sandstone, shaly, thin bedded and cross-bedded __________________ . ________ . __ 6 0 

Shale, drab. _____________________________ . _____ .. ____ . _____________________ _ 8 0 

Sandstone, sandy, dark blue .. __________________ . _____ . ____________ .. ______ __ 2 0 

Coal . ________ .. _ . ___________ . _____ . ______________ . _ _ __ .. _________________ _ 2 10 

Sanllstone, thin and irregularly bedded ______________________ . _________ c ___ __ :3 0 

Shale, dark gray to black, very sandy, "fake'' ___ . _________________________ __ 112 0 

Shale, black ____________ . __ .. __ . ______________________________ . ___ .. ___ . ___ _ 6 

Coal-------------------------------------------~--------------------------- 1 2 

Shale, drab, hard _________________ , ______________________________________ .. _ 9 0 

Sandstone, brown, thin bedded and cross-bedded ____ . ___________ . _______ .. __ _ 25 0 

Coal, Creech_ .. ____ . _____ .. __ . __________ . _____________________________ ... _ .. 5 0 

SaiHlstone, massive, cross-bedded _______ .... __ . __ .... ______________________ __ 50 0 

Shale, drab, sandy ___ .. _. _____________ . ______________ .. ___ .. __ c ___________ __ 2 0 

Sandstone, drab, shaly _____ . ____ .. __ .. ____________________________________ __ :3 0 

Interval, hidden. ___ .• ___ ._ .. ____ ... ________________ ._ .. _ .. --.-- ... ________ __ :35 0 

Sandstone, brown _____ ... ______ . ____ . _____________ ... ___ . _ .. _______________ _ 5 0 

Shale, brown, sandy ___ . _. ____ .... _ . ___ .. __ . ____ . _ ........ _ .. _ ....... _ ... __ . 10 0 

Interval, appears to be shale .. _____ ....... _____________________ ..... ________ _ 60 0 

Sandstone, thin bedded ____ . ___ .. __ .... ____________________ • ______________ __ :3 0 

Shale, dark drab .. __ ..... _______ ... _ .. ___ .. __ ..... _____ . __ ......... -- ..... .. :3 0 
COaLS OF LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 133 

On Puckett Creek. this section occurs above Hobbs's mill: 

Section above Jionn.•' s rnill on Puckett Creek. 

Num- Num 

ber on Stratum. Thickness. ber o n Stratum. Thickness. map. mup 

-- -- ~ -----·---------

Ft. 'in. Ft. in. 

Sandstone, coarse grained, hard, 

making cliff ................ 30 0 Shale, drab to brown ......... . 8 0 

Interval ~ ----------------- - - - 10 0 Coal, lower 1 >ench ............ . 1 8 

Sandstone, shaly, thin bedded. 10 0 . I 

Interval, shaly sandstone ledges 

in part .................... . 8 0 

Interval, apparently all sandy 

shale ............. •- ..... --- 150 0 • Shale, dark .................. . 20 0 

Sandstone, hard, diff making .. 20 0 Sandstone, shaly, brown ..... . 1 0 

Interval, hidden .............. 20 0 Shale, fissile, drab ........... . 65 0 

Sandstone, muddy ............ 1 6 Coal ------------------------- 6 

Shale, light drab ............. 2 6 Shale, drab ......... _ ......... . 8 0 

672 Coal, Puckett, upper bench .... 2 4 Coal ------------------------- 2 

Clay shale, drab .............. 2 0 Shale ........................ . 3 

Sandstone, shaly ............. 10 0 Sandstone, shaly ... , ......... . 1 6 

Shale, blue, with concretions .. 10 0 Shale, dark drab ............. . 6 

Coal, bright, middle bench .... 1 6 Coal ........................ . 1 0 

Fire clay ........ , ............ 6 Clay shale_. drab ............. . 2 0 

A number of coals. have been opened on upper Path Fork which show the 

following thieknesses and inte-cvals: 

Coals rmd ·intervals on head of Path F'ork of Packett Creek. Ft. in, 

Coal, elevation 2,430 .............................................. __ ... ____ . 2 10 

ln terval .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 114 0 

Cannel-li_ke shale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 

Interval ................ __ .. __ .... __ .. _____ ... __ ~ ...... __ ...... _ ....... ,.... 71 0 

Coal crop ................................................................ __ . a 5 0 

Interval ..................................................... _ . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. 30 0 

Coal, Creech .......... ____ .. _ ............... ·- .......... _._._ .. _ ......... ~-.-_ 4 0 

Interval ................................................................. _ .. ·il20 0 

Coal ........ ~ ........................... _·_................................. 3-j-- 0 

Interval.......... .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. 115 0 

Coal .. .. . . . .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . 2 8 

"3 to 5 feet 

COALS. 

COAL 01<' T,J<JE SANDSTONJ<J. 

Two openings have been made· on a coal of workable thickness in the Lee 

sandstone of Pine Mountain in this district. One of these, opening on the D. H. 

Green place (632), shows 25 inches of solid coal. Over the coal is 12 feet of drab 

fissile shale, with 10 feet of shale partly hidden above. Over that is the massive 

sandstone of the formation. Under the coal is 5 feet of drab and yellow fire clay 
134 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY.· 

to sandstone. The coal dips S. 35°.E. at an angle of 48°. Both the coal and shale 

are cross jointed by pressure. A little farther east on the I. N. Crcechplace (633) 

what was apparently the same coal has been again opened. It shows here a thickness of 5 feet at the face of an entry, which extends 100 feet or more in the hill. At 

the entry the coal is not so thick; the greater thicknP-ss appears to be due to the 

crushing and squeezing to which the coal has been subjeeted. The coal is very hard 

and has to be shot down after underctitting. The roof in the mine appears to be 

. exeellent, hard, and smooth, and not greatly affected by pressure. The roof shale is 

33 feet thick beneath a massive ledge of sandstone; the dip here is S. 34° E. at an 

angle of 40°. This coal is thought to be equivalent to the Tunnel coal, formerly 

mined on the Cumberland Gaproad, as it appears to occupy a similar stratigraphic 

position. No trace of the C~mberland Gap coal has yet been found in this district., 

(Pl. XXI). • 

COALS OF HANCE FORJ\JATION. 

PUCKETI' COAL. 

The correlation of this coal has been much in doubt. As already stated, the. 

Hance coal, which lias a good workable thickness on Hance Creek and along 

Brownies Creek, is represented on Puckett Creek by a coal much divided or 

else has not been found or has run out. The coal found along lower Puckett • 

Creek, about 100 feet above the creek bed but reaching creek level near the 

mouth of Mill Creek, was in the field thought to be the equivalent of the Hance 

coal on Toms Creek. Several facts, however, cast doubt oil that correlation. In 

the first place the coal on Puckett Creek is usually split into two or three 

decided benches separated by an interval of varying thickness, and the benches 

themselves are usually thin. In the next place tlre distance from the Puckett 

sandstone to this coal on Puckett Creek is much greater than the distance from 

the same sandstone to the Hance coal on Toms Creek. There is, however, a 

strong dip to the east ft·om the center of .Jackson Mountain toward Puekett 

Creek, and it was thought that this dip might account for the difference in interval. On Puckett. Creek, as far as Lee Branch and Bear Tree Branch, this coal 

appears to be equivalent to· the 34-inch coal found near the mouths of those 

branches. About 200 feet higher occurs a 4-foot coal that is thought to be equivalent to the Harlan coal, as it has been traeed up Martins Fork just over the 

ridge. . As before stated, there is reason to think that the Hance coal occupies 

practically the same stratigraphic position as the Harlan coal, and this fact and 

other conditions mentioned have led to the assumption that the coal along lower 

Puckett Creek lies about 200 feet below the Hance coal, and is the representative 

of the Bingham coal on Toms Creek and of the coal close to the schoolhouse on 

. Blacksnake Branch of Brownies Creek. This correlation seems to be borne out 

by a study of the sandstones of the region. At most points where this coal is 

seen on lower Puckett Creek there is below it a fairly massive sandstone, which 

makes cliffs in places. An attempt made with great care to trace the Cawood 

sandstone from the region around Harlan to Puckett Creek seemed to indicate 

that the sandstone immediately below the Puckett coal is the equivalent of the 

Cawood sandstone. Therefore in this report the Puckett coal is considered to he 

.. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XIX 

A. CR EECH COAL O N TOMS C RE EK, LOWER PUCKETT 

DI STRICT. 

B. CREECH COA L AT OP ENIN G ON MACK JO H NSON'S PLAC E. 

Betsy Ann Branch of Blacksnake Branch of Puckett C reek. 
COALS 01<' LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 135 

distinct £rom the Hance coal and to occur stratigraphically just above the Cawood 

sandstone. A little above the Puckett coal there is another cliff-making sandstone 

which was at first thought to be identical with the cliff-making sandstone above 

the Hance coal, especialiy as developed on Hance Creek. On "Tallins Creek, 

however, there is a cliff-making sandstone 40 or 50 feet above the Cawood sandstone, with a coal between, and this coaJ is supposed to be the equivalent of 

the Puckett coal on Puckett Creek. In places the Puckett coal shows . three 

benches about equally separated; in other places, however, it appears in two quite 

distinct benches. This latter. condition is particularly noticeable on Blacksnake 

Branch o£ P1~ckett and Bull Branch o£ Puckett. In some places, where coal outcrops are long distances apart, there has been some question as to whether the 

coal found belonged to the Hance coal horizon or to the Puckett coal horizon. 

Thus, on upper Brownies Creek (604) near the lower end o£ the road £rom 

Brownies. to Path Fork, just above Lee & Saylor's store, an exposure o£ coal 

shows a total thickness o£ 70t inches and is immediately under a massive sandstohe. This coal shows an upper bench o£ 30 inches, including a 2-inch parting 

2 inches £rom the roo£; then below 7t inches o£ parting is a 5-inch bench 

separated by 10 inches of clay from an 18-inch lower bench. The massive sandstone immediately over this coal can be traced some distance down Brownies 

Creek. Near the Eads house there is an opening on apparently the same bed 

showing 44 inches of solid coal (609). A short distance up the second right-hand 

branch of Mill Creek o£ Puckett is a coal in three benches. The upper bench is 

19 inches thick, and is separated by 18 inches o£ clay from a 7-inch bench, which in 

turn is separated by from 3 to 6 inches o£ clay £rom a 10-inch bench. Over the 

coal is 7 inches o£ shale and 1 foot of black bituminous shale or "cannel slate," 

with 8+ feet of drab and brown clay shale above. The coal here (702) dips 

N. 10° E. at an angle o£ 3°. Near the mouth of Mill Creek (700) an opening 

shows a 5-foot coal also in three benches, though quite different £rom the former. 

The upper bench is here only 6 inches thick, and 10 inches below it is an 18-inch 

bench,. below which are 1 inch o£ bone, 3 inches o£ coal, 5 inches o£ shaly coal, 

and another 18-inch bench o£ eoal. At places along Mill Creek the dip appeared 

to be just about equal to the grade o£ the stream, so that there was some doubt 

whether these two coals were identical or whether the one at the mouth 'of the 

stream, which is believed to be the representative o£ the Puckett coal farther 

down the stream, is much below the other. I£ th'e two openings on Brownies Creek 

near Lee & Saylor's store and near the Eads house are on the Hance coal, then the 

Puckett coal cin Brownies Creek is represented- by a much split-up coal occurring 

50 feet or more below. Thus on the Palestine Howard place on Brownies Creek 

this coal (610) shows an upper bench 29 inches thick separated by 19 inches o£ 

shale and 3 inches of coaly shale £rom 3 inches o£ coal, below which eome 3 inches 

of shale, 17 inches o£ clay, and 6 inches of coal, with probably coal and clay below. 

What is supposed to be the equivalent o£ the Puckett coal on Brownies 

Creek shows near the sehoolhouse on Blacksnake B~anch o£ Brownies Creek 

(614) just above the massive sandstone which ·causes such a waterfall in that 

branch. The bed here shows 25 inches of solid coal. There may be other 

benches not exposed. On Brownies Creek not far below the county line (606) 
136 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

the emil shows at the bottom of the bluff just above creek level. At this point 

there is 26 inches of coal just below 25 feet of black and dark-drab fissile shale. 

Under it there are from 2 to 7 feet of drab shale and laminated sandstone (the 

interval becoming smaller upstream), 3 inches of coal, 1 foot of drab shale, 8 inches 

of coal, 2 feet of drab shale, and 8 inches of coal, with drab shale below. On 

Toms Creek the Puckett coal is supposed to be represented by the coal on the 

Elijah Bingham place (654), a short distance up the right-hand fork. The coal 

here shows 31 inches of solid coal, with two 4-inch benches separated by 4 inches 

of clay, 12 inches below the main bench. The roof is shale and there is 12 feet 

of clay shale helow the lower 4-inch bench. On Puckett Creek there are one or 

two openings on this coal on the left-band side going up, below what is called 

the Uplands. One of these on the Frank Creech place (670) showed 25+ inches 

of solid coal. Over it there are 3 feet of blue shale and shaly sandstone above. 

The massive cliff-making sandstone shows about 20 feet above. A section at 

Hobbs's mill showing the coal in three benches (672) has already been given. Up 

Pounding Mill Branch of Puckett Creek (674) the lower coal shows a thickness 

'of 2+ feet; the upper coal, which shows a short distance above, is reported to be 

3 or 4 feet thick. On the Millard Creech place, between Pounding Mill Branch 

and Bull Branch of Puckett, this coal (675) shows three benches 16 inches, 26 

inches, !tnd St inches, respectively, separated by 19 inches of dark clay above 

and 9 inches of dark clay as a lower parting. The roof is of dark-clay shale. At 

the mouth of ~ull Branch on the east side the following section appears: 

Section of Puckett coul.9 and accompany'ing strata at mot~th of Bull Branch. 

No.on I Stratum. Thickness. No. on Strutum. '1 

~. map. 

-

'hickness. 

I C~al, exposed--_--------------

Ft. in. 

676 1 6+ Shale, brown ....... _ .. _ ...... 

F1re clay, browmsh drab ...... 1 6 Sandstone, brown to gray ...... 

Ft. i1_l. 

2 6 

3 0 

Shale, brown and drab ........ 4 0 Shale, brown ·---------------- 3 0 

Sandstone, shaly ..... _ " ____ . __ 4 0 Sandstone, shaly, brown to gray. 3 0 

$lope, hidden __ .. __ .. _ ... _ ... 5 0 Shale, brown and light drab .. _ 3 0 

Shale, drab, disturbed ......... 1 6 Shale, harder ___ . __________ .. _ 1 0 

Coal and dark-drab clay, mixed_ a6 Shale, light drab and brown ___ 5 0 

Clay, light ,Jrab, soft. __ ._._ ... 3 Hidden by talus ..... ________ . _ 60 0. 

Coal and light-drab shale ..... 3 Shale, drab, poorly expose<l. __ . 20 0 

Clay, drab-----·------------- 2 Flagstone, shaly, light drab, (""'' -- - - - --- -- -- 1 1 - breaking into thin slabs _____ 

677 Clay, brown __________________ 1~ Shale, drab, fissile, to creek 

level ......... __ ........... _ 

Coal. ___ -------······----- ___ 1 9 

6 0 

12 0 

Fire clay, brownish drab __ .... 1 6 

/ 

a 4 to 6 inches. 

Up Bull Branch on the Abraham Slusher place both coals can be seen (679, 680); 

the' lower coal is just at creek leYel, the upper coal about 20 feet above. The upper 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

691. 

Blacksnake 

Branch of "Brownies 

Creek. 

A. Slusher. 

1M" 112" 

24" 

- -· lU" + 36" -37M" 

618, 

621. 

Middle Fork of Stone Coal Branch of H nies 

620. 

625, 

Left Fork of Stone Coal Hraneh of Brownies 

Creek. 

602. 

Hoskins Branch of Brownies Creek. 

Thompson. 

LOWER HANCE C'OAL. 

609. 604. 

UPPER HANCJ1: C'pAL. 

651. 

Right Fork or Toms Creek. E. Hoskins. 

=4.8" 

702. 

645. 

Toms Creek. Robt. Johnson. 

Stone Coal Branch of Brownies Branch of Brownies Creek, Lee & Saylor's store. 

MillCreek. J 

-34" 

672. 

Puckett Creek (near mouth). 

14-0" + 66" =206" 

614. 

=&\" 

675. 

Puckett Creek Millard Creech. 

- - 17f" + 44" -4Jl7,/" 

676-677. 

Mouth of Bull Branch of'PU(~kett Creek. 

1%"" + 3-i" =35?4" 

PUCKJ<;TT COAL. 

606, 610. 

679-680. 

Bu II Branch of Puckett Creek. 1 ....I I 

I~ I 

:~I 

:~I 

12" + 40"+ =52"+ 

654. 

24" + 36+" =60"+ 

PuCKETT COAT .. 

681. 

Near mouth of Campbell Branch of Puckett 

Creek. Robt. Howard. 

56" + 42%'" =98}::;" 

687, 

Blacksnake 

Branch of Puckett Creek. W. M.Binghatn. 

lw 

=38" 

608. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO, 49 PL. XX 

635. 

Toms Creek. Slusher place. 

3" + 4:6" =49" 

670. 

634, 

Toms Creek. Carlo Arnett. 

PUCKETT COAL. 

674. 

PuckettCreek Pounding ~ear mouth); :Mill Branch 

.,.. ~~·-. 

~w·:"+ -•"+ 

=24"+ 

690. 692·693. 

663, 

Tanyard Hill. 

=52" rep. 

700. 

Mill Creek (near 

mouth). 

HI" + 4-2' =61" 

694-695. 

Small branch of Puckett Creek. Robt. Howard. 

Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek 

1

3" 3-4" 

1" -3" 

i" 

3" 

2" 

8" + 32" =40" 

601. 

I 

I 

:~ I '-, 

I ·~ I"' 

I 

I 

Anthony 

I· 

=33" 

7!4" + 3711 

=44Mi" 

Pun~ MOUNTAIN COAL. 

632. 633. 

B 1 a c lt snake Brownies Creek. Brownies Creek. Palestine Howard. Right Fork of Toms Creek. E. Bingham. 

Brownies Creek. Brownies Creek. Pine Mountain. 

gl;~~~~:i~ 16" '5' 

2-7' 

-~3" 12" 

8" 

24"~~ .. 

4Ji" 

.=25" 

16" + 39" -55" 

Robt. Wilson. 

17" 

7" 

17" 

7" + 3!" =il" 

SECTIONS OF LOWE~ COALS, LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=S feet. 

D. H. Green. I. N. Creech. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

A. PINE MOUNTAIN COAL ON I. N. CREECH PLACE. 

Exterior view, showing dip of coal and shale roof. 

PROFESSION AL PAPER NO. 49 Pl. XXI 

B . COAL AT FACE OF I. N. CRE ECH MI NE, 

View show1ng seam more or less distorted. 
COALS OF LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 137 

coal shows 26 + inches of. :,;olid coal overlain by 5 feet of brown shale, below 

that is .12 feet of space showing some sandstone, 7 feet of brown sandstone, 2 

feet of drab and blue shale to. the lower coal. This showed three benches, the upper 

1 foot 7 inches thick, the middle 1 foot 1 inch thick, the lower s+ inches thick. 

The lower bench is reported to be 2 feet or more. The two partings are each 6 

inches thick. At the mouth of Campbell Branch on the Robert Howard place the 

coal has the following section (681): 

Section qf Puckett coal at mouth of Campbell Branch. 

Ft. in. 

Shale, drab _______________________ - ________ ---.-- __ --- _----.-- __ - ___ --. __ .• _ _ 8 0 

Sandstone, brown _______ .. ______ ..... _ ...... _ .... _ ........ _.-. _ .. _ .. ___ ... _ .• a 1 0 

Shale, drab .. _ ... _ ............................ -.--.. -.- ... -"- ... -.... -- .... -. 3 0 

Coal ... _ ..•........ _ ............... _ .......... ___ ......... ~ __ . _ . _ .•.... _ . _ . • 1 3 

Shale, dark drab ..... ___ ....•........... -- ........... -- ......... -- ....... _._. 1 3 

Coal ... __ ............. _ . _·. - - _ .. -............ -....... -.......... - -. _ ....... _ _ 1 ~ 

Shale, dark drab ............ _ ... -................ - ....... -.. - .. _. ___ ....... _ _ 1 4 

Coal bands in black shale ....... __ .-- ..................... _._ .....•. ___ ....... 7 

Shale, drab ........ __ . _ ......................... ___ ......... ___ ........ __ .... 1 6 

Coal, 26 inches seen, reported ... _ ..... __ . _ ... _ .. _ ... __ ......... ___ . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 

The coal is here 75 feet above the creek. The massive sandstone shows 20 feet 

above the coal, while a more massive sandstone, supposed to be that overlying the 

Hance coal, occurs 220 feet above. 

On Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek the lower bench is seen a short distance 

up the branch on theW. M. Bingham place (687). The coal here shows 3 feet 2 inches 

of solid coal. Six feet above the ·upper coal is 1 foot plus in thickness. About 20 

feet below the coal here is a massive sandstone which can be traced a long distance 

up Blacksnake Branch. A short distance up the right-hand fork the upper coal is 

opened on the Robert Howard place (690), 30 feet above the fork. The coal has a 

thickness of 40 inches including a 3- to 4-inch parting of dark-drab clay 3 inches 

from the top, a l-inch parting of drab clay 2 to 3 inches lower, and a 3-inch parting 

of dark-drab clay 12 inches from the bottom. The roof is composed of drab shale 

with some thin bands of coal. Just at creek level there is exposed 1 foot of the lower 

coal which is reported to be 3 feet thick here. A little farther up the main branch 

two coals are exposed on the old Anthony Ely place (692, 693). The upper bench 

snows 43 inches of coal including a 2-inch parting 4 inches from the top, a 1- to Hinch parting 2 to 3 inches lower, a half-inch parting 14 inches below that, a H-inch 

parting 1 inch lower, and a 2!-inch parting 13 "inches from the bottom.. The 

lower bench, 15 feet below, measured 2 feet 9 inches and may be thicker. A little 

farther up, near the mouth of Deadening Branch on the same farm, the two 

benches are again exposed. The upper bench (695) shows 51 inches including a 

2!-inch parting 2! inches from the top, a l-inch parting 3 inches lower, and a 

12-inch parting 15 inches from the bottom. The lower coal 15 feet below (694:) 

shows 43! inches total thickness including a 6-inch parting 3! inches from the top, 

and a H-inch parting It inches lower. The lower coal is about 25 feet above the 

main creek. ' 

a 6 inches to 1 foot. 
138 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Taken as a whole, the Put;kett ·seam is seen to contain from 3 to 6 feet of coal, 

but only in places is enough of this in a single bench to make it minable. Up 

Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek the lower bench appears to have a workable 

thickness. The upper bench, though a little thicker in the same area, is too much 

cut by partings to be of value. On the whole, it may be doubted if this coal should 

be classed as a workable coal, though it may prove to be so .toward the west; particularly if we have been mistaken in our correlations, and exploitation should show 

that this is the same as the Hance coal on Toms Creek. 

No coals of good workable thickness were found below this level stratigraphically in this area. Near Lee & Saylor's store a lower coal is seen in the creek bed, 

upturned by the Brush Mountain fold, so that it dips 'N. i0° W. at an a~gle of 70° to . I . 

80°. Near the schoolhouse on Browmes Creek (608) a coal of unknown but probably 

of not workable thickness is exposed in the side of the creek bank and is much 

broken up by faulting (608): On the Wilson place a short distance farther down 

Brownies. Creek what is probably the same coal (611) is faced up, showing two 

benches of 17 inches each separated by 7 inches of- drab shale. On lower Brownies 

Creek near Oaks what is probably the same emil has been dug into at several 

points close beside the road; as nearly as could be measured it showed two benches 

of which the upper was 16 inches, the lower 21 inches, with 10 inches of clay between. 

Eight feet of massive shaly sandstone outcrops immediately above. On the Cumberland River just below the mouth of Puckett Creek on the Hoskins place some coal 

has been dug from two beds· about 60 feet apart (668 and 669). A section at this 

place shows as follows: 

No. on map. 

Section on Cumberland Rive1· near Oalla.way po8t-o,tfice. 

Stratum. Thickness. No. on map. Rtratum. Thicknes•. 

-----------------------------------1-----------------------------

Feet. Feet. 

Sandstone.................... 10 669 Coal has been mined, not exShale, drab, fissile ........... _ 30 posed ................ _ . . . . . . ........ . 

Sandstone, shaly .... __ ....... 10 Shale, sandy.................. 15 

Sandstone, crinkly bedded . _.. 12 

Sandstone, more massive _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 

Coal, not exposed ............ __ ....... . 

Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Sandstone ......... _ .... __ ... _ 5 Sandstone, thin and crinkly 

bedded, to the river level . . . . . 40 

Shale, sandy ___ . ____ . __ .. _ .. _ 20 

Shale ...... __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

This is north of the synclinal axis and the rocks dip to the southeast at an angle of 

10°. At Hobbs's mill1 foot of coal at creek level (678) has already been mentioned. 

COALS OF MINGO FORMATION. 

A 34-inch coal is noted in this formation about 120 feet below the top of 

the Big Cliff sandstone in the section on Toms Creek. · The section at the head o£ 

·path Fork showed a coal of :;imilar thickness at apparently the same horizon. 
COALS OF LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 139 

· There is thus suggested a coal of barely -workable thickness near the top of this 

formation. Its roof in both cases is sandstone. On the Toms Crec.k section it has 

also a sandstone floor, which would seriously affect its workability. ' 

HANCE COAL. 

On the Brownies Creek side of .Jackson Mountain/ ancl through Toms Creek, 

what appeai·s to be certainly one ·of the Hance coals pr"escnts a good workable 

thickness. From the fact that at several openings a small coal has been found a 

few feet lower it has been assumed that the main coal in this area is the equivalent 

of the Upper Hance coal. On Blacksnake Branch of Brownies Creek, where this 

coal is certainly recognized, it shows a thickness of a little over 3 feet, with. a 

lt-inch parting 12 inches from the bottom. This is on the A. Slusher place 

(691). On the main fork of Stone Coal Branch of Brownies Creek the lower 

coal (618) shows a thickness of 2 feet 9 inches. A~short distance up the middle 

fork of Stone Coal Branch on the Judge Morse place the upper coal shows a thickness of 6 feet 3 inche:,·, including 7 inches of shale 2 feet 3 inches from the bottom. 

The roof is of light-drab and brown shale. Nine feet below, with sandy shale 

between, is the lower coal 2 feet 10 inches thick. On the left-hand fork of 

Stone Coal Branch an even better showing is made. Here the seam has a total 

thickness of 73! in0hes, of which 71 inches are coal; there is a half-inch parting 

25 inches from the top and a 2-inch parting 28 inches from the bottom. The 

roof is a light-brown clay shale. ·on Hoskins Branch of Brownies Creek, on the 

Thompson. place (G02), this coal is reported to be 4 feet thick without partings. 

On the right-hand fork of Toms- Creek, at the Elias Hoskins place (651), the 

coal has been faced up at the spring, and shows 48 inches of coal. The roof is 

of drab clay shale; the floor is a light-drab fire clay. On Long Branch of Toms 

Creek, on the Robert Johnson place (645), the coal shows 3 feet 10 inches of 

solid coal. · Eight feet above are '8 inches of coal with a l-inch clay band in the 

middle, and 15 feet below arc about 1 foot of coal and 5 to 6 feet of sandstone. 

Eight feet lower is reported 2 feet of coal. under a light-drab sandy shale. 

vVherc this horizon crosses Long Branch 32+ inches of coal are exposed.. On 

the Slusher heirs place on Toms Creek (635) the coal i$ over 4 feet thick with 

a 3-inch parting from 5 to 6 inches from the top. This parting consists of 1 

inch to 1t inches of light-brown or gray clay, 1 inch to 0 of coal, and 1 inch 

to H inches of drab clay at the bottom. The roof is dark clay shale. Eighteen 

feet below an 18-inch coal has been faced up. Directly acrm;s Toms Creek, at 

the Carlo Arnett opening (634) the coal is 54t inches thick. It shows the same 

triple parting 6 inches from the top, which here runs from 2~ to 3 inches thick. 

It is made up of from 1 to 4 inches of clay averaging H inches, one-half to 4 

inches of coal averaging 2 inches, and from 1 to 2 inches of clay averaging H 

inches. There is a half-inch streak of soft coal 22 inches from the bottom. 

Over the coal there are 7 feet of brown to drab shale, overlain by 6+ feet of 

brown sandstone; there appears to be about 1 foot of drab slate. The coal 

is here 1,476 feet above tide, or 110 feet above the creek. This coal is again 

seen near the mouth of Toms Creek and 300 feet above the ereck (658). Here 

it shows 3 feet 9 inches of coal, with from one-half to 2 inches of soft coal 3t 
140 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

inches from the top. On the north side of Cumberland Rivet", in Tanyard Hill 

(663), is an old facing on this coal, reported to show 4 feet 4 inches. As given 

in these sections, this upper Hance coal shows an average thickness of about 4 

feet, practically all of which is workable. Its greatest thickness shows 71 

inches of coal. In determining the area underlain by it the difficulty is at 

once noticed that on the Puckett Creek side of Jackson Mountain. either this 

coal has not been recognized or it has thinned out, or it has become unworkable, so that we are not able to say how far through the mountain it 

maintains the workable features shown on the west side. As in the preceding 

district this coal is correlated with the Bennett Fork coals of the Bennett Fork 

district. Of still more interest, it is supposed to be equivalent to the Harlan 

coal, which makes such a fine showing all through the eastern part of the field 

and which is believed to show at the head of Puckett Creek. There therefore 

seems to be some warrant in believing that this coal, like the Creech coal above, 

has escaped observation on the Puckett Cree'k side and that, therefore, it may 

prove workable entirely through the mountain. With our present information 

we will assume it to be workable only halfway through the mountain. 

The following analyses will indicate somewhat the character of this coal: 

Analy.~es of the Hance coal in Jackson Mountain. 

Constituent. . A. B. c. D. 

-----·----- ------

Per cent. PNcent. Per cent ... Per cent. 

Moisture .. _______ . ____ . __ ~ ______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. 608 6.636 2.60 1.162 

Volatile hydrocarbons ____________ . __ . ___ . ____________ . 34. 812 35.264 33.20. 36.428 

Fixed carbon ___ . _. ____________________ ~ _________ . _ _ _ _ _ 51. 623 51. 758 59.60 54.436 

Ash _______________________________ ... ______ . ________ -~ 10. 680 5.650 4.60 6.605 

Sulphur_. ____ . ____ ------ ___ . _________ . ____ ---·---._____ 1. 277 . 692 . 931 l. 369 

A. Judge Morse place on middle fork of Stone Cfml Branch. 

B. Slusher heirs, Toms Creek. · 

C. Stone Coal Brunch of Brownies Creek; &nalyzed by Robert Peter. 

D. Elias Green place, Toms Creek; analyzed by A. S. McCreath; sample gathered by McCreath and d'Invilliers. 

KELLIOKA COAL. 

This coal, which gives some promise of yielding workable coal to the east of 

this region, was .not certainly recognized in this area; at least no coal was found 

showing anything like the thickness found in the eastern district. The only 

point at which coal at about this horizon could be measured was on the Levi 

Mir~cle. place on Toms Creek (642); here the seam shows 60 inches, all told, of 

which but little more than one-half is coal. It occurs in three benches. The 

upper bench is 5 inches thick and is separated by 7 inches of dark-drab clay from 

a 19-inch bench, below which is 20 ·inches of light-drab clay and then 9 inches of 

coal. The roof is a gray clay shale. It resembles the Kellioka coal in its split-up 

eondition, but hardly shows as much actual coal as is usually found in that seam 

to the, east. As other data are lacking it may be assumed that this is the same 

coal, and if this section is representative of that coal in this district it may be 

dismissed as not· workable. 
COALS OF LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 141 

CR:E.ECH COAL. 

·Probably the best coal in this district, as far as known, is the 5-foot coal 

made known by ~ large number of facings which were made in Hl02 under the 

direction of Mr. Robert Creech around Jackson Mountain. This coal offers an 

interer;ting illustration of the fact that a coal of good workable thickness may 

exist in these mountains and 'be entirely unknown because conditions do not favor 

its being exposed in natural outcrop or its producing coal blooms that attract 

attention and exploitation. Practically all of our data on this coal were obtained 

from the facing mentioned. On Blacksnake Branch of Brownies Creek this coal 

shows a thickness of 5 feet 9 inches, with a 7t-inch clay band lOt inches from the 

top. On Black Lick Branch of Brown"iei:l Creek it is from 55 to 59 inches thick 

without partings. The roof there is shale. On Toms Creek on the Robert .Johnson 

place (ti36) it is 52 inches thick without partings and has a sandstone roof. On the 

left-hand fork of Toms Creek on the Slusher heirs place it is 5 feet 1 inch thick, the 

l-inch parting being 11 inches from the top. Between it and the sandstone roof 

there is 10 inches of shale and coal. The floor shows a slight dip to the southeast. 

Its elevation here is 1,960 feet. Passing around the end of Jackson Mountain thiH 

coal has first been faced on Campbell Branch of Puckett Creek at the Pine Hill 

opening (685). Here it is 4 feet 2 inches thick with a l-inch parting 8 inches from 

the top. The roof is of shaly sandstone. On the right fork of Blacksnake Branch 

of Puckett Creek (69R) it is practically 5 feet thick, with a parting one-fourth inch 

thick 3 inches from the top and a l-inch parting 7 inches lower down. The roof is of 

gray sandstone. On the Deadening Branch of Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek 

on the Mack Johnson place (697) it shows a thickness of 5 feet 5 inches, ineluding 

a 5-inch parting 3 inches from the bottom and a 1- to H-inch parting 10 inches from 

the top. Above the coal are 2t feet of drab shale with 12-t- feet of dark-gray 

sandstone. The coal here, as at the next place, is unusually bright. The main mud 

slips run S. 40° W. On the Ellis Branch of Blacksnake Branch on the _Hiram Ellis 

place the coal is 62t inches thick, with a -!-inch parting 3! inches from the top 

and a 1- to 3-inch parting 6 inches lower. The roof is of laminated sandstone. 

At the head of Blacksnake Branch the coal is somewhat thinner, showing only 43t 

inches under a gray micaceous sandstone (699). The openings so far mentioned are 

so close together and their relation to the Puckett sandstone is so constant that there 

can be little doubt of their all being on the same bed. Southward. on Jackson 

Mountain, where the Puckett sandstone is not as distinct and where there arc only a 

few old facings on what appears to be this coal, the correlation is less certain. On 

.Jackson Mill Bran~h of Puckett Creek (703) a 40-inch solid coal was found at about 

the same horizon. and is supposed to represent the Creech coal. On Spanish Oak 

Hollo'v of the same branch (705) this coal shows 41 inches thick, with a t-inch parting 

19 inches from the top. At this point, however, two other coals show a short 

distance above, the first a 14-ineh bench 4 feet above, the second a 30-inch bench 8 

feet above that. The roof over the upper bench is sandstone. On Path Fork of 

Puckett Creek (712) occure a 4-foot coal with a parting 19 inches from the top, 

which is suppo::;ed to be the Creech coal. Thirty feet above it a coal is partially 

exposed which seems to have a thickness of from 3 to 6 feet. This may be the 

representative of the 30-inch bench of coal in the Spanish Oak Hollow and may be the 

41--])lo.49--0o----11 · 
142 ·cuMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

equivalent of the 1 foot 2 inches of coal a similar distance above the Creech coal on 

Toms Creek. Until further exploration has been made on this upper coal we are not 

prepared to discuss its workability or persistence. In Reynolds Mountain the 

only trace found of the Creech coal was a bloom where the coal is reported to 

be 4 feet thick. Its presence, persistence, and workability on that mountain are, 

therefore, problematicaL In the northern end of Jackson Mountain, however, 

and possibly all through Jaekson Mountain it presents a good thickness. The 

fellowing analyses indicate a good quality. It is fairly high in the hill, so that 

its area is limited. But as .it is below the massive Puckett sandstone, its area 

is much greater than if it were above that sandstone. 

Analyses of the Creech coal in Jackson Mountain. 

Constituent. 

Water as received .......................... . 

Water (powdered coal)----------------------

Volatile combustible matter ................. . 

Fixed carbon .............................. . 

Ash .......•................................ 

Sulphur .................................. .. 

Phosphorus .................... .' ........... . 

A. 

Per cent. 

8.776 

5.100 

35.270 

. 53. 101 

5.840 

. 689 

. 003 

B. 

Per.cent. 

6.382 

3.020 

38.040 

55.468 

2.800 

. 762 

----------

All analyses by A. S. McCreath, from samples obtained in 1902 ILitd 1903. 

c. 

Per cent. 

·····----· 

1. 350 

38.760 

55.847 

3.330 

.713 

----------

A. Mack Johnson place, Deadening Branch of Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek. 

B. Slusher heirs opening, Toms Creek. 

C. Hiram Ellis, Ellis Branch of Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek. 

D. E. 

----

Per cent. Per cent. 

----·----- -·-------- 2.232 3.492 

36.518 35.308 

56.257 57.392 

4.080 3.200 

. 913 . 609 

---------· ----------

D. Harvey Miracle place, Spanish Oak Hollow, near head of Jackson Mill Branch of Puckett Creek. 

E. Path Fork of Puckett Creek. 

The first of these analyses is of badly weathered coal, as shown in the 

amount of water contained, and, as might be expected, the coke was barely 

coherent, but what this coal would do· under better circumstances is probably 

indicated by the other analyses on the same bed, .taken but a short distance 

away. This shows the coal to be fairly low in ash and in sulphur, and to have 

about the average amount of fixed carbon that occurs in the coals of this 

region. The crucible test showed the coke to be of fair quality, but with a 

tendency toward a granular and therefore rather weak structure, and in this 

case, as in most other cases in this field, the coal was obtained from a facing but 

a few feet deep, and, therefore, probably slightly weathered, a fact which may 

have affected the character of the coke. 

COAL OF CATRON J<'OHMATION. 

One or two coal blooms in the upper part of this formation close below the 

Jesse sandstone suggest the presence of coal of some thickness that is possibly 

workable. Near the top of ,Jackson Mountain a little back from Walnut Cove, 

near the northern end, 20 inches of coal were seen immediately below the mas'sive 

sandstone cliff. The coal at this point or near here was reported to be 7 feet 
STRUCTURE OF LOWER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

thick. The sandstone roof of the coal l1ere is very irregular. One or two other 

blooms were seen below this, but of th(l coal at these points nothing is known. At 

· the bottom of the formation is the Wallins Creek coal, of which only one measurable section was seen, on the west side of Reynolds Mountain below. Hanging 

Rock. It ·had a to(al t.hickness of 5 feet 5t inches; the lower 13 inches were 

bony, and there was a 5t-inc~h parting 35 inches from the top; the roof. is shale. 

No analyses of this coal collected in this area have been made, so that its character 

and thickness must be judged from the more_ eastern districts, where it is better 

known. 

COAL OF HIGNITE l!'ORMATiqN. 

One or two coal blooms were seen in the rocks along the crests of Reynolds 

Mountain, but at no place were they exposed so as to show the character and 

thickness of the coal. Considering the small area covered by this formation jt may 

be co~sidered to carry no workable coals. . 

SUMMARY. 

Summary of coals of the Lower Puckett district. 

Number of coal beds found ............................................. _ ..•.•.••..•.. 

Total thickness of coals ................ __ ........•........••...... _ ... , .....•.. ,feet .. . 

Number of coal beds of workable thiekness (locally) ......................... : . ...... , . 

Average thickness of principal workable coals ................. _ ................. .feet .. 

Total thiekness of workable coal beds ........ _ ............. _ .........•........... do ... . 

Greatest thickness of single coal bed measured _ ..................••.... _ ........ do ... . 

Greatest thickness of eoal in single bed measured ................................ do ... . 

Approximate area underlain by workable coal. ................... _ ...•... square miles .. 

Estimated available tonnage of district ........................ _ ....•............. tons .. 

Creech. 

Approximate elevation above tide ................................. feet •. 2,000 

Thiekness: 

Greatest ............................................... _ .... do •... 5i 

Average ................................................... do .... . 4! 

Least .•............................ _ ..................... _ .do ..•• 3! 

Average thickness of workable coal ............................. do ... . 4! 

N urn ber of measurements ................ _ ... · ...............•........• 12 

Area of seam .... _ ................................... ·. . . . . . ..• acres .• 3,000 

Total coal per· acre .............................................. tons .. 7,380 

Available coal per acre ............. __ ..............••.......... do ...• 6,000 

Coal available in district ..•..................................... do .... 12,000,000 

STRUCTURE. 

25 

3(}-40 

9 

4! 

20 

10i 

7l,. 

10-20 

40,000,000 

Hance. 

1,400 

6t 

4t 

3f'2' 

4 

9 

6,000 

6,560 

6,000 

30,000,000 

A.s in the preceding districts, the general structure here is synclinal, the main 

axis crossing Brownies Creek near Oaks and Puckett Creek near the mouth of 

Bull Branch. The workable coals are almost entirely confined to the southern 

limb; On Puckett Creek, within this district, the dip almost exactly corresponds 

with the gradient of the stream. What is supposed to be the Puckett coal is at 
144 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

stream level near the junction of Lee Branch, Bear Tree Branch, and Rockhouse 

Branch. It is again just above creek level on Mill Creek, just above the mouth 

of that creek where Packett Creek enters thi~ district. From there downstream · 

the coal gradually rises above the creek level until at the mouth of Campbell 

Branch it is about 120 feet above the creek. A somewhat similar dip is seen 

following the crest of Jackson Mountain and Brownies Ridge. In a transverse 

direction the dip which was found to extend from Hance Creek to Brownies Creek 

is continued, so that the formations. that were exposed along that creek and were 

just below creek level on Brownies are deeply_ buried along Puckett Creek. The 

1-foot coal at Hobbs's mill on Puckett Creek just at creek level is stratigraphically 

about in the position. of the coal at the Lum Green opening on Hance Creek, 

which is 220 feet above creek level. This northeastward dip is very well seen on 

Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek, either by tracing the sandstone, which makes 

fairly prominent outcrops, or by the levels on the c~al lying just above. · Thus 

the Puckett coal near the mouth is estimated to have an elevation of 1,245 feet, 

. while the same coal at the Anthony Ely opening, ncar the mouth of Deadening 

Branch, has an eleyation of. about 1,425 feet. From Puckett Creek northeastward 

the strata rise· again, suggesting that the lower course of Puckett Creek follows 

the axis of a transverse syncline. On the road from Puckett Creek to Cumberland 

across the Uplands this rise is very marked, though in this case part of the rise 

m.ay be ascribed to the fact that we are north of the main synelinal axis. 

'\V A.f.JLINS CREEK DISTRICT. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

This district includes the mountains on the south side of Cumberland River 

from the eastern side o'f Lower Puckett district along Puckett Creek to Jackson 

Mill Braneh; its boundary extends thence down Sang Branch of Wallins and up 

\Vallins to Banners Fork, up the branch of Banners Fork across Potato Hill 

Ridge, down Little Creek to Catron, and north of west on a straight line to 

Pine Mountain. The limits have been governed partly by the size of the page a 

apd partly by the fact that' within this district our knowledge of the Harlan coal 

is very uncertain. The Harlan coal has been traced in all the area immediately 

east and south of this dit;trict. Aside from Cumberland Hiver the three principal 

valleys are Wallins in the center, and Fon;ester and Ewing on either side, with 

Jesse Creek between Forrester and Wallins. Wallins Creek has a larger amount 

of bottom land than most of the streams o£ thi,s region, probably due· to the fact 

that it i:s a little longer. The ridges have the same general character as in the 

last district, but are slightly higher. Fox Knob, at the head of Ewing Creek, 

with an elevation of 3,416 feet, is the highest point within this field, being 

exceeded on the map only by the highest point at the Butts of the White Rocks on 

Cumberland Mountain. The coals of this district lie in a good position fo~ mining, 

as they dip toward the main drainage lines, so that they can be worked from 

Forrester, Wallins, and Ewing creeks. The Southern Railway has surveyed a 

line up Cumberland River through this district, which, if it is built, will form 

an outlet for the coal of this region. 

"The page maps have been combined into Pl. XL, in pocket. 
WALLINS CREEK DISTRICT. 145 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

The stratigraphy of the upper part of the section of the rocks in the Wallins 

Creek district is quite clear west of Wallins Creek, though it is not so clear 

east of that stream. The Wallins Creek coal shoW's on Hobbs Branch, on Sang 

Branch, and at the head of Wallins Creek (in upper Puckett district), and at 

these several points has such a constant section that, taken in connection with 

its unusual thickness, there is little doubt as to the correctness of its correlation. 

About 320 feet above it in this district is the .Jesse sandstone, characterized, at 

a number of points where crossed, by small quartz pebbles. The type locality 

of this sandstone is in this district in the ridge at the head of Jesse Creek, 

between Camp Branch of Wallins and FoiTester. About 180 feet higher in the 

. hills occurs the Reynolds :,;andstone, which makes massive cliffs on top of Reynolds Mountain and elsewhere. One hundred and sixty feet below the Wallins 

Creek coal is the Puckett sandstone, which is massive in the eastern part of this 

di&trict and makes prominent cliffs at most points where its horizon was crossed 

·in the basin of Forrester Creek, ,Jesse Creek, and on the west side of Wallin:,; 

Creek. On the east side of Wallins Creek the position of this sandstone was 

not so clearly defined. On account of t9e constancy of the intervals between 

these.sandstones and the Wallins Creek coal and the prominence of the sandstones 

as cliff-making members, little difficulty was found in tracing the. boundarie:,; of 

the CatroiJ. formation through the region west. of Wallins Creek. The lower 

part · of the section in this district does not seem to contain · any horizon 

of thick or workable coal. A careful attempt was made to trace the Cawood 

sandstone· into and through this region. In the region around Harlan immediately 

to the east of thi:,;, this sandstone is very distinct, being underlain by a body of 

shale~') from 150 to 200 feet in thickness and overlain with strata, which are 

predominantly sha1y. Approaching Ewing Creek from the east, however, several 

sandstones make cliffs of about equal importance, so that some doubt was felt as 

to which of these represented the Ca\vood sandstone at Harlan. On account of the 

argillaceous nature of the rocks immediately below the Cawood, it was generally 

considered that the lowest of these cliff-making sandstones was the one being 

traced. According to these correlations, it was thought to be the sandstone which 

outcrops prominently in the bed of Platt Fork of Terrys Fork, whose top is at an 

elevation of approximately 1,320 feet, and on the Cumberland River side along the 

trail from Wallins Creek at an elevation of about 1,420. feet. On Wall ins Creek 

this sandstone was recognized at two or three points on the west side above the 

mouth of Little Branch. Opposite the mouth of Camp Branch on· the cast side of 

the creek there appear to be· two sandstones 60 feet apart, the bottom of the 

lower one, of which a thickness of only about 10 feet was exposed, being 50 feet 

above creek level. This was a laminated sandstone of little prominenee. The 

upper sandstone showed a thickness of at least 30 feet, and a slight tendency to 

make cliffs. The two sandstones are charaeteristically shown in the lower righthand corner of Pl. IV, A. Some doubt existed as to which of these W\\S the 

representative of the Cawood sandstone. As, however, the other exposures of this 

coal farther down Wallins Cree'k had seemed to show only shale up to the bottom of the sandstone, it· was considered that the lower bed of these two was 

.. 
146 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL If!ELD, KENTUCKY. 

the true representative of the Cawood sandstone and that a coal which eame 

between the two sandstones probably occurred at the horizon of the Puckett 

coal, as typically exposed immediately above Hobbs's mill on Puckett Creek. 

A little farther up Wallins on the west side and about opposite Meadow Brand1 

this lower sandstone makes a local cliff and shows a thickness of about 10 or 15 

feet, and is overlain by .a thin layer of concretionary limestone. This 1 irnestonc 

was again recognized overlying about 15 feet of sandstone immedi::ttely opposite 

the mouth of Hobbs Branch and 40 feet above Wallins Creek. Near the hig·hest 

point <,>f the trail from Wallins Creek to Jesse Creek the sandstone, making a 

rather prominent outcrop and showing a decided rise to the west, was thought to 

he the Cawood sandstone. This sandstone occurs again on the west side of ,Jesse 

Creek a:t approximately the same level and makes several prominent cliffs on the 

trail from Jesse Creek to Forrester Creek. On this trail it was thought to be the 

sandstone outcropping on the trail 140 feet above Forrester Creek. From there 

it was traced with less certainty, because more poorly exposed, to Saylor Creek, 

where it appeared to be the sandstone making slight cliffs about 140 feet above 

the mouth of the left-hand. fork of the creek. 

This tracing of the Cawood sandstone has been mainly relied upon in the 

determination of the stratigraphic position of the coals of the lower part of the 

section. A group of sections in this district is presented on Pl. XXII. 

The stratigraphy of the lower part of the section is best seen, perhaps, between 

the .mouth of. Wallins Creek and Ewing Creek, especially on the trail passing up 

Terrys Fork and Platt Fork of Tcrrys, and over to Cumberland. The Naese 

sandstone outcrops at river level just be1ow the mouth of Wall ins Creek. On the 

north side of the river farther up, from 125 to 150 feet of it is exposed. Above 

the month along Wallins Creek opposite the mouth of Tcrrys Fork is a massive 

sandstone. making a small cliff; which was taken to be the Yellow Creek sandstone. Just below the mouth of Platt Fork of Terrys is the Terrys Fork coal, 

one-half cannel and on~-half bituminous, 4 feet thick. From 5 to 30 feet above is 

another coal that is a foot or two in thickness and possibly is equivale~t to the 

4-foot coal (756). Higher on the trail a ledge of massive sandstone was crossed 

at an elevation of 200 feet above the Terrys Fork coal. This ledge is taken to 

be the Cawood sandstone. About 40 feet above it on the .fesse Howard place a 

28-inch coal has been opened. Eighty feet above that and immediately over a thin 

layer of massive sandstone is a coal measurin.g 3 feet or a trifle over. The lastmentioned cual is believed to be equivalent to the thickest coals found in the 

lower part of the section on. Ewing Cr.eek and Wallins Creek. Some question 

was raised as to whether this was not the Harlan coal, which attains such importance 

in the succeeding districts. A careful study of th.c stratigraphy, however, led us 

to place the position of the Harlan coal in this district just above a massive 

cliff-making sandstone that occurs 80 to 100 feet higher. No coal was found at 

this horizon, unless it be the coal on the Sarah Blanton place on Forrester Creek 

(744). Possibly the principal objection to the 3-foot coal just described being the 

equivalent of the Harlan coal is the fact that it is about 100 feet nearer what 

was taken to be the Cawood sandstone than the Harlan coal is in the Harlan 

district and a. corresponding amount farther bt~low the Wallins Creek coal than 

the Harlan coal should lie. The sections given on Pl.. XXII, opposite, may be 

briefly summarized as follows: 
I 

l, 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Jesses Greek 

to top of ridge 

Forrester Creek 

1-"' 

z 

<!) 

J: 

z 

0 

Q: 

~ 

I) "' 

z 

< 

r 

Reynolds Mtn. 

from ForresUr 

zY,' 8Z6 

·· Cawood · .. : sandstone 

c z'-4' 

'c4 

· Yellow Cr. Sandstone 

858 

.. Naese sandstone 

Terrys Fork 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXII 

Ewin~

0 Creek 

· Fox. Knob Little Creek of 

Catron Creek 

COLUMNAR SECTIONS, WALLINS CREEK DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=30(1 feet. 
SECTIONS IN W .A.LLINS CREEK DISTRICT. 147 

Sections in Wallins Creek district. 

FORRESTER CREEK FROM THE MOUNTAIN SUMMITS AT THE HE4D TO THE MOUTH . 

I . ---- No. on I Stratum. Thickness. No. on Str~itum. map. map. Thickness. 

----· 

Ft. in. Ft. in. 

Interval __ ........ ___ ........ 50 0 Interval -------· ... -----.... -- .. -. 20 0 

Sandstone, Reynolds ......... 50 0 Sandstone, Puckett ...... -.... -.. ---.. 30-60 0 

Interval, to where surface is Interval ----------............... ·--- 90 0 

covered with gritty fragments characteristic of Jesse 739 Coal, bloom_ ...... 

sandstone -- .. --.-...... ------ .. 340 0 Interval ----------............ 540 0 

Interval, to spring, probable 732 Coal, bloom, Haria 

position of Wallins Creek Interval .. -.. -- .. -... -- coaL ...................... 230 0 

n (?) ................. . 

------------ 200 0 

Interval ..................... 160 0 729 Coal._ ............ 1 9 

740 Coal, bloom ......... _ ........ -----·----

BRANCH OF FORRESTER CREEK, ENTERING )<'IWM THE WEST BETWEEN WOLF AND LAUREL BRANCHES. 

Interval ..................... 50 0 734 , Coal ..... _ .. __ . _ ...... ___ ..... 1 0 

738 Coal ------------------------ 8 Interval, mostly shale ...... ___ . 100 0 

Shale -.... ---------------.......... 20 0 Sandstone, Puckett .. _ ... _ ..... 80 0 

737 Coal, Wallins Creek ('?) •.•.••• ±3 0 Interval, nearly all shale .. _ .... 70 0 

Interval, thin-bedded, shaly 733 Coal. ...................... __ . 1 0 

sandstone and shale .. _ .. ___ 20 0 Interval ----- 20 0 .. -.... -----------.. - 736 Coal with two partings ........ 3 0 733a Coal ......... __ .......... ___ .. 3 

Shale ................... --- .. 30 0 Interval ·. _ ....... __ ....... ____ 530 0 

735 Coal ------------------------ 1 8 732 Coal, Harlan(?) .......... ---------------- Sandstone _ .. _ ............... 30 0 I 

I 

DIVIDE BETWEEN FORRESTER CREEK AND JESSE CREEK OPPOSITE THE MOUTH OF LAUREL BRANCH. 

Interval. __ ._._._._ .......... 160 0 Interval ---------------------- 190 0 

Sandstone, Puckett .. __ ....... 20 0 729 Coal ....... __ ............. __ .. 2 0 

Interval ..... _., ........ ---- - 570 0 Interval -.. -.... -------... -----... - 30 0 

744 Coal, Harlan(?) ---.-----.--- 3 7 Sandstone, Cawood .... _ ... ___ . 40 0 

FROJ\I TOP OF MOUNTAIN AT HEAD OF JESSE CREEK DOWN JESSE CREEK TO .1\IOUTH. 

Interval. ............... ----- 280 0 Interval ...................... 130 0 

Sandstone, Reynolds ....•.... 40 0 Sandstone, hard coarse, Puckett. 20-60 0 

Interval ............. - ....... 170 0 751 Interval •" • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a 600 0 

Sandstone, finely conglome- Coal bloom, Harlan (?) • ____ • __ ................. 

ratic, Jesse, type locality .. -- 50 0 Interval-----···-------------- 190 0 

Interval _. _ ............. --.-. 80 0 Sandstone, Cawood (?) 30 0 

Coal bloom, thick (?) ........... 753 -.------ ---- .. ----- Interval ................. _ .... 220 0 

Interval ................... -- 200 0 747 Sandstone, Yellow Creek (?) _ .. 

.... ------II -----.... --- 752 Coal, Wallins Creek(?) ------ Coal bloom ---- .. -.-.. ------.. --- ... -.. ------
148 

No. on map. 

CUMBERLAND GAP COAL ]'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

Stratum. 

Section.q in Wallin,y Creek district-Continued. 

ON CAMP BRANCH OF WALLINS CREEK. 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

No. on map. Stratum. 

.. 

Sandstone, Puckett .......... . 20+ 0 Interval : ......... __ ...•...... 

Interval ..................•.. 710 0 Sandstone, Cawood (?) ....... . 

762 Coal ...................... , . 2 5 Shale: .................. , .... . 

Thickness. 

Ft. ·in. 

40 0 

10 0 

80 0 

Interval, possible position of 760 Coal .................................. . Harlan coaL .... , ........•. 60 0 Interval ...................... Interval ................. ~ .. . 130 6 759 Coal, cannel ~ ---. ------------- 761 Coal, .Ewing Creek........... 2 5 Interval ---------------------- Interval . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . 90 0 758 Coal, cannel ---------- . ------. 811a Coal ................................. . Interval ............ , ......... Shale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 0 Sandstone, Yellow Creek ...... 811 Coal .................... , . . . 2 0 

ON HOBBS BRANCH OF WALLINS CREEK. 

I 

810 

Sandstone .. " " __ . " ......... ·I 

Coal ................ ___ ..... , 

8andstone ......... , ........ . 

Shale .................. , .... . 

809 Coal; Smith 11-foot (?) ...... . 

Sandstone, massive, cross- bedded ................... . 

Interval, hidden ............ . 

Shale ...................... . 

808 Coal------------------------

Sandstone, shaly ............ . 

Shale ....................... -

Sandstone, massive .......... . 

Shale ....... : .......... : .... . 

Sandstone, massive .......... . 

Shale ....................... . 

807 Coal, Wall ins Creek ........ .. 

Shale .... , .................. . 

Sandstone, shaly, laminated .. . 

806 Coal ...................... .. 

Shale ..................... ,, .. 

805 Coal ...................... .. 

Clay shale ................•.. 

Sandstone, wassive, puckett(?) 

804 Coal .................. __ .. .. 

Clay ...................... .. 

Sandstone .................. . 

50 0 

3 

10 0 

15 0 

3 0 

35 0 

5 0 

10 0 

6 

6 0 

10' 0 

55 0 

8 0 

12 0 

15 0 

6 6 

50 0 

15 0 

1 6 

15 0 

9 

30 0 

50 0 

1 7 

3. 0 

1 0 

Shale, ........... ,.,, ..... , .. . 

803 Coal ....................... .. 

Sandstone, shaly, laminated ... . 

Shale, sandy ........ , ....... .. 

Sandstone, shaly, thinly laminated.,., ......... , ....... .. 

Shale ....... , ......... , ..... .. 

Interval····'·········--------

Shale, ...................... .. 

Sandstone, cross-bedded and 

laminated ................. . 

Interval .................... .. 

Sandstone, massive ............ . 

Sandstone, thinly laminated .. . 

Sandstone, massive ........... . 

Sandstone, shaly, laminated ... . 

Interval, hidden ............. . 

Shale ........................ . 

802 Coal ................. ; ....... . 

Sandstone, massive ........... . 

Interval, hidden ............. . 

Sandstone, massive .......... .. 

Interval, hidden ............ .. 

Sandstone,. massive ......... ~ .. 

Shale .......... _._ ........... .. 

Sandstone, thinly laminated, 

shaly ...................... . 

Shale ........................ . 

20 0 

2 2 

20 0 

25 0 

30 0 

20 0 

1 0 

3 

10 0 

20 0 

30 0 

40 0 

70 0 

10 0 

15 0 

25 0 

20 0 

30 0 

10 0 

15 0 

15 0 

15 0 

1 6 

40 0 

60 0 

20 0 

25 0 

40 0 

20 0 

20 0 

10 0 
SECTIONS IN W .ALLINS CREEK DISTRICT. 149 

Sections in Wallins Creek district-Continued. 

ON HOBBS BRANCH OF WALLINS CREEK-Continued. 

No. on map. Stratum. Thickness. 

Ft .. in. 

Interval, hidden . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 0 

Sandstone, cross-bedded, mas- si vc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 0 

801 CoaL. ... _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Sandstone . · .. _ ... ____ . . . . . . . . 20 0 

Shale, sandy .... _............ 20 0 

Shale ......... _._............ 10 0 

Sandstone, thinly laminated . . 10 0 

800 Coal.. ........ __ ... _ .. c •••• _. 1 0 

Sandstone, thinly laminated . . 20 0 

Shale ...... --------·--------- 30 0 

Sandstone, massive to _laminated, partly hidden. __ ..... 40 

Shale, light drab, position of 

Harlan coal(?)·---·-----·· 20 

Sandst~ne, massive, cross-bedded ......... _ .......... __ . 40 

0 

0 

0 

No. on map. Stratum. Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

Shale......................... 5 0 

Interval,hidden_______________ 10 0 

Sandstone _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 0 

Shale, with lenses of limestone. . 20 0 

Interval .... _ .. _.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 0 

799 Coal,Ewing Creek............. 2 5 

Interval, sandstone mostly. . . . . 25 0 

797 CoaL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8+ 

Interval, some sandstone....... 60 0 

796 CoaL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . 1 0 

Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 0 

Shale ........ -.... -- ..•. -.--.-

Sandstone, Cawood ... __ ... _ .•. 

Shale, sandy_ ..•••.•.. _._ .... . 

Interval to mouth of branch ... _ 

12 0 

10 0 

30 0 

65 0 

ON TERRYS FORK OF WALLINS CREEK. 

Interval, mostly sandstone.... 70 0 

Interval, hidden ... -....... __ . 40 0 

sa'ndstone --.---- - ---.- -- ... - 40 0 

Interval, mainly sandstone._.. 50 0 

Interval, containing some sof_t 

brown sandstone. . . . . . . . . . . 120 0 

Sandstone, massive .. _ ....... . 

Interval .. _ .. _ ........... ___ . 

Sandstone, shaly, thinly laminated ........ _ . - - -... -.... -

Interval, hidden ........ __ ... . 

Shale, sandy._ .... _ .......... . 

825 CoaL ............. ·. _. __ ..... . 

Sandstone, shaly, irregularly 

40 0 

10 0 

so b 

10 0 

15 0 

10+ 

bedded .. _ ....... _ ..... ___ . 20 0 

824 Coal.. ___ .................... 1 6+ 

Sandstone, massive........... 50 0 

823 Coal........................ 6 

·Shale, black . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Clay shale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . 50 · 0 

Sandstone, cross-bedded._.... 40 0 

Shale, bituminous, black...... 8 

822 Coal ............... _ ........ . 2 

821 

Sandstone, thinly laminated . . . 35 0 

Interval, some thinly laminated sandstone................ 25 0 

Sandstone, massive...... _.... 60 0 

Sandstone, shaly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:0 0 

Interval, position of Wallins 

Creek coal(?) .............. . 

Sandstone, hard, making a 

rockhouse ....•............. 

Clay shale ................... . 

Interval, hidden ............. . 

Sandstone ................... . 

Coal ---------. _____ .... _ .... . 

10 

5 

15 

40 

10 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

8 

Sandstone, thinly laminated. . . 20 0 

Interval, hidden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 0 

Sandstone, massive............ 10 0 

Interval...................... 10 0 

Sandstone .........•........ c. 5 0 

Shale......................... 5 0 

Interval ............... , ...... 10 0 

820 Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 

Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 0 
150 CUMBI<;RLAND GAP COAL FIF.LD, KENTUCKY. 

Sections 1:n Wallins Oreek .tistrict-Continuerl. 

ON TERRYS FORK OF WALLINS CREEK-Continued. 

I 

No.on . I No.on 

_m_al'-_ _____ st-ra_t_um_. ----I Tlnckne"'.l map. Stmtum. Thickues:-5. 

Ft. tn. 

Sandstone, thinly laminated, shaly _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 0 

Sandstone, gray, hard, flinty._ 1 6 

Sandstone, thinly laminated _ _ 5 0 

Shale, drab__________________ 8 0 

Sandstone, shaly _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 8 0 

819 Coal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 7 + 

Sandstone, thinly laminated, 

to fissile shale_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 70 0 

Interval, hidden._______ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 0 

Sandstone, thinly laminated __ 

Interval, hidden ____________ _ 

Sandstone, massive, cross- bedded ___________________ _ 

Interval, a Fi-foot coal reported 

to be at this horizon could 

not be found ____ . _________ _ 

Interval, position of Harlan 

10 

20 

20 

40 

0 

o I 

0 

0 

coaL ______________________ 480 0 

Ft. 'in. 

Sandstone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5 0 

Shale _________ - ______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 0 

Interval _ .. __ . ____________ . _ _ _ 100 0 

Sandstone _____________ - _ _ _ _ _ _ 40 0 

818 Coal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 0 

817 

814 

IntervaL ____ .________________ 50 0 

Sandstone, massive to thinly 

laminated, Cawood(?)------- 15 0 

Shale, drab ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 0 

Interval _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 130 0 

Coal ------------------------ _ Interval _____________________ _ 

Coal, TerrysFork, type locality __ 

Interval _____________________ _ 

Sandstone, Yell ow Creek (?) __ _ 

30 

4 

5 

30 

4-t0 

0 

0 

0 

ON RIDGE BETWEEN EWING AND WALLINS CltEEKS ON EWING CREEK SIDE. 

Interval __________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 240 0 838 Coal ________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 0 

Sandstone, coarse grained, Interval _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 60 0 

Jesse (?) _________ -,- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 30 0 839 Coal; covered, position of coal 

Interval _____ . ____ ·- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 230 0 onirvingBranch (?)-------- 3 4 

836 - Coal ________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 Interval _. ___ - __________ .. _ _ _ _ 800 0 

Interval ____ . __ . _______ . ___ . _ 15 0 840 Coal, Ewing Creek _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3 3 

837 Coal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 7 

Interval. ____________________ 10 0 

Interval, to mouth of Ewing Creek _____ . __ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 280 0 

----'---------------'--------"-----'-------------------

The section given next to this, on Pl. XXII, was obtained on a trip up Ewing 

Creek to the top of the mountain at Fox Knob, where a number of coal blooms 

occur near the top of the section. The last long section on the same plate was 

obtained on Little Creek of Catron Creek, the top of the section coming at Fox Knob 

and joining the section at the left. The difference in these two sections, particularly in the prominence of certain sandstones, illustrates very well the variability 

of the appearance of the rocks in outcrop and to a certain extent of the actual 

variation in the rocks. As the two sections are drawn, it is probable that the 

correlations are correctly shown. The lower of the two coals shown in this section 

appears to come at the horizon of the Wallins Creek coal, as that coal is exposed 

on Hobbs Branch and Banners Fork of Wallins Creek. The first massive sandstone 

below it then would appear to come at the position of the Slater sandstone rather 
OOALI:> OF WALLINS CREEK DISTRICT. 151 

than at the position of the Puckett sandstone, the latter having run out or become 

inconspicuous. The ~J.pproximatc position of the Harlan coal in the lower part of 

the section is suggested by known elevations of the Harlan coal a miie or two either 

side of this section. 

COALS. 

COAL .IN :MIXGO AND HANCI<J FORMATIONS. 

Under this heading are first considered the coals above the Puckett sandstone. 

On Sang Branch of Wallins Creek, on the border of this district, Mr. David White 

found a 5-foot coal with three partings 100 feet below the Wallins Creek coal. 

He did not stop to examine it in detail. On Irving Branch of Ewing Creek 

at about the position of the Wallins Creek coal there were found two exposures of a 

40-inch coal (833). These were not 30 feet apart horizontally, but one of them was 

30 feet higher than the other. As the coals show the same measurement to an inch, 

it was thought a small fault came between them. No evidence of this fault could be 

found in the rocks outcropping just above. In about the same position on ,Jesse 

Creek a 38-inch solid coal was seen (754). On Little Creek McCreath and d'Invilliers 

report a small coal as follows: 

"Beneath this [Wallins Creek coal] some hundred feet a lower coal showed 5 

inches on top, 2 inches of bone parting, and 24 inches of bottom coal." 

On Terrys Fork at about this elevation there was found a 32-inch coal (821), 

which showed a top bench of 28 inches separated from a bottom bench of 4 inches 

by 4 inches of clay. In some cases it was at first thought that this coal, ranging 

' from 30 to 40 inches, was the representative of the V\r allins Creek coal, especially 

where ~:;een on Terrys Fork, Jesse Creek, and Irving Branch. Fuller consideration 

of the data, however, especially in view of the fact that the Wallins Creek coal 

has been reported to have a thickness of 9 feet on Terrys Fork, and that a 5-foot 

bed has been reported on Sang Branch 100 feet below the Wallins Creek coal, 

have led us to conclude that about 100 feet below the Wallins Creek coal there 

is a workable coal, but it has a thickness so little over the workable thickness 

that its value is questionable. The presence of this coal beneath the thick Wallins 

Creek coal in this district produced a certain resemblance between the manner 

of occurrence of the Smith 11-foot coal and of the 44-inch coal lying below it, 

and was one of the factors rendering doubtful our correlation of the 44-inch coal 

on Puckett Creek with the Wallins Creek coal and of the 11-foot emil with the 

44-inch coal above the Wallins Creek coal on Trace Fork. In this case we have 

been influenced by the apparent relationship of the coals to the prominent cliffmaking sandstones, so that the correlation that has been used is none too certain. 

One or two other coals were found locally above the Puckett sandstone and 

below the Wallins Creek coal. . Of these, one on Ewing Creek (837) gave a total 

thickness of 41 inches, an upper bench of 10 inches, separated by 10 inches of clay 

from a lower bench of 21 inches. Below the Puckett sandstone in this district 

the principal problem was the recognition of the Harlan coal, which is such a 

valuable feature of the districts east and south of this one. Our efforts were not 

successful in finding a coal resembling the Harlan coal in thickness, or in its 

stratigraphic relationship to the rocks above or below it. The position at which 
152 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

we assigned the Harlan coal on 'the basis of the stratigraphy yielded rio coal; 

either we were mistaken in the horizon which we correlated as Harlan, or the 

Harlan coal had run out in this district, or it exists and has not been exposed. 

On Forrester Creek a vein 43 inches thick, including a 2-inch parting 15 inches from 

the bottom (744), seemH to occur at the stratigraphic position of the Harlan coal. 

Again, on Irving Branch of Ewing Creek at the. horizon we assigned as that of 

the Harlan coal, a 7-foot coal was reported as having formerly been exposed, but 

is hidden now. In the districts east and south of this one a thick coal, ~hough 

usually broken up with partings, called the Kellioka coal, lies about 250 feet above 

the Harlan coal. Coals were seen at two or three points in this district which were 

thought to possibly come at the horizon of the Kellioka coal. On Sang Branch of 

Wallins Creek just at the edge of the area (764) from 34 to 36 inches of coal were 

seen in a natural exposure. The top was not exposed, and it was reported that 

the total thickness of the coal here is 51 inches. On the D. F. Noe place, on a 

small branch entering Wallins Creek about one-fourth of a mile above the 

mouth of Banners Fork, Messrs. McCreath and d'lnvilliers report a coal 400 feet 

above the creek that shows a total thickness of 4 feet 9 inches. However, the 

thickest bench, the bottom one, is only 2 feet 5 inches thick. Above it is 4 

inches of shale, then 13 inches of coal and shale in l-inch bands with an 11-inch 

bench of coal at the top. A short distance aqove the horizon which was 

considered that of the Harlan coal, thin coals were found at several places. On 

the right-hand fork of Wallins Creek this coal showed a top bench 24 inches thick, 

then 14 inches of clay, then 2 lower benches, 2 ir.ches and 3 inches thick, separated 

by 3 inches of clay. The roof here is sandstone (787). On Banners Fork, at 

what was thought to be the same horizon, the coal showed two 13-inch benches 

separated by 8 inches of clay (794). On Camp B~anch of Wallins Creek the 

coal at the same horizon shows a 14-inch bench at the top, then a parting of 

3t inches including a l-inch band of coal one-half inch from the bottom, then 

a bottom bench of coal 14 inches thick (762). At an elevation of about 150 feet 

above the top of what was correlated in this region as the Cawood sandstone 

occurs a coal that in some locations is of a workable thickri"ess. It is typically 

shown in the trail leading from Wallins Creek up Platt Fork of Terrys Fork 

and over to the Cumberland River. It iH plainly exposed in the trail immediately 

above a thin bed of massive sandstone and is overlain by a thick bed of shale. 

At an· entry a little to the west it measured 36 inches without partings (827). 

On Hobbs Branch of Wallins Creek what was thought to be the same coal has 

been opened on the James Brunnett place. The main bench gave a thickness of 

29 inches of coal. Sixteen inches above that came a 3-inch bench of coal (799). 

On Irving Branch of Ewing Creek (833) apparently the same coal has been opened 

and shows a thickness of 3 feet 4 inches. As on Platt Fork of Terrys Fork 

(827), it immediately overlies a thin to massive sandstone and immediately underlies a considerable thickness of shales. On the main branch of Ewing Creek 

some distance above the mouth of Irving Branch the same coal has been opened 

and shows a thickness of 3 feet 3 inches (840). This. coal was correlated with 

the cannel coal opened upon the Thomas Noe place, a short distance up Banners 

Fork of Wallins Creek on the north bank (791). The coal, however, shows a 

total thickness of only 13 inches of good eoal, two benehes-the upper 10 inches, 
U. S. GEOLOGiCAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 Pl. XXIII 

~· --· ~--·---.....,----------·----

SMITH 11-FOOT 

COAL. 

809. 837. 

Hobbs. Bran<'h of Ewing Creek. 

Walllms Creek. ; 10" 

10" 

36" 

21" 

10" + 31" =36" =41" 

821. 

Terrys Fork of Little Creek. 

Walll"" C:~ ·~:~~si'~:.)~~~;; 

4" 24:" 4" 

(" + 32" ~36" 2, + 21), 

744. 

Forrester Creek. Sarah Blanton. 

1

26" 

2" 

11)" 

2" + 41" =43' 

au. 

=31" 

799. 

Hobbs Branch of Wallins Creek. J as. Brunnett. 

16" + 32" =48'' 

818. 

\VAJ,J,TNS CREEK COAL. 

807. 

Little Creek of Catron Creek. (H.ept. hy ~lcC. Terrys Wallins Fork of Creek. (Rept. by McC. 

Standingup 

Fork ot: Hobbs Branch of 'VallinsCreek. 

Chapple Brun- nndd'I.) 

764. 

Sang Branch of Wallins Creek. 

, ... 

=36"+ 

827. 

and d'L) 

Wallins Creek, D. F. I'\oc place. (He pt. hy McC. andd'I.) 

Coal 

and 

tshale. 13'' 

4" 

17" 

nett. 

832. /840. 

Platt Fork of Irving Branch of Ewing Creek. Terrys Fork. Ewing~reek. I 

I I 39'' 

!O" 

36" 

=40" ' =39" 

936" 

728. 

Forrester Creek. 

27" + 1)8" =85" 

787. 

Eight Fork of Wallins Creek. 

791. 

Banners Fork of WalUns Creek. Thos. Noe. 

-

10'' 

can. 

5~" 3" 

_ can. 

57:)" + 13·'. =18.!4" 

826. 763. 796. 791a; 793, 

754. 833, 

Jeslse creek. IrF,l_,!jlf,:c"r~~~-of 

38" I 40" 

=38" ""'4,0" 

794. 762. 

Banners Fork. Camp Rratl('h of 

= 

Wallins Creek. 

13" 1

. 8" 14" 

2", . 1" 

13" N 14" 

g,+26" --- =34" 272''' + ~9" 

761. 

~~ifi~:C':-~~~f 

7" . 

0-1" 4" I can. 

17" 

1" + 28" =29" 

789. 

=31%" 

Wallins Creek, D. F. N oe place. 

(Rept. by McC. andd'I.) 

-

27" 

. can. 

3)-6" 

6%" - - 376" + 33X" =37" 

Wallins Creek. Terrys Fork. Terry~ Fork. Sang Branch of Green Bailey• . Jessie Howard. Wallins Creek. 

Hobbs Branch of Wallins Creek. 

Banners Fork of Wallins Creek. Right FOlk of 

I

G" ; lN" Wall!ins Creek. 

Wallins Creek, D. F. Noe place. 

(Rept. by McC. 

~::::: 8" 

=24" '1:: . t· :1~: =23" 

759. 816, 

Walllins Creek. Tefi.6!!~: .. 

6" 

can. 

. 23" 

-=26" 

14." 

- -

23" + 21}:1" 

=H.!i" 

758. 

Wallins Creek. 

=25' 

16" 

2" 6" 

2" + 12" =14". 

813. 

Terrys Fork. Adrian Howard. (Type locality.) 

2" 15" 8" H" 

2" 6" 

15" , 14" - . ~" 

- 1 6" + 24" (" + 29" 9" =30" =33'' - . - lli" + 30% =:ll)~" 

TERRYS FORK CoAL. 

812, 

Wallins Creek. l'Jirs. L. Howard. 

14" + 

=68': 

829. 

Cum her land River (opposite mouth of Watt Creek). 

COAL SECTIONS, WALLINS CREEK DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=5 feet. 

andd'I.) 

756. 

Cumberland 

River (below ~ mout.hOfWallins Creek). 
• 

COALS OF WALL INS CREEK DISTinCT. 153 

the iower 3 inches-separated by 5t inches of bone. On Camp Branch of Wallins 

Creek (762) a coal thought to he at this horizon showed a total of 29 inches, 

including 4 inches of cannel coming 17 inches from the bottom and 1 inch of 

bone 7 inches :from the top. On the D. F. Noe place on Wallins Creek Mesl;rs. 

McCreath and d'lnvilliers report a cannel coal as occurring 275 :feet vertically · 

below the coal reported on this place just above. This shows 27t inches of 

cannel separated by 3t inches of clay shale :from a bo~tom bench 6t inches thick. 

All the coal was reported as shaly and probably not o:f a commercial quality. 

Close above the sandstone that was thought to be the equivalent of the Cawood 

sandstone occurs a small coal \vhich was found at a large number of points 

through this district. Sections of this coal (or o:f these coals, :for it is quite 

possible that there are two or thi·ee thin coals occurring at about the same 

horizon, as was clearly demonstrated in the districts to the southeast of this) are 

shown on Pl. XXIIJ. 

The typical•locality of this lower coal may be taken as just below the type locality 

for the thicker coal above-that is, near the trajl from Terrys Fork over to 

Cumberland (826). It is 80 feet below the upper and thicker·coal, and at that point 

60 feet above the cliff made by the Cawood sandstone. When visited in 1902, it 

showed a thickness of 28 inches. McCreath and d'lnvilliers report this coal as 

showing a thickness o:f 33 inches. On Terrys Fork what, was thought to be the 

same coal was exposed on the Green Bailey Howard place (818). It there shows a 

thickness of 23 inches, with a thin parting 5 inches from the top. It is immediately 

overlain by 11 massive saU:dstone and separated :from the massive sandstone below by 

4 inches o:f shale. On Wallins Creek (811) this coal shows in the bluff opposite the 

mouth o:f Camp Branch, where it has a total thickness of 24 inches, of which the 

upper 7 inches is a cannel coal; then come 2 inches o:f bituminous coal, with 8 inches 

of bituminous coal below. Traces of this coal were :found in places farther up 

Wallins Creek and a short distance up Hobbs Branch, where, better exposed, it 

showed a thickness o:f 14 inches, including a 2-inch parting in the center. Up Sang 

Branch o:f Wallins Creek, at the northern edge of this district, it gave a total of 27 

inches, including 3 inches of shale 10 inches from the top (763). What was thought to 

be the same coal was exposed at two points on the south side of Banners Fork of Wallins Creek, showing (791a) a total o:f 33 incli:cs, including 2 inches o:f shale 6 inches from 

thetop, and 2 inches o:f bone coal 8 inches below that. At the other opening (793) 

the upper bench is here 7t inches thick, the parting 14 inches thick, and the middle 

bench 14 inches. The bone coal is here reduced to 1 inch and the lower bench to 9 

inches. On the right-hand fork of ~Wallins Creek, a short distance above the mouth 

of Banners Fork, McCreath arid d'Jnvilliers 11eport this coal on the D. F. Noe place 

as showing a top bench 9 inches thick and bottom beneh 24 inches thick, with 26 

inches of clay between. This section resembles the last considerably. It is at this 

point 60 feet above the creek bed. A little farther up Wallins Creek, on the east 

side, apparently the same coal shows a top bench 15 inches thick, a pat;ting 6 inches 

thick, and a bottom bench 9 inches thick (789). Below the Cawood sandstone, above 

a cliff -making sandstone correlated wi:th · the Yell ow Creek sandstone farther west, 

occurs a cannel coal; or a cannel and bituminous eoal that !n places is o:f workable 

thickness; 25 to 30 :feet above it is another cannel coal, that in some places is barely of 

workable thickness. The lower of these coals has been called the Terrys Fork coal, 

41--Jifo.49--06----12 
• 

154 CU11fBERLAND· GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

and the type loealityis on the Adrian Howard place, just below the mouth of Platt 

. Fork of Terrys Fork (813). quite a numhe.r of openings have been made upon the 

coal between. the mouth of Platt Fork and the mouth of Terrys Fork. Where it 

is being mined the coal showed a total thickness of 4 feet, of which the tipper bench 

was cannel and the lower:bituminous coal. Around the divide between Terrvs Fork 

and Wallins Creek, on the Wall ins Creek side, on Mrs. L. Howard's place: apparently the same coal has been opened, showing a total thickness of coal of 54 inche,.,. 

It is in two benclw :, as before, the upper bench, 30 inches thick, being bituminous, 

but at this point (812) the two benches are separated by 14 inches of clay and shale. 

Appttrently the same coal is again found on 'the ·Cumberland l{iver about 30 feet 

above low-water level, showing a bottom bench 30 inches thick and a top bench 24 

inches thick, though in this case the top hcnch·is muc.h mo1·c shaly than at the type 

locality, and a large shat~e of it would be dassed as bituminous shale rather than as 

a cannel coal. A little farther up Wall ins Creek, above Mrs. Howard's, this coal 

has been opened or faced at several points, showing in most of t~csc cases about 

2 feet of coal (758). It is very close to and finally passes under water. level. 

Below the mouth of Wallins Creek on the trail passing over the end of the ridge 

to Jesse. Creek, the coal has been opened, showing 32 inches of bony coal in the 

upper bench and 18 inches of bituminous coal in the lower bench (756). This 

last exposure of the, coal is so far above the lower creek sandstone, as correlated, 

that it can only doubtfully be referred to the same horizon as the coal on 

Terrys Fork. On Terrys Fork another coal a short distance above the 4-foot 

coal shows at several points and at (816) yielded two benches-the lower 14 inches, 

the upper 7t inches-separated by 23 inches of shale. On Wallins Creek a 26-ineh 

cannel coal shows about 20 feet above the Tel'l'ys Fork coal. The roof of the 

lower of. these two coals is usually a shale, hut in many places a sandstone. 

The ·sandstone is very irregular· in some eases, sometimes lying immediately upon 

the coal with a massive thicki1ess of 5 or 6 feet, while a few yards away it has 

entirely feathered out and only shale shows above the coal. The following analyses of. the , Terrys Fork coal show the qnality of the seam a~> a whole, and of 

the cannel and bituminous parts separately: 

Analyse8 of Terrys Fork CO(tl. 

Con!o:itituent. A. B. c. D. E. 

Per cent. 

I Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

:\'Ioisture . --.-.... -.- .. ------.-.. -- ...... -.. -.. -.... 1. 120 I 0.90 0. 796 0. 90 1. 252 

Volatile hydrocarbons ... __ ._. ___ .. _ .. _ .•.. _. 37.390 i 30. 10 33.364 34. :{0 37.583 

Fixed carbons ------------------------------ 47,7_74 42.40 35.872 62.50 57.499 

Ash .... _ ............... _. ___ . _. _ .... _ .. __ .. 12.800 26.60 29.345 2.30 2.270 

Sulphur ... ·--.·--.... ·.- .. __ .... -... --. ___ .. . 916 .084 . 683 .577 1. 396 

A. Whole seam; sample taken in 1902. 

B. Upper or cannel bench; analysis by Peter, sample obtained by R. C. ll. Thruston. 

C. Same bench; analysis by McCreath, sample collected by McCreath and d'Invilliers. · 

D. Lower bench of bituminous; analysis by Peter, sample obtained by R. C. B. Thruston in 1!:>87. 

E. Same bench; analysis by McCreath, sample obtained by McCre11th and d'Invilliers. 
COALS Olf W ALLlNS CREEK DISTRICT. 155 

The coke obtained in the 1902 sample was reported a;; good. 

These analyses show the bottom bituminous bench to be of good quality, with 

a low percentage of ash and a high percentage of fixed carbon. ,The cannel-coal 

bench, however, shows from 26 to 29 per Gent of .ash and does not show as high 

a percentage of volatile hydrocarbons as a good cannel coal should. As a cannel 

coal alone, the upper bench can hardly be considered as of value, and the large 

percentage of ash carried by it renders the value of the seam a;; a whole very. 

small. .For local u;;e, or in places where the large percentage of ash will not be 

deterrent, it may be profitably mined. From the data ftt hand it would hardly 

seem probable that there is a large enough, body of it of suffident thickness and 

quality to pay for working commercially. Future explorations may bring to light 

a bett'er quality of cannel and result in yielding some workable coal. 

OOAL IN CATRON FORJ\IATJON. 

The Hobbs Branch ;;ection previously given shows four coals ii_t this foi·mation. ' 

two of which are. workable. The upper (809) is 3 feet thick and. is supposed to 

be equivalent to the Smith 11-foot coal .of Puckett Creek .. Near the top of the 

formation on .Jesse Creek is a heavy coal bloom that may give the position of 

the same coal. Other coals in the upper part of thil-l formation were . thin 

wherever found, so that it is hardly safe to predict the workability of the upper 

of the workable coals. On Sang· Branch of Wallins Creek (764), just beyond this 

district, what has been taken to be this coal is 44 inches thick, so it seems probable 

that some workable coal occurs at this hori7,on in this district. 

WALLINS CHEEK COAL. 

The type locality of thi;; coal is at the head of Wallins Creek in the Upper 

Puckett district. A detailed section of this coal on Hobbs Branch. is almo;;t 

identical with that at the type locality, so that it may be taken a;; the type for 

this district (807), It was faced up on Chapple Brunnett place in Standingup 

Fork of Hobbs (807). It shows a top bend1, 6 feet 6 inches of solid coal, then 

6 inches of light-brown to gray clay, with 1 foot of coal· below. Over the coal 

is 15 feet of drab shale with 20 to 30 feet of laminated sandstone making a 

bluff above that. Under the bottom bench is 6 inches of soft, lig·ht, sandy elay. 

Below that is 4 feet of drab-clay shale with 25+ feet of sandy shale to shaly 

sandstone still lower. At another facing made across the ravine the upper bench 

was 2 inches thicker and the clay parting also 2 inches thicker, while the bottom 

bench was 3 inches thicker. The analysis quoted below was from this last section, including only the 80-inch bench of coal. Messrs. McCreath and d'luvillicrs 

state, on the authority of Mr. Thruston, that this coal occurs on Little Branch of 

Catron, 1,150 feet above the stream bed, in a section very similar to the ones 

measured by u;; on Hobbs Branch. They reported the top bench of coal to be 6 

feet 9 inches thick. The fire-elay parting is 7 inches and the bottom coal 15 inches 

thick. They also report the same coal with a very similar though slightly thicker 

section on tl~e L. Howard place on Tenys Fork. In this section the top beneh 

show;; a thickness of 7 feet 2 inches; fire-clay parting, 8 inches; coal, 1 foot 2 inches;. 
156 CU.MBERL.AND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

total, 9 feet. The roof is of shale. A small 2-inch partmg of splinty coal occurs 

about 6 inches above the fire clay, but its presence seems to have added but little 

if a,ny to the percentage of ash as shown in the analyses of the coal from this place. 

Analyses of this coal and two samples of its coke were obtained by Mr. 

Thruston at the head of Wallins Creek, and, though out of this district, will he 

included here to give a preliminary idea of the value of this coal as a coking 

coal. ' The section reported by him yielded a, top bench 71 inches;· coal and shale, 

15 inches; clay, 7 inches; coal, 5 inches. On Sang Branch again this coal shows 

a very similar section to those already quoted. On Forrester Creek, the coal 

apparently at this horizon gives a total thickness of over 6 feet. It is rather 

badly broken up by partings, so as to he doubtfully workable. It shows ·a top 

beneh of 34 inches, then 19 inches of Clay, 8 inches of coal, 3 inches of bone, 12 

inches of coal, 5 inches of clay, 4 inches of coal. There is a totaJ of less than 5 

feet of coal, and 34 inches is the thickest bench that could he worked. Over the 

' coal is from 0 to 18 inches of shale below sandstone. Judging from the sections 

seen and those quoted on Little and Terrys branches, it would appear that this coal 

should be workable over nearly all of this district within its outcrop and over a 

large share of the district should present' a single workable bench from 6 to 7 

feet thick, not taking into consideration the bottom 12 to 15 inche~> below the 

fire-clay parting. The following analyses will give some idea of its quality, though 

in the case of the sample obtained in 1902 and that obtained by Messrs. McCreath 

and d'Invilliers in 1888 the coal was very much weathered, yielding a high 

percentage of moisture and thereby reducing the percentage of combustible matter. 

The first of thr.se analyses is by McCreath from a sample obtained in 1902 of coal 

on Hobbs Branch; the second analysis is by McCreath from a sample obtained by 

McCreath and d'lnvilliers near the head of Terrys Fork; the third is by Robert 

Peter from a sample by R. C. "B. Thruston of coal from the Milton Hensley 

place near the head of \Yallins Creek. The fourth is of 48-hour coke made from the 

coal procured for the third analysis. The fifth analysis is of 72-hour coke made from 

the same coal; the last hyo analyses are by Peter. 

Ann1yses of J.Vallins Creek coal in Uppe1· Puckett district. 

Constituent. 

lVIoisture ..... _______ . ____ . ________________ . 

Volatile hydrocarbons __________ ... _____ . _. _ . 

Fixed carbon _ ........ __ .......... _________ _ 

Ash ______ . ____ .. __________________________ . 

Sulphur __________ . __ ... ____ ._. ___ ·----- ___ _ 

A. 

Per cent. 

12.674 

29.366 

48.805 

7.630 

. 525 

ll. 

Per cent. 

4.004 

36.176 

53.611 

.. 5. 590 

. 619 

C. 

Per cent. 

2.20 

36. 70 

58.86 

2.24 

. 277 

D. 

Per cent. Per cent.' 

. 60 0.90 

93.10 92.90 

6.30 6.20 

.54? I .368 

This eoal, as shown by the above analyses, is low in sulphur, probat.Jly high in 

ash, and contains on a fresh flxposure probably a good percentage of combustible 

matter. It should therefore make a good steam coal, and from the amiJyses of the. 

cokes given may yield a good coking coal. The sample obtained m 1902 was too 

badly weathered to coke at all. The cokes, of which analyses are given, are 

described as appearing to be good, firm, dense cokes. 
STRUCTURE OF W .ALLIN8 CREEK DISTRICT. 157 

COALS 01<' HIGNITE FORMATION. 

Several coal blooms were seen on the flanks of Fox Knob in this formation. 

Of these, one (847) showed a heavy bloom suggesting the presence of a thick coal. 

The uppermost of these outcrops (844-845) was seen at three places, suggesting a 

persistent and possibly important coal. On the whole, these coals underlie such 

small areas as to be of little importance, even if of workable thickness. 

SUMMARY. 

Summary of coals of Wallins Creek district. 

Number of coal beds found .... ________ ... ___ ......... _. _____ ------------ ______ ------

Total thickness of coals ... _. _ ..................... , ... _ ........ 1 •••••••• __ • _._·.feet._ 

Number of coal beds of workable thickness .. __ .... _ ..... ___ ... _ ........... -.. _. __ ._. 

Average thickness of principal workable coals _ .......... _ .......... _ ........ -.. feet .. 

Greatest thickness of single coal bed measured ... __ ............... _ ... _ .. _. __ ._ .do. __ . 

Greatest thiekness of coal measured in single bed ...... _ ..... _ ............. _._.do_ .. . 

Estimated available tonnage of district ...... __ .... __ .......................... tons .. 

80± 

20-30+ 

6± 

a and 6. 

8 

7! 

50,000,000 

Approximate elevation ... __ .. __ ............ ~ ...... _ ... feet above tide .. 

Thickness: 

Wallins Cr~ I Other coals. _ 

2,500 ~-----··-----

Greatest.. ___ ...................... _ .......... _ ........ _ .... feet. . 9 -----···---· Average .................... ___ ............................ do ... . St -----------· Least.--···----·. ____ ..................... ___ .............. do ... . ~I 'rz ........................ 

A veragc thickness of workable coaL ..... _ ................... _ ... do ... . 6-1- 3+ 

Number of measurements. ____ ._ ........ _ ........................ -... . 4 ------------

Area of seam __ . _ ... _ ............ _ ....... _ ... ___ ............... acres .. 3,000 6,000 

Total coal per acre ........... __ ........... _ ......... , ........... tons .. 13,000 5,000 

Available coal per acre ................... _. _. _ .. _ .............. do ... . 8,000 4,000 

Coal available in district ______ .... __ .... ---·-·--.----- .......... do ... . 24,000,000 24,000,000 

STRUCTURE. 

This basin is crossed. near the center bythe axis of the syncline. It crosses 

Forrester Creek well down toward the mouth approximately near the bench 

mark, 1,185 feet on the map. On Wallins Creek it crosses a short distance below 

the mouth of Camp Branch; on Ewing Creek about at the mouth of Irving Branch. 

On Wallins Creek to the north of the axis there is a sharp dip for a short distance 

showing in the shale and then to the mouth of the creek the roeks are approximately horizontal, though showing some local minor dips of some sharpness. 

To the south of the axis of the syncline the dip keeps the rocks on Wallins 

Creek at just about the same vertical distance above creek level. Above Sang 

Branch the rise appears to be greater than the rise of the creek bed in going 

southward. On Ewing Creek south of the axis the rise appears to be quite sharp. 

The comparison of two sections from the creek to the crest of Wallins Ridge 

indicated, according to barometric readings, a dip to the south rather than in the 
158 CUMBERJ,AND GAP COAL FIRT,D, KENTUCKY. 

opposite direetion. Whether this difference is made up by faults, or whether there 

is an actual twisting· of the rocks between the line of· the creek and the line of 

the crest, or whether it was due to variation in barometric readings, could not 

be determined. · At the mouth of Hobbs Branch the dip is to the east. At the 

. mouth· of Camp Branch the dip is quite strongly to· the west, giving the appearance of an anticline along the valley of \:Vall ins Creek. In general the dips are 

not very marked, with the result that the elevation of any coal or any sandstone 

layer does not vary much between the Cumberland River and the south limits of 

the district, in most eases probably not more than 100 to 300 feet at the outside. 

HARLAN DIS'l'RICT. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

This distriet includes portions of Big Black and Little Black mountains and the 

lower end of Ewings Spur. The mountain~ of· this district are of the same 

general type as in the two districts last described. The coal of this distl'ict can . 

be readily gotten at from Cumberland River or from any of its three forks. The 

coal in Big Rlack Mountain unfortunately dips into the mountain from bqth Poor 

Fork and Clover Fork sides. Were it possible to work this coal in a single 

body, it probably could be entered best from the extreme western end a short 

distance above the mouth of Poor Fork towai·d Harlan. The coal on Little 

Black Mountain can probably best be worked from Clover Fork, toward which 

it dips in the neighborhood of Harlan, though farther eastward there is a dip 

toward the east, making it desirable to attack the coal in that part of the 

mountain from Jones or Yocum creeks. The southern edge of this di,;trict lies 

nearly flat so that there the coals could be reached froiil the tributaries of Martins Fork. The coal in the end of Ewings Spur ·can possibly best be reached 

from Martins Fork more or less nearly opposite Harlan, as on the Cumberland 

. River side it is dipping into the hill. Considering the elevation of the Harlan 

coal, which is the principal coal here, it is possible that it could be reached at 

its lowest point by means of low-level drifts carried in from Ages or English 

creeks or Middleton Braneh farther east. 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

In this region, in contrast with the one last described, the lower portion of 

·the stratigraphic column has ·been mainly depended upon for the correlation of 

the strata in the various portions of the field. The key rock in this case has 

been the Cawood sandstone. The· Cawood sandstone outcrops in a small bluff at 

the top of the point -immediately north of Harlan; from there it can be traced 

up Clover Fork, where it makes very prominent cliffs ·100 feet or more high 

below Kitts Branch and oppot>ite Lick Branch; it passes below stream level above 

Jones Creek. In like manner it can be fairly well traced· around to Poor Fork 

and along the north flank of Big Black Mountain. South from Harlan it is not 

as distinct in this area on Martins Fork as it is below Turtle Creek. It makes 

bluffs on Martins Fork opposite Harlan and at other ·points along both banks of 

the fork; it reaches nearly to creek level· at several points near Farmers and 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

. COLU:UNAR SECTIONS OJ.<' TIU; F.':R:'!fATWNS FROll BRYSON TO 

HANCE, INCLUSIVE. SHO\\'"lNG COALS AND SAN!>:::TONES. 

Poor Fork 

(Compiled) 

A 

B 

F 

G 

Clover Fork 

(Con>pileu) 

.. Lee 

.,-sandstone 

Martins Fork 

and Turtle Creek 

(Compiled) 

0 

1237. 

Kitts· Branch. J. H. Howard. (Rept. by :McC. andd'l.) 

1225. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXIV -~~~-

N 0. 1. "' ALLl;o;S CHEEK COAL. 

1127. 1126. 

Turtle Creek. Taylor Low. 

4:}{'1 + 55" 

=59,%" 

No.2. CREECH CO.\L, 

1195. 1170. 1145a. 

J,i ttlc Lick Branch of Eng~ 

H::~h Creek of Poor l!'ork. 

Jones Creek. '\Vm. Turner. Franks Branch of Farmers Branch Yocum Creek. of Martins Fork. 

O.M.~emp. . 

! 33" 

2!" 

7" =33" 2" 17:;'" 

, .. - ~ 

9'' + :~fi;.4 11 

=38}:! 11 

No.!. KELLIOKA COAL OX CLOVER FORK. No.4:. KELLIOKA COAL 

ON 'TURTJ,E CREEK, 

1160. 

Franl~s Branch of Yocum Creek. J. 1\I. Little. 

1192. 

Jones Creek. "-'m. Turner. 

N 0. 4. KELLIOKA COAT, 0~ POOR FORK. 

1220. 1212. 

Long HollO\\-', 

1194. 

Jones Creek. 

1201. 

Poor Fork. 

Hl'' + 30" =48" 

1235. 

Clover Fork .. Baker and Cor- nett. 

~.I; 2U" + 21" =23)1" 

No. 13. PAXSY COAT •• 

1143. 

Farmers Branch of Martins Fork. 

=16" 

1128. 

Turtle Creek. Frank Bawls. 

1176. 

Qlover Fork (op- posite mouth of Jones Creek). 

I~· =30'' 

COLUMNAR AND COAL SECTIONS, HARLAN DISTRICT. 

Scales: Columnar sections, 1 inch=300 feet; coal sections, 1 inch=5 feet. (For Harlan coal No.9 see Pl. 25 1 p. 160.) 
SECTIONS OF HARLAN DISTRICT. 159 

Eiwchs branches; and reaches creek level at the mouth of Turtle Creek, though 

it keeps above creek level through a large part of the Martins Fork district. 

Just 250 feet above this sandstone occurs the Harlan coal, which has an average 

thickness of from 4 to 5 feet, and has been opened for local use in a large 

number of places. The relation between this coal and the sandstone is shown in 

a series of sections given on PI. XXV. This constant interval has proved 

helpful in making correlations at points where ·the sandstone does not make 

visible cliffs. Above these two horizons, which- it is thought were clearly traced 

all through the diEtrict, there were few things that could certainly be correlated. 

The \V allins Creek coal met with in the last district is here found at only one 

or two places, though a bloom of what was supposed to be this coal, taken in 

connection with the coarse-grained or pebble-yielding sandstone about 300 feet 

above, was thought to indicate the position and limits of the Catron formation. 

Our data, however, upon the upper parts of the stratigraphic column were so 

meager that little reliance can be placed upon the correlations from one point to 

another. The mapping of the lines has been mostly based on the assumption of uniform intervals above the lines of the Harlan coal and Jesse sandstone. In general 

the interval between the Jesse sandstone and the Cawood sandstone in this region 

appears to be somewhat smaller than farther south or in th~ last-described district. 

In Pl. XXIV are-given ,three sections showing only the sandstones and coals; these 

were compiled on several trips. On these sections the change in interval between 

what was supposed to be the Wallins Creek coal and the Harlan coal is apparent. 

On account of the rather high dips of the lower portion of the northern flank of Big 

Black Mountain, some q.uestion is raised as to whether the apparent thinning of 

the strata in that direction may not be due to the fact that the measurements there 

along Pool· Fork are all made across the dipping edges of the strata. However, 

the best section obtained between the Wallins Creek coal, or more strictly a 

bloom supposed to be at the level of that coal and the Harlan coal, was seen on 

English Creek and Little Lick Branch of English Creek in such a position that 

the two outcrops were nearly in the same line of .strike. These sections show that 

the intervals between the principal members and the thicknesses of the coal are 

as follows: 

General section compiled on Poor Fork. 

Ft. in. 

Sandstone; carries some pebbles, possibly corresponding to the higher gritty sandstone found on Fox Knob of Wall ins Creek district .. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 0 

Interval ..... __ . _ ....................... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340 0 

Sandstone, Reynolds......................................................... 50 0 · 

Interval_ .. _ ............................ __ ................................... 130 0 

Sandstone, coarse grained; carries pebbles on English Creek, Jesse .............. , 40 0 

Interval ___ ................ · ......................... -..... -- .................. 180 0 

Coal bloom, Wallins Creek(?) ................... :............................. (?) 

Interval ................................................. --.,.: .............. 210 0 

Sandstone, Slater ·_ .... ~ .................................. ------- c---.-•.... - 50 0 

IntElrval ..... _____ . ____ ............................ -- .... ----------------.. -- 140 0 

Coal. _________________________ - --- - _ - -- -- - --- -- ---- --- - -- - -- -- - - ----- - -- - -- -- 2 2 

Interval, sandstone .................. -..... ---- ---- ------ ------ ------ . ----- - - 50 0 

Coal. __ .. _ . _____________ ... __ .... __ . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 0 

Interval, mostly sandstone ........ -- .. : ...... -- ................. ----... --.-- .• 100 0 
' . 

160 CUM.BERLAND GAP COAL Ji'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

Coal, Kellioka ................. _ ........................ · ..... ___ . _ .. __ ...... . 

Interval ................................................... -·•- ...... ' ........ . CoaL ........................... _ .. _____________ . ________ . _______________ . __ _ 

Interval ...................... -............ _ ................................ . 

CoaL------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interval .. _ ........... _ ~ .. _ ........... _ .................. -....... -.. -... -.... . 

Coal, Harlan. _____ ................................... _________ · ____ -.----·--.-- .. . 

2-6 0 

60 0 

1 6 

70 0 

30 0 

4 0 

Interval .. __ . ___ .................... _ .......... · .... -.-.... -.................. 110 0 

CoaL ..... __ ...........•........ _ .......... -.... -- -... -·- .................... . 

Interval ................ ----------------------------------------------------- 80 o· 

Sandstone, cliff making, Cawood? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 0 

Interval ............... _ .. ___ .................. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i 40 0 

CoaL ..... ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 nterval ......... , .................. • ............ _ ... _ .. __ .. __ ... _ ....... _.... 20 0 

Sandstone, cliff making ......... _ ...•. : ... _._ .. __ .. _.......................... 50 0 

CoaL ............... ---------------------------------------------------------

Interval ............... _ ... _ .... _ ...................... - -............... _. . . . . 90 0 

Sandstone, Yellow Creek .. __ .................. _... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · 50 0 

Coal ............. , ......... ----------------------------·---------------------- Interval to top of massive sandstone ..... _ ... __ .. _____ ... ___ . __ .. _ ....... , .. _._ 40 0 

As the roeks along Poor Fork in· many cases have dips of 30° to 40°, it 

has been found a little difficult to correlate the different sections, so the above 

general section is largely hypothetical. The section from the 26-inch coal to 

the Harlan coal was mainly obtained from Little Lick Bmuch of English Creek, 

except that the Kellioka coal, if exposed· at all in this section, is represented by 

·· a· 2-foot· coal. The exposure there is dean, showing mairily sandstones. 

On Clover Fork no high dips are met with and the section can be compiled 

with much more certainty. The intervals between most of the members and the 

thicknesses of the coals found are as follows: 

Skeleton section of upper members and coals on Clover Fork (compiled). ~·t. in. 

Sandstone, Reynolds ........ -........ _ .. ___ . _ ........... _ ...... ___________ _ 70 0 

Interval .......... -- ....... -............................... _ ... _______ ... . 120 0 

Sandstone, coarse grained, Jesse ...................................... _ .... . 40 0 

Interval, computed ....................................... _ ............. __ . 220 0 

Coal, \Vallins Creek? ................................................... _ .. . 7 0 

interval ...•........................ _ .... _ . __ . __ ... _ ... _ ... _ ............. . 40 0 

Sandstone, Puckett? .... _ ... _ .... _ ... _ ......... , ... _ .... ___ ...... _ .. .. 30 0 

Interval ... __ . _ .......... _. _ .. ___ ... _ .......................... _ . __ . __ . __ _ 110 0 

Sandstone, Slater? .. _ ............ ~ .......... : . .... _ .......... : .. .... _ ..... . 50 0 

Interval •............................................ _ ................... . 200 0 

CoaL ..................................................•..... _ ........... . 2-3 0 

Interval . __ ..................... _ ....... , .............. _. _. _ ...... _ ...... . 200 0 

Coal, Kellioka ............................ ·_ .... _ .. __ . _. ___ ... ____ . _______ _ 2-4 0 

Interval ....... _ ......... _ , .. _ .............. __ . _ .. _ . _ . _ . ___ .............. _ 100 0 

Coal ... _ . _ ....... __ .. _ ·- _ .... _ ......... _ .......... _ .... _ ................. . 1-2 0 

Interval ____ .. _ ... __ .. _ .................... _ ..........•....... -.-- ... -- .. . 50 0 

CoaL.----- ........ __ ..... __ ......... _____ ._ .. ____ . ______________________ _ 0 

Interval __ ........................................ _ ...... - . -- ... -........ . 20 0 

Coal, Harlan ....... __ ............................ _ ... _ .• _ .............. _ .. 4-6 0 

Interval ....................................... _ .... __ ................... . 30 0 

Coal, bloom .... -- .. -- .. -- ... -.. ____ . __ ... __ .... _ .... -...... -.... -... -.... . ······-·-

.. 
U. S. GEOl-OGICAL SURVEY _____________________________ P_ROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 Pl. XXV 

1218. 

10" + J\1'' =:10" 

1181. 

Harris. 

+ 

1166. 

Gabe Branch. M. B. Smith. 

------------------------

:::iouTn RmR Oii' Poon FonK. 

1208. 

Canoe Hollow. 

67-S" + 69"+ =75XJ"+ 

1222. 

T, itt I c L i ('I; 

RraJl('h of En:...:-- Ji:::;h Creek. 

+ 6<" =!14" 

1202. 

=48' 1 

ClJllBEKLAZ\D BHI.OW 

HAHLA~. 

1233. 

Above mouth of 

Ewing Creek. 

=t6" 

1189. 

Turner. 

1188, 

.I. Hutf. 

=.16'' 

1183. 

Gilbert. 

1185. 

Sherman F~trmer. 

NORTH StnE 01+' CLOVER FoRK. SOUTH SIDE OF CLOVER FORK. 

1197. 1198, 1180. 1179. 1171. 117la. 1195. 1193. 

Ages Creek. ,V. l'ti. Sntith. Sam. Middleton. Bailey B1·unch. Wright Kelly. Jones Creek. 

Balls. Grills. 

I·~ =12" 

SOUTH SIDE OF CLOVER FORK. 

1238, 1165. 

Kitts Branch. G. A. S. Kelly. J. B. Boward. (Rept. by McC. andd'l.) 

1' 

1" + 51" =52" 

19" + li6" =sr,, 

2)4" + 487!)" =!ll" 

1164. 

Baker and Cor- nett. 

{)'' + 62" =68" 

1162. 

Green Jones. 

127:}" + 60" 

-SlY," 

9.!1"" + 13}:1" -53" 

EAST SIDE OF MARTIXS FORK. 

1160. 

Skidmore. 

1142. 1139. 

Farmers Branch. Osburn Branch. W. C. Farmer. D. S. Farmer. 

+ 16"! =8W'1 

=53"+ 

COLVl\L"iAR SECTIOXS (SF.I.ECTED) 1 SHQ'\VIXG RELATIOX Ol•' llARLAX CUAL TO CAWOOD S.\XDSTOXE. 

HBrlan coal 

Turtle 

Ma.rtins Fork1 Creek 

Skidr:'ores 

SECTIONS OF HARLAN COAL AND COLUMNAR SECTIONS, HARLAN DISTRICT. 

Scales: Columnar sections, 1 inch=300 feet; coal sections, 1 inch=S feet. 

TURTLE CREk;K. 

1133. 

Steven Osburn. 

I i" 

·.pa~~~ 18" 

(rep.) 
SECTIONS OF HARLAN DISTRICT. 161 

Interval. ___ ...... __ · __ . __ ... ------.-----.--------- ........ ___ ------------.- 110 0 

CoaL ........... __ ..................................................... ~ .. 1 0 

Interval .... _ .. _ ......................................................... . 40 0 

Coal ..... ---------------------------------------·------------------------- 1 7 

Interval . _ .......... _ ........ _ .................... _ .. ___ ... __ .. __ : _ .. ____ _ 10 0 

CoaL ________ ... _________ .. ___________________ .. ____ .... __ .. ____ .. _____ .. _ 2 6 

Interval ................................................................. . 60 0 

Sandstone, Cawood ..... ~ •.................. : ............................. . 20-100 0 

Interval, shale ................... : ........... : ................... _•_ ...... . 240 0 

Sandstone in bed of Clover Fork at Harlan ........................ _ ... _ ... _ ---------

The following detailed section will give a better idea of the rocks immediately 

above and below the Harlan coal. It was obtained in the Bakers Branch of Clover 

Fork just southeast of Harlan: 

No. on map. Stratum. 

Sandstone, massive .......... . 

Interval, hidden ............ . 

Clay shale to sandy shale .... . 

Shale, black ................ . 

1235 r~~:)~,-~~~~--:::::::: :::::::::: 

_Coal .... --------------·-----

Fire clay,hard, drab, and inter- vaL ______________________ _ 

Sandstone, massive, cross- bedded ............ _ .... _ .. 

Interval, hidden ..... _ ...... _ 

Sandstone, shaly, thinly laminated ............ _ ....... . 

I 

Clay shale .. _ .......... ____ . _ 

Sandstone, massive .......... . 

Section in Baker Branch. 

ThickneSR. No. on Stratum. map. 

Ft. in. 

20+ 0 Shale, drab ........ __ .... _ ... 

10 0 1236 Coal _________________________ 

25 0 Fire clay, drab .. ___ ......... _. 

1 0 Sandstone ...... _ .. _ . _ . ____ . __ 

1 8 Shale ........ _ .......... _ .... 

21 Sandstone, massive, · cross1 · bedded _ ... __ . __ .. _________ 

Shale, drab ------------------ 10 0 1164 Coal, Harlan .. _ .. ____ ... __ . __ 

Interval, hidden ............ _ . 40 0 Sandstone, massive, cross- 8 0 bedded -------------------- Interval, hidden_. __ . ______ .. _ 

15 0 Sandstone, brown, massive ... _ 

10 0 Sai1dstone, thinly laminated_ .. 

7 0 Clay shale ...... __ ... _ . _ . __ . __ 

Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

5 0 

11 

1 0 

2 0 

3 0 

45 0 

10 0 

5 8 

5 0 

30 0 

10 0 

5 0. 

30 0 

5 0 

The section farther up Clover Fork, about opposite the mouth of Jones Creek, 

will give details from about the bottom of the last section for a short distance below. 

Section on Clover Fork opposite .Jones Creek. 

No. on map. Stmtum. 

Sandstone, uiassi ve .......... . 

Shale .. ____ ,--------- __ ..... : 

Sandstone, massive .... _ ..... . 

Clay shale, drab .. __ ... _ .... __ 

Coal ....................... .. 

Interval, hidden ........ ___ .. _ 

---------

Thickness. No. on map. 

Ft. in. 

40 0 

so 0 1176 

4 0 

6 0 

1 7 

4 0 

Striit.um. Thickness. 

Ft. in. 

Clay shale, light drab ...... __ . 6 0 

Coal --------------:..---------. 2 6 

Clay, light drab ............... 3 0. 

Sandstone, brown, massive ·-·- 10-j- 0 

Interval to bottoms on Clover 

Fork. -------------------·-- 25 0 

------------------
162 CUMRRRLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The :;cction from the Ca,vood sandstone down is well exposed m the point 

of the nose just north of Harlan. At that poir{t it is aq follows: 

Section north r~f Tiarlan. 

Ft. in. 

Sandstone, yellow nutHHi ve, Cawood ... __ . _ . _ ................................. . 50 0 

Shale, soft brown, running into sandstone to wart! the top ..................... . 150 0 

Shale, <lrab ............................. -.- ........ _ ..................... ~---- 40 0 

Shale, black with tpin plates of <~oal. ....... · ................................... . ::! 

Coal----------------------------------------------------,------------------- 4 

Clay, drab .................... __ .... · ........................................ . 4 0 

Shale, blue, to Harlan road .......................... , ...... : ................ . :3 0 

The top of the sandstone supposed to be the Yell ow Creek sandstone shows 

about 30 feet lower down. The compiled section of ::VIartins Fork, Turtle Creek, 

' and other hranches is as follows: 

Skeleton sect-ion on 1lfartins Fork and Turtle Creek ( conwiled). Ft. il!. 

Sandstone, ReynoldH ........ ______ .... ______ •. _ .. ____ ... _ .. ___________ .. ____ . 20+ 0 

Interval. .............................. __ ............................ _ ..... ·_ 130 0 Sand~tone, Jesse ............ ___ ....... ______ . _ ... _________________ .. ___ .... __ 30 0 

Interval ............ __ ................. _ ... __ .............. ___ ....... __ .... . 280 0 

Coal,. ·wallins Creek .......... _ ............... _ ... _______ ... ____ ............ , _ 5 0 

Interval. ................................. ___ ...... __ ..... ~ ...... , ............. . 420 0 

Coal, Creech(?) ................................................ : ........... . 2 9 

Interval .......................... __ ........................................ _ ... · .. · .. 200 0 

Coal, Kellioka ....................... : ....................................... __ . 2-3 0 

Interval. ...... _ .......... _ .................................................... . 2.'l0 0 

Coal, Harlan_._.: ... ~ ...... : .......... _ ... ' ..................................... . 4-7 0 

Interval. ............................... _ .................... _ ................ . 20 0 

Coal ................ : ..... ...... _ ....................................... __ _ 1 6 

Interval._ .......... _ ......... ___ ......... _ ......... _ ... __ ............. _._. __ _ 140 0 

Coal ..................... · ..... _ ........................................... . 0 

Inten·al. _ .......... · ................... ___ . _. _. _ .... ___ .. __ .. _ ..... _,. _. _. _. 100 0 

Coal. .. · __ ....... _. _. _ ........ ______________ ... ___ . ________________________ _ 1-2 0 

Sandstone, Cawood .................................................. _. _ ... . 90 0 

COALS. 

On account of the· excellent chamder, good thicknes;;, and low position in 

the mountains of the Harlan coal there has been little incentive in thi;.; and the 

M!trtins Fork and Upper Puck~tt (iistricts to explore for the higher coais. All 

of the present possible needs can he met from the Harlan coal, . which usually 

occurs low enough in the hill to enable it to be readily hauled out. As a 

consequence very few f;lcings have been made on the hig·her coals, and unfortunately f.ew places were found in . this district where the higher coals were 

naturally exposed in the stream beds, so that our knowledge of these coals is 

ve1:y fragmentary and· may or may not ·give an idea as to. the actual coal content 

of the mountains. From the economic standpoint there arc ·four coals, or 

·possibly' a fifth, which are or may prove workable-the Wall ins Creek coal, 

well up in the mountain top; a coal which ·may be the representative of the 

Creech coal of .Jackson Mountain, although it is much thinner here; the Kellioka 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXVI 

A. HARLAN COAL AT KELLY MINE, BAILEYS BRANCH OF CLOVER FORK. 

B. HARLAN COAL IN MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 
COALS OF.HARL.AN DISTRICT. 163 

coal, which locally is of good workable thic.kness; and the Harlan coal, which 

alone makes this region one of great promise. Below the Harlan coal were seen 

a few outcrops of coals, which in one or two places were of workable thickness. 

In this and in the Martins Fork and Upper Puckett districts the Harlan coal 

has been traced almost continuously by openings where sections can be measured, 

usually not over 3 o.r 4 miles apart .. 

COAL 01<'. HANCE FORMATION. 

In this district almost no coal of workable thickness was found below the 

Harlan coal. The best exposure was on Clover Fork, nearly opposite the mouth 

of .Jone::; Creek (1"176). The eoal here showed a thickness. of 30 inches, with a 

shale roof. A large uumber of points gave coals of from 1 foot to 18 inches. 

On the whole, the evidence did not bear out the idea that in the presence of the 

Harl~n bed any of the coal below will be worked OI' may be considered as 

workable. 

COALS OF i\liNGO FORMA'l'ION. 

IIAHLAN COAL. 

For a type locality of this coal bed we may take the Cheen .Tones bank, or 

the Baker and Cornett, or the CL A. H. Kelly banks, all of which are just across 

Clover Fork from Harlan and all of which are upon the same seam. At the 

Green Jones bank (1162) there arc several old openings from which the coal has 

been worked for some time. The coal show::; an upper bench of from 3 feet 

10 inches to 4 feet 4 inches. This bench alone is worked. Seven inches lower, 

the parting being ::;hale, is a lower bench which runs from 12 to 14 inches thick. 

Ovci· the coal is 1 inch of shale, then 1 inch of bony coal with shale roof above; 

5 or 6 inches of the roof is draw slate, which docs not always cml.1e down ; 

5 feet above the coal are 12 feet or more of ma::;sive sandstone. The lower 

bench would be taken out in entries.. On the Baker and Cornett place (1Hi4), 

which is but a short distance from the former, the coal shows almost exactly 

the same conditions of thickness and parting. The parting here is soft clay; the 

roof (shale) is 10 feet thick and good. A few inches tend to come down in 

spots. It is said that only an occasional plate of pyrite is met with in the mine. 

The floor is hard. At the G. A. S. Kelly opening (1165) the top bench is 4 

feet 3 inches thick, the day parting has thickened up to 13 inches, and there is 

14 inches of bottom coal. The top 3 i nchcs of coal is dry and splinty; above 

the coal are 6 inches of black shale, and from 1 to 2 inches of· coal, 6 inches of 

black shale, and 4 feet of clay shale to the bottom of a massive sandstone. 

The lower bench here is not mined. The coal is reported very hard, being shot 

on the solid as a rule, it is soiiletimes undercut for a foot or two. Butts run 

S. 40° W. The roof is a soft, spongy shale, which tends to fall on weathering. 

It has generally been believe<:!. in this region that about 100, feet lower is another 

coal 4 feet thick. This belief seems to be. based on the fact that on .the north 

side of Clover Fork the Harlan coal has· no bottom bench~ or else the bottom 

bench is so far separated from the main bench as not to be distinguished, while 

the general dip into Big Black Mountain has carried the coal 100 feet lower. 
164 ' CUMBERI,AND GAP COAL ¥IELD, KENTUCKY. 

The uppermost opening at which this coal was seen was near Kellioka postoffice (1218), in the same nLVinc in which the best section of the Kelliolm coal 

was found. The coal shows a total thickness of 61 inches, with a 7-inch parting 

2 feet from the top, ltnd a 3-inch parting 1 inch from the bottom. The roof is 

shale that is 6 feet or more in thickneRs. In Canoe Hollow of Poor Fork (1208) 

the seam has a total thickness of 6 feet 3t inches and occurs in two benches, 30 

and 39 inches thick, ::-;eparated by 6} inche:,; of clay. This is on the John Sargent 

-

Area known to be underlain by the Harlan coal 

~ Area supposett to be underlain 

~by the Harlan·coal 

Scale 

smiles ~~--~---L--~--~ 

FIG. 13.-1\fap of Harlan coal in Harlan, ll!artins Fork, and Upper Puckett districts. 

place. On the Nolan place (1207 a), a little above the mouth of English Creek 

on Poor Fork, the coal :,;bows a bottom bench of 4+ feet, with 1t inches of 

coal one-fourth inch above, and a thin streak of coal 2! inches above that. For 

a roof there are 8 feet of shale under a sandstone.· On Little Lick Branch of 

English Creek this coal shows a main bench of 4 feet 4 inches, with 1 + feet 

of coal 2 feet 6 inches below (1222). The roof is a sandy shale 8 feet thick and 

is overlain hy sandstone. Some distance lower down Poor Fork (1202) a poorly 

faced opening showerl 4 feet of solid coal. It was reported at this place that 90 
COALS OF HARLAN DISTRICT. 165 

feet above was a H-foot coal, with 8 inches of shale 4 feet from the top. This 

was said to be the Green ,Jones coal. We are inclined to think again that this 

was purely an inference from the supposed relationship of the Harlan coal as 

exposed on the two sides of Clover Fork. It has 20 feet of shale above and 

50 feet of massive sandstone beneath. One opening on this coal was found on 

the nose of Ewing Spur, which extends into this district (1233). The coal here 

showed a thicknees of 46 inches without partings, and has a sandy shale roof. 

It is approximately 430 feet above Cumberland River. On the north side of 

Clover Fork the first opening above Harlan is on the Turner place (1198). The 

coal shows a thiekness of 4 feet without partings; th~o roof is composed of 10 

feet of clay shale overlain by massive sandstone. Below the , coal are from 8 

to 18 incpes of clay and sandstone, indicating that the lower bench on the 

south side of Clover Fork is entirely wanting here. The coal is approximately 

250 feet above the Cawood sandstone; it agrees in this respect with the coal at the 

Green .Tones opening, and at most of the openings seen in this and the two districts 

next described. Several openings made at this point show that the coal dips 

rapidly to the northwest into Big Blaek Mountain. Between the extreme openings 

there is a dip of probably 40 feet, and the northernmost entry had to be abandoned 

on account of the water accumulating at the face. In the next ravine to the east, 

in an opening on the James Huff place (11~8), the coal shows a thickness of 4-6 

inches, including 1 inch of bone and coal 3 inches from the top. There arc here 

only 3 inches of shale between the coal and the massive sandstone roof. On the 

Sherman Farmer place (1185) this seam shows 4 feet of solid coal with shaly sandstone roof. The roof appears to be hard, th,ough from 1 to 6 inches come down. 

in the entry. The floor is drab fire cl~y, appearing to be soft where wet. The 

coal at this point is lowered to the road by a chute having 370 feet vertical fall. 

On the .Jesse Gilbert place (1183) the coal is 4 feet 2 inches thick without partings, 

and is immediately overlain by 25+ feet of massive sandstone. There is about 

50 feet of massive sandstone close beneath ii;. Traces of coal were found about 30 

feet below which suggested the possibility that the lower bench on . the south side 

of Clover Fork might have become separated from the main bench by that distance. 

On the Harris place (1181) 3 feet 4 inches of, coal were seen, the bottom not being 

exposed. There are here 2 feet of clay shale between the coal and the shaly 

massive sandstone above. Two openings have been made on Ages Creek. At 

the Lloyd Ball opening (1197) 42 inches of coal were seen, over 8 inches of fire 

clay, and 15 feet of shale. At the John Grill place, on the left-hand fork (1191:)), 

the seam showed 45 inches of coal over 7 inches of badly weatheted splinty coal; 

3 feet of shale come above the coal, and 8 inches of clay come between the eoal 

and the sandstone floor. At theW. M. Smith place (1180) the coal shows a thickness of 4 feet 3 inches with 2t inches of bone H inches from the top. The roof 

here seems good, being eomposed of 4: feet of shale under a brown sandstone; 3 

inches of it may come down, and the 6 inches above that has a clay streak at the 

top that in places may soften letting that additional 6 inches down. The floor is 

a blue clay and solid. The coal in the mine appears dry, bright, and fine. The 

faces run N. 35° W. On the Sam Middleton place (1179) the bed has a total 

thickness of 4 feet 8 inches, but here shows two partings, a 1-irich parting 14 

41--TSo.49--06----13 
166 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL ~~IELD, KENTUCKY. 

inches from the bottom and a l-inch parting 10 inches higher up. The roof is a 

drab clay shale for at least 6 feet. _On the Wright Kelly place on Bailey Branch 

of Clover Fork (north side of Clover Fork just east of edge of area mapped) 

(1171) the coal has been mined and several sections give a variety of measurements. There is a main parting of 7 to 12 inches at 19 to 21 inches from the 

bottom. This lower bench in some places shows an inch of clay 2 inches from the 

top. The top bench of coal carries two partings and is divided into three more 

or less nearly equal parts. The upper bench in different measurements varied 

from llt inches to 17 inches, the middle bench from 15 inches to 17 inches, and 

the lower part from 9 inches to 14 inches. The partings between these thr.ee 

benches are all quite thin, ranging from one-eighth to one-fourth inch. There is 

6 feet of light-drab shale between the coal and the overlying massive to laminated 

sandstone. The floor is of clay. On the south side of Clover Fork no exposure 

of this coal was seen on Yocum Creek, which empties into Clover .Fork just east 

of the arert mapped. On .Jones Creek one opening (1195) on this coal showed a 

total of 53 inches of coal, including one-half inch of shale at the top, the coal 

being in two main benches separated by 7 inches of fire clay. The upper bench 

is 25t inches thick, including 1 inch of bone 6t inches from the top. The lower 

bench is 20i- inches thick, including 3 inches of splinty coal at the top. Below is 

lt inches of shaly carbonaceous clay parting, then 3 inehe,.; of splinty coal, a 

knife-edge parting of shale, with 13 inches of coal below. The roof, as far as seen, 

is a sandy gray shale with hard sandstone just above. The floor is fire clay, with 

hard sandstone immediately below. On another point in this creek (1193) 2() inches 

of coal were seen which seemed to occupy the stratigraphic position of the Harlan 

coal, being overlain and underlain by a comparatively thick sandstone. On the 

Gabe Turner branch of Clover Fork this coal has been opened on the M. B. Smith 

place (116G). There are here about 40 inches of coal, with 1 inch of bone 4 inches 

from the top. Over the coal are from 15 to 17 inches of clay and shale, the latter 

of which is carbonaceous. From ,3 to 4 inches of clay overlie that, with a shale 

roof above. The floor is fire clay. The faces run in a general way northeast and 

southwest. On Kitts Branch Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers report this coal 

(1238) as 4 feet 4 inches thick, with 1 inch of bone coal 5 inches from the top, 

with a shale roof. 

The coal at' the Kelly, Baker and Cornett, and Green Jones openings has 

already been described. Passing up Martins Fork it is exposed at the Skidmore 

opening (1160). The coal here measures from 3 feet 4 inches to 3 feet 8 inches, 

and is overlain by 20 feet of laminated to massive sandstone. Below is 1 foot 

of shale. It is reported that there are 18 inches of coal below that. On Farmers 

Branch of Martins Fork this coal has been mined on the W. C. Farmer place 

(1142). The coal here measures 4 feet fot inches, with 1 foot 6 inches of coal 

reported 1 foot below the main bench; below the coal are 2t feet of clay shale with 

20+ feet of shaly laminated sandstone above. The coal here has an actual elevation of 1,586 feet above tide. On Osburn Branch the coal has been opened upon 

the D. S. Farmer place (1139). As well as could be measured here, it is 4: feet 

5 inches thick .. There is 9 inches of shale here between the coal and the sandstone above. On Turtle Creek (1133) this coal has been opened on the Stephen 
COALS O.lf HARLAN DISTRICT. 167 

Osburn place on the left-hand fork. There is 3 feet 8 inches of solid coal with. 

a solid sandstone roof. Twelve feet below an 18-inch bench of coal is reported. 

Examining these sections as a whole as presented on Pl. XXV, page 160, 

and omitting the coal below the parting, it will be seen that .this seam shows 

nearly everywhere a solid bench of coal averaging about 4 feet thick, and ranging from 3 feet 4 inches to nearly 5 feet in thickness. On the whole, it may be 

called a solid 4-foot coal. Its position between two massive sandstones assists in 

its recognition and makes more certain its correlation. As seen in the sections 

described above, an overlying sandstone is usually less than 3 feet above, and 

averages probably less than 1 foot, while in a fair percentage of the mines 

there is no shale between the ·coal and the sandstone roof. Where the shale i;; 

thin, it is probable that in extensive mining it would have to be removed, or it 

could be held up only with difficulty. Contrary to the experience in sueh cases, 

usually the coal wher~ immediately overlain by the sandstone does not show an 

appreciable thinning, the greatest thickness measured for the single bench having· 

been under a sandstone roof without intervening shale. It may, therefore, be 

judged that such a sandstone roof would be of excellent quality and present a 

smooth and even surface. In most cases it is probable that the lower bench of 

coal, where it exists, will not be mined, though it can not be af:lserted that it 

win not be, when mining is begun on a commercial scale. This lower bench is 

not taken in any of the small country banks at preseRt operating. The character 

of this coal in this district is shown by the following analyses: 

Analyses of Harlan r:oal in Harlan district. 

Fixed car- Volatile hy- Moisture. Ash. Snlphnr. Color of ash, bon. drocarbon. 

----

Per cent. 11er cent. Pe1· cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

A (1188)----:-------------------- 55.971 38.124 2.176 3.100 0.629 

B (1180) ------------------------- 54.688 38.132 L428 4.680 1. 072 

c (1171) ------------------------- 48.880 33.510 L 470 14.910 1. 230 

D (1171). ---------.-------------- 52.660 37.504 1.376 7.470 . 990 

E (ll65) ______ ------------------- 56.402 38.626 L314 2.920 . 738 

F (i142) __ ... ____ .. ______________ 56.751 38.200 L440 2.960 . 649 

G ( ll33) _______________ .. ________ 56.812 37.980 L490 2.870 . 843 

H ---------------------------·-.. - 55.200 39.980 L 350 2.680 . 790 Reddish 

gray. 

I (ll97) ~ .. - ------------- --- ----- 53.572 36.869 L544 6. 740 1.275 Cream. 

J (1238) -~~-~~~--~--------------- 52.065 34.329 7.886 5.125 . 595 Do. 

K (ll62) ___ . _____________________ 57.674 36.993 1. 700 2.870 . 763 Brown. 

L ( 1238) --- -- --- --- . -- -- -- -- -- -- - 59.60 35.70 1. 70 3.00 . 750 Light buff. 

M (11 60) ____ .--.-- ____ ... --.-- __ . 60.08 31.26 5.20 3.46 -618 Do. ------

Mean .. _ .. _____ .. ___ . _______ . 55.411+ 36.707 2.313 4.829 0.841 

A to G are by Andrew S. McCreath from samples taken in 1902. 

H to K are by McCreath from samples obtained by McCreath and d'Invilliers in 1887. 

L ~tnd J\1 are by Robert Peter from samples. by P. N. Moore and A. R. Crandall from the chemical reports of the 

State Geological Snrvey. · 
168. CUMBERLAND GAP COAJ, F'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

A .. James :auff place above Harlan (1188). 

B. William Smith place on Clover Fork (1180). 

C. Wright Kelly place on Bailey Branch; sample is of the upper bench (1171). 

D. Wright Kelly place on Bailey Branch, lower bench of coal (1171). 

E. G. A. S. Kelly place opposite Harlan (1165). 

F. W. C. Furrncr place on Farmers Bmnch (1142). 

G. Stephen Osburn pluec, Turtle Creek (1133). 

H. Pennington place nearly opposite the mouth of Kitts Branch nnd Clover Fork. 

I. Ball place on the right-hand branch of Ages Creek (1197). 

J. J. B. Howard place on Kitts Branch (1238). 

K. Green Jones bank just south of Harlan (1162). 

L. J. C. Howard bank, 1 mile above Mount Pleasant, probably on Kitts Brunch (1238). 

11. Skidmore Creek of Martins Fork, possibly the same as (1160). 

In comparing these analyses with those obtained in districts where active 

mining is going on, it must be remembered that the majority of these samples 

were obtained close to the outcrop, and the coal in most places is in a more 

or less weathered condition. In some cases, as shown by the high percentage of 

moisture, the coal was very much weathered, and no judgment could be made of 

its coking qualities. As far as the laboratory tests of the coke g;o, most of the 

recent samples appear to show this coal to produce a fair coke with a tendency 

toward a granular structure. It yet remains f.o have actual test made of the 

coal from one of the mines that have been driven back beyond the zone of· 

weathering. Only such a test will give a fair idea as to the coke-producing qualities 

of this bed. 

KELLIOKA COAL. 

This coal is named from Kellioka, on Poor Fork. In Long Hollow (1212) it 

shows a bottom bench of 43 inches with four thin unworkable benches above; 

5 inches above the main bench is a H·-inch bench of coal, then over 7 inches of shale 

come 6t inches of coal; 22 inches above that is another 6-inch bench of coal, while 

the top 2-inch bench of coal is 8 inches higher. Above the coal is 5 feet of sandy 

shale with sandstone over that. Only the lower bench of coal can be worked here. 

At the other opening in this neighborhood (1220) the lower bench is 4 feet thick-a 

good bright coal. Above that is 1t inches of bone overlain by 3 inches of coal and 

another inch of bone with 5 inches of coal above that. Seventeen inches farther up 

is a 3-inch bench. The roof consists of 4 inches of sandy chip shale overlain by 

thin-bedded shaly sandstone. In this case the workable coal might be limited. to a 

48-inch bench unless the streaks of bony coal above prove to be of good enough 

quality not to injure the value of the coal. On Frank Branch of Yocum Creek, on 

the J. N. Little place (1169), just east of the eastern edge of the area mapped, this 

seam shows 47 inches of solid coal. It is there 225 feet above the Harlan coal. On 

Jones Creek of Clover Fork, on the -William Turner place (1192), this coal shows a 

thickness of 45 inches without partings. On another branch of Jones Creek (1194) 

24 inches of coal were seen at this horizon, the lower 6 or 8 inches being splinty. 

Reports and the length of the posts seen indicated that the coal here, all told, was 

5 or 6 feet thick. In the section given-Bakers Branch, on Clover Fork above the 

Baker and Cornett opening-the 32-inch coal occupies about the position of this 

horizon (1235). On Turtle Creek 270 feet above the Harlan c~al a thin coal was 

found on Frank Hawl's place under a sandstone which causes a waterfall in the bed 

·of the creek (1128). The main bench of coal ·here is 26 inches thick; 20 inches 
COALS OF HARLAN DIS'l'RICT. 16~ 

above are 6 inches of coal, with a l-inch parting of black shale 1 inch from the 

bottom. - Over the coal~tre 1t inches of black shale and 20 feet of sandstone. Until 

more exploitation has been done on this seam it is difficult to say how regular it will 

prove or how large an area of workable coal it wili yield. The evidence, however, 

is sufficient to indicate that some workable coal, possibly a large amount, exists f!,t 

that' horizon. The following analysis of this coal was made in 1886 from a sample 

obtained by Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers: 

Analysis of Kellioka coal from Frank Branch of Yocum Creel·. Per eent. 

"Moisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1. 598 

Volatile combustible matter ..................................... _ . _ .. _· ....... :3B, 457 

:Fixed carbon ......................... _ ............................... _ ...... 57. :3:39 

Rulphur ............................................... _..................... . 671 

Ash (color, brown) . ..... ...... . . . . . . . ..... .... .... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... 1. 394 

This analysis shows an unusually fine coal at that point, though, as in similar 

cases, it is hardly safe to judge of the average quality of the coal from a single 

analysis. The ash here is exceptionally low, and the percentage of sulphur is below 

the average. The fixed carbon is a little above the others. It is said that a preliminary coking test of this coal was made in a small brick oven at themouth of Frank 

Branch, and some remnants were seen by Messrs. McCreath and d'lnvilliers and 

reported by them as of excellent character but imperfectly burned. Three feet 

fmm the bottom of the coal analyzed occurred 4 inches of dark-gray splinty coal in 

thin layers, such as in many of our samples is described as bony coal. The analysis 

indicates that in this case at least this splinty coal is equal to the rest of the coal in 

quality, and probably the same is true in a great many other cases. 

CREECH ('/) COAL. 

• As indicated in the skeleton sections already given, from 300 to over 400 

feet above the Harlan coal occurs a coal that is slightly thicker than the minimum 

workable thickness. This varying interval leaves it questionable whether the · 

various coals so eon·elated really belonged to the same bed or not. As the change 

in interval corresponds to the somewhat similar ehange in interval from Little 

Black Mountain toward Poor Fork, it is assumed that there is probably at about 

this horizon at least one coal that' may be considered to be over 2 feet thick and 

ranging in places up to 3 feet thick. On Poor Fork this coal showed a thickness 

of 2 feet 2 inches on Little Lick Branch of English Creek (1225). As · it is 

immediately overlain and underlain by sandstone, it can hardly be aceounted a 

workable coal at that point. It there lies 350 feet above the town coal. The eoal 

at about this horizon, as found on .Jones Creek of Clover Fork, on the vVilliam 

Turner place (1191), shows an upper bench of 36 inehes of splint coal, then 

1 inch of bony shale, and 2 inches of clay to 3 inches of coal at the bottom. The 

floor is fire clay, and. above the coal there are 4 inches of shaly clay below 5 feet 

of blrte sandy shale, with massive sandstone above. On Frank Branch of Yocum 

Creek, at an elevation of 430 feet above the Harlan coal, is a facing of a coal on 

the C. Slemp place (1170). This showed 2 feet of coal, 7 inches of dark-drab clay, 

H inches of coal, 2 inches of dark-drab clay, and 4 inches of coal at the bottom. 
170 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL E'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

The roof is drab fire clay. Above the coal oome 3 inches of black cannelly shale, 

then 10 feet of sandy shale, with 10 feet of shaly sandstone above. On Farmers 

Branch of Martins Fork, at an elevation of 425 feet above the Harlan coal, is a coal 

measuring 33 inches, without partings. It immediately underlies sandstone, and its 

actual elevation is 2,011 feet above tide (1145a). An analysis of a sample of 1this 

coal, obtained at this opening on Farmers Branch of Martins Fork, is as follows: 

Analysis of Creech(!') coal on Fctrmers Branch of Jlfartin.~ Fork. 

iVIoisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 520 

Volatile com bnstible matter ................ _. __ ........ __ .......... ____ ...... 40. 240 

Fixed carbon ................. _............................................. 51. 38:3 

S ul ph nr ... __ .............. __ .... __ ...... ____ . _ . _ .. _ ...... __ . __ . __ ..... __ .. __ 1. 7 5·7 

Ash. ____ . ____ ....... _ ............ _ . _ .. ___ . _. ___ .. -... __ ... _ ... ___ .. _ ..... _ _ _ _ 5. 100 

COALS OF CATRON FORMATION. 

WALI,INS CREEK COAL. 

No outcrops of this coal were seen in Big Black Mountain, though its horizon was thought to have been found on the north side of the mountain at a 

level where coal blooms occurred at frequent intervals. These were traced some 

distance in the hope of finding a natural exposure, but without success; the line 

was marked by a line of springs. On the north side of Little Black Mountain 

Messrs. McCreath and d'lnvilliers reported this coal as having been exposed in 

Kitts Bmnch of Clover Fork at an elevation of 1,200 feet above Clover Fork. 

There the section (1237) shows 7t feet of coal, including a 6-inch clay parting 

3 feet 8 inches from the top and a l-inch shale parting 8 inches lower, with 3t 

·inches of coal and bone immediately below that, and a 1-foot shale appearing 

1 fot>t 2 inches from the bottom. The roof 'here is shale. The only other 

exposures on this coal were two openings on the Taylor Low place near the head 

of Turtle Creek. At one of these openings (1126) the coal showed a total of 

51 inches, including a i-inch parting 15t inches from the top, a t-inch shale 

parting 8 inches lower, a l-inch clay parting 3 inches below with a clay parting 

H inches thick 4 ·inches lower, a 2-inch clay parting 7 inches lower, and still 

lower a t-inch shale 'parting 4 inches from the bottom. The roof was not 

exposed; the floor is fire clay. The butts of the coal run S. 20° E. The other 

opening (1129) shows a total thickness of 56& inches; it shows 1 inch of clay 2 

inches from the top, one-half inch · of clay 26 inches lower, one-half inch 

of bony coal immediately below that, and 11 inches lower comes a H-inch clay 

parting, with 1 inch of bony coal B inches from the· bottom. This coal has an 

actual elevation of 2,443 feet. According to these sections this coal does not 

compare in workability with the Wallins Creek coal in the district last described, 

thoug·h a better knowledge of it may show a large amount of workable coal. The 

quality of this coal is indicated by two analyses-an analysis of the Kitts 

Branch coal sampled by McCreath and d'lndlliers and an analysis of the coal at 

1126 sampled in 1903. 
COALS 0]' HARLAN DISTRIC'r. 171 

Analyses of Wallins Creek coal. 

Branch). Creek). . 11237 (Kitts 1126 (Turtle 

Per ccn t. Per cent. 

1\'loisture .................................................. _____ .... ___ . __ .. 

Volatile combustible matter ................................................. . 

Fixed carbon ............................................................ · .. 

Sulphur ................................................................... . 

Ash ........................... ---------------~----------------------------

------ -----~--

7.102 

34.028 

49. 144 

.846 

8.880 

2.910 

33.610 

45.195 

. 765 

17.520 

The sample of 1126 was taken between the top of the 15t-inch bench and 

the bottom of the 7-ineh bench, so that it includes the i-ineh clay parting, 

i-inch shale parting, l-inch clay parting, and H-inch clay parting. This fact 

doubtless accounts for the high percentage of ash; otherwise this analysis indicates a good quality of coal. The high percentage of water in the Kitts Branel1 

analysis is probably due to the weathered condition of the coal at the time the 

analysis was obtained, and the high ash in that analysis Mr. McCreath thinks 

may be in part due to the fact that the coal there was somewhat mixed with 

mud· seams at the outcrop. On the whole, neither of these analyses is to be 

considered as representative of what this bed will yield on an unweathered face 

and where not so badly split up by partings. 

SUMMARY.\ 

Summary of coals of Harlem district. 

Number of coal beds found ......................................................... . 

Total thickness of coals : . ...................................................... feet .. 

Number of coal beds of workable thickness 2+ feet. __ ................................ . 

Average thickness of principal workable coals ................................... feet .. 

Total thickness of workable coal beds ........................................... do .. . 

Greatest" thickness of single coal bed measured ................................... do .. . 

Greatest thickness of coal in single bed measured ................................ do .. . 

Approximate area underlain by workable coal. .......................... square miles .. 

Available coal in district ....................................................... tons .. 

Wallins Creek. Kellioka. 

Approximate elevation ............. ·- ... feet above tide .. 2,500 1,850 

Thickness: 

18 

20+ 

6 

4 

14 

8~ 

5~ 

25 

150,000,000 

Harlan. 

1,600 

Greatest .................................. : .. feet .. 7 

5/z 

4! 

3t 

3 

4,000 

9,000 

8~ ------------

Average ..................................... do .. . 

Least .............. · .......................... do .. . 

Average thickness of workable coal. ... -.- .......... do .. . 

N um bcr of measurements ............................. . 

Area of seam .................................... acres .. 

Total coal per acre ............................... tons .. 

Available coal per acre ............................ do... 5, 000 

Coal available in district .......................... do... 20, 000, 000 

4t ------------ 2 

3t 

7 

5,000 

7,000 

4 

27+ 

.. 16,000 

6,560 

4,00Q 5,500 

20,000,000 I 88,000,000 
172 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

STRUCTURE. 

The principal structural feature of this district is the syncline running through 

Big Black :Mountain. At all points where the rocks on the Poor Fork side of this 

mountain were examined they dip to the south. This dip becomes more pronounced 

as the channel of Poor Fork is approached, so that at many points along the bank of 

Poor Fork it is from 30° to 40°. Southward toward the mountain this dip decreases 

rapidly and probably changes to a north dip under the crest of the mountain. On 

the Clover Fork side the rocks show a corresponding but opposite northward dip. 

This is very noticeable at the Turner opening already mentioned or in comparii1g the 

elevation of the Harlan coal on the north side of Clover Fork with its elevation on 

the south side. In the southern part of this district the exact structure is very 

obseure as the dips are very light. Elevations on the Harlan coal in the southern 

part of the distdct run within a few feet of 1,600 feet above tide. Up Clover Fork 

toward the east the rocks have a noticeable dip, bringing the Harlan coal at the 

eastern edge of the district more than 200 feet below its elevation at Harlan. On 

account of the high dips on the north side of Big Black Mountain' the elevation of 

the Harlan coal varies with its distance horizontally from the crest of the mountain. It is safe to say that most of the streams cross its horizon on that side of the 

mountain at an elevation of about 1,600 feet. English Creek, because of cutting 

near the crest of the mountain, is crossed by the horizon of the Harlan coal at an 

elevation below 1,600 feet, and the elevation of this coal on the projecting headlands 

facing Poor Fork would be much higher. Near Harlan on the north side of Clover 

Fork this coal is a little below 1,600 feet in elevation, probably reaching 1,600feet 

on the north.side of Clover Fork between Kitts Branch and Ages Creek. At Ages 

Creek it is below 1,600 feet. Opposite Gabes Branch it has descended to 1,550 feet; 

on ,Jones Creek of Clover Fork to 1,500 feet; on Bailey Branch of Clover Fork just 

east of the border of the map to 1,460 feet; on Frank Branch of Yocum Creek just 

east of the map to 1,430 feet. From the Skidmore bank of Martins Fork to the 

Osburn bank on Turtle Creek the coal continues at an elevation of almost ·exactly 

1,600 feet, there being a large area to tbe south of this where the coal lies nearly fiat. 

MARTINS :F'OUn: DISTRICT. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

This district lies in the southeast corner of the area examined, its boundary on 

the north running along Martins Fork to the mouth of Turtle, then up Turtle to 

the crest of the mountains and along that to the edge of the urea mapped. On 

the west the boundary extends along Catron Creek, up Upper Double Branch, and 

straight over Martins Fork Ridge to Martins Fork. The valley of Martins Fork 

is the dominant feature, all o£ the drainag·e running into that stream. Martins 

Fork rises at the northwest corner of the district, and, after many windings, leaves. 

the district at the southwest corner. Ridges and valleys are similar in character 

to those of the district last considered. Grays Knob (3,354 feet) is a conspicuous 

landmark in this district and Grays Knob Spur furnishes the largest body o£ coal. 

Crummies Creek flows in a narrow gorge ncar its mouth, but where it is above 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

COLUMNAR SECTIONS. 

Grays Knob 

(Compiled) 

Crummies 

Creel< 

1011. 

Slater Fork. 

~-1%" 118" 

28" 

. . 

1~" + 46" =477:)" 

1011. 

Frank Irving. 

1" + ·44, 

=45" 

TURTLE CREEK. 

1129. 1131. 

Henderson Fee. Hight Fork. 

1..., 

=30"+ 

=04" 

Lo:-<G BRASCH OF CRU::\OtTF.S CREEK. 

1078. 

Jno. Napier. 

1077. 

Barn Branch. Jno. Browning. 

CATRON CREEK. 

1012. 

Slater Fork. 

~·, + 4.6"+ 

=46~"+ 

1006. 

Pounding }Iill 

Branch of Sla- ter Fork. Gill Farmer. 

2" + 47" =4911 

ROBS BRANCH. 

1035. 1036. 

W. S. Hensley. 

+ 47.%" =4874''' 

1074. 

Barn Branch. G. ·w. Smiths. (Rept. by T.R.P.) 

1047. 

Cane Branch. 

l

uoi 

poor. 

22" 

=36" 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXVII 

944a. 

Near Pansy post- office. 

1083. 

J, C. Carter. 

~~··12:~~ 13" 

5W' + 38Ji'• =44'' 

),{ARTINS FORK. 

MARTIN~ FORK. 

1102. 1101. 

Little Branch Little Brandl. 

1~~.... I· 

=3911 

=41" 

CHU!lMIJ<:k UREEK. 

1094. 1085. 

Browning. G. \V. Thomas. 

CATRON CREEK. 

1056. 1059. 960. 

Wilder Hranch. Near Hurst. F. s. Hensley. Steven Pace. 

,Bo~;;~~[~. 7-i'' 5%" M" bone. 

31" 

1" + 43:%'" =44'-f" 

Upper DouUle Branch. 

Jno. Crider. 

COLU~INAH. H:ECl'IO:SS SHOWING HRT.ATIOS OF HARLAN COAJ, TO AI>JACENT COALS. 

Cawood 

sandstone 

Crummies Creek 

Little 

Creek Cranks Ridge Cranks Creek 

G.W.Smilh 

Rep. by T.R.P. 

C.J' Hurst 

Stephen Pace 

COLUMNAR AND COAL SECTIONS, HARLAN COAL, MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 

Scales: Columnar sections, 1 inch,=300 feet; coal sections, 1 inch=5 feet. 
STRATIGRAPHY OF MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 173 

the horizon of the Cawood sandstone its valley is broad and flat. Above Cawood, 

Martins Fork for some distance cuts an unusually narrow channel, doubtless due 

to the fact that it is cutting through the Cawood sandstone. All of this regwn 

can be readily reached by railroad transportation either up Catron Creek or up 

Martins Fork and its branches, Turtle C1;eek, Crummies Creek, Bobs Creek, and 

others. At present there are no transportation facilities in this district, nor are 

any projected so far as known for the immediate future, notwithstanding the fact 

that our kno\vledge of the coals indicates this to be one of the most valuable 

parts of the field. 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

It is believed that the stratigraphy of this district has been worked out with 

some degree of satisfaction, due to the fact that the Cawood sandstone, which 

has its type locality at Cawood post-office, at the mouth of Crummies Creek, is 

above the main lines of drainage all through this district. It is accompanied by 

the Harlan coal, which lies about 250 feet above it and maintains a more or less 

uniform thickness of about 4 feet.' About 250 feet above that again is the Kellioka coal of irregular, but often considerable thickness. These three horizons, 

which are traceable. through most of the district, tie together the stratigraphy of 

the rocks near drainage. In the hilltops occurs the Wallins Creek coal with a 

thickness of 6 to 9 feet, and with sections that in one or two places are so nearly like 

the sections on \Vallins Creek as to leave little doubt as to its correlation. · Below 

the Wallins Creek coal in this district are two cliff-making sandstones, the upper 

of which is believed to represent the Puckett sandstone and the lower to be the 

Slater sandstone. The Puckett sandstone lies .at approximately the same interval 

below the Wallins Creek coal as in Reynolds Mountain, while the Cawood sandstone is nearly double that distance below the Wall ins Creek coal. On Grays 

Knob Spur the Slater sandstone is much the more prominent. It makes a rather 

prominent waterfall on Mill Branch of Martins Fork and around the headwaters of 

Pounding Mill Branch of Slater Fork, where it presents a thickness of 100 feet 

in places. Its type locality is on the west side of Grays Knob Spur, and the 

name Slater has been given to it from its occurrence around Slater Fork of 

Catron Creek. The Reynolds sandstone and ,Jesse sandstone are both recognized 

in this district. The Reynolds sandstone is quite prominent in the Little Black 

Mountain, where, on the ridge between Little Creek of Crurnmies and Jones 

Creek of Clover, it forms prominent cliffs, and is known as the Pilot R~ck. 

On Grays Knob its clifft> are not specially dominant over some of the other 

sandstones. The Jesse sandstone does not, as a rule, develop the characteristic 

coarse-grained conglomeratic facies ... Near the headwaters of Turtle Creek the 

t>urface was strewn with pebbles of this character at about the horizon of the sand-

. stone, bnt no outcrop of the sandstone itself was recognized. It is seen in place 

carrying pebbles on the Crummies Creek side of the ridge. At th~ head of Catron 

Creek again just off from the edge of this district it is quite characteristically 

developed. The·Puckett sandstone, while a cliff-making sandstone in this district, 

does not usually appear to be more than 25 to 40 feet thick. The Cawood sandstone 

and the Harlan coal are the key rocks for this district. 
174 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL .FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The two sections given on Pl. XXVII, page 172, are from GrayH Knob and Crummies Creek. The one on Grays Knob is compiled from two climbs of the Knob 

from BobH Creek, induding the coals found on lower Bobs Creek, certain coals found 

in Pounding Mill Branch of Slatei· Fork of Catron Creek, and coals and sandstones 

on Mill Creek. Difference in total length of ·the two sections would suggest et-rorH 

either in the correlation of the rocks ot· in the barometric readings of intervals. 

However, the two ·sections have been carefully adjusted to the total elevations 

of the mountain tops at the twci upper limits, and the level of the basal sandstone 

at Martins Fork. The sandstones at the base of the section are the same, both 

occurring-at Cawood, one at the mouth of Bobs Creek and the other at the mouth 

of Crummies Creek. The Grays Knob section is as follows: 

Condensed sed·ion on Grays Knob. 

Interval, mostly sandstone ................................................ _ .. 

Sandstone, Reynolds ............... _ ...... __ .... __ ................ _ ......... . 

Interval .... , .............................................. _,_ .. __ ........... . 

Sandstone, Jesse .................. ·. _ .. _ ... _ ....... · ............. _ ......... _ .. . 

IntervaL .................................................................••. 

Coal, Smith 11-foot, reported ..............................................•.• 

Interval. ............................................ -.. -- ....... ---- .... -••. 

Coal, ·wallins Creek. _ ............. _ ......•...... _ ..........................•. 

Interval ..... _ ....................................................... _ ..... __ 

Coal, bloom ___ ........... ___ .. _ .. __ ..... _ ..... _. ___ . __ ... _ .......... ___ .... . 

Interval __ ..................... : .......................................... , .. 

Coal, bloom .. _ .... _ . ___ .......... _ ... _ . _. __ . _ .... _ . _ ... _ .... __ . ___________ .. 

IntervaL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................................................. . 

Coal. ...................... ; ............... ' .............................•••• 

Ft. in. 

400 0 

50 0 

110 0 

70 0 

80 0 

13 0 

90 0 

9 0 

80 0 

40 0 

45 0 

5 

Interval ................................................................•••• ~ 10 0 

Sandstone, Puckett...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 0 

r nterval ...... -....... -......... -..... c ... - ... - .......••........• -•...... -... 140 0 

Sandstone, Slater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100-60 0 

Interval ..................................................................... 100 0 

Coal .......................................................... _ ....... _ . . . . . 1 6 

Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 0 

Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 

Interval ........... __ .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 0 

Coal ......................... ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Interval ..... ___ . _ .. _ ..... _ ...................... _ ...... __________ . ___ ... _ . _ _ 1 10 0 

Coal .... -----···-·····--···············----·-·····-----------·--············ 3 4 

Interval .... _ ......................................... ____ ....... _........... 60 0 

Coal, Kcllioka............................................................... "6 0 

Interval ............................................................. __ . ____ . 220 0 

Coal, reported ............. ·--·------···········--·················----------- 3 0 

In tcrval ................................................................. _ . . . 60 0 

Coal, Harlan................................................................. 4 0 

Interval .............................................. _ ...................... 110 0 

Coal _ ............................................. _ ........................ _ 1 8 

Interval _ ................. _ . __ ..................... _ .. _ .................... _ . 140 0 

Coal __ ............. _ ................... __ . _ . __ . _ .....•............... : .. _ . . . 2 9 

a Up toG feet. 
U. ;:,. l.:Jt.ULU\:ill,;AL ::SUHVt:Y PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXVIII 

8MITH11-FOOT00AL. 

1110, 

Grays Branch of Martins Fork. (Rept. by McC. and d'!.) 

1010. 

Bee Branch of Slater Forie Carlo Britton. 

2" + 4.9~'' =517sj:" 

1003. 

Lower Double of Catron. 

Irving. 

1013. 

Slater Fork. 

WALLINS CREEK COAT •• 

1019. 

Right Branch of Rocky Branch of Slater Fork. Millard Farmer. 

1022, 

Farmers Branch of Slater Fork. Farmer. 

17" 

234"'' + H~"+ 3'' =!7"+ 4." 

1039. 

Bobs Branch. W. S. Hensley. 

23" + 80" =103" 

24:" + ii" =68'' 

1084. 

Crummies Creek. Carter and Cay- wood. 

3" + 38'' =oil" 

1025. 

Mill Creek. 

KELLTOKA COAL. 

1092. 

Crummies Creek. 

2376"'' 

2%" 

6" 

1%" 

3%" 

12311" 

4.9~'' 

1023. 

:Mill Creek. Henry Neal. 

1078a. 

Long Branch. John Napier. 

1111. 1112. 

1074a. 

Cranks Creek. G. 'v. Smith. (Rept. hy J. R. P.) 

1020. 

Hight Branch of Rocky Branch of Slater Fork. ~Iillard Farmer. 

1055. 

Wilder Branch of :Martins Fork. 

1--------------------~------------------------------~------~----------------------

1109. 

Hidge between 'Vilderllranch 

and Slater Fork. Hensley. 

I 

=32'' 

1005. 

1018, 

Calfpcn Branch. 

1004. 

Near~~~':[. post- Plansy. 

~ 23" 

18" 

(!) =23" 

=18" 

CRU!IU!IIES CREEK COAL, 

1088. 1014. 1093. 

Crmnmies Creek. Slater Fork. Crummies Creek. John Day. Benj. Field. 

I 

=3811 

II,\NCF. FoRliiATIOX CoALS. 

1029. 1030. 1042. 1076. 

itlartins Fork, Cawood. Bobls Branch. ~:;,tVJ:,~g~-~.' ::·~~~ ~:~;;:.~--

29'' 4X" 

42" 26" 

-29" 

- -

8Y:!'' + 29" 

15" _L 52'' 

=fl7" 

-!2" -=37.!4'' 

1082a. 

Crummies Creek. J. C. Carter. 

10S2b. 

Crummies Creek. J. C. Carter. 

COAL SECTIONS, MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=S feet. 

1079. 1073. 

Lonlg Branch. ~f.afJ:ss?.:·:'t1~· 

42" I 4.3" 

=!2" 

1072. 

Crank~ Creek. G. VV. S1~1ith. 

(l{cpt. by J. R. P.) 

=13" 

1081. 

Crummies Creek. 
COALS OF MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 175 

Ft. in. 

Interval . _ .....••............... -.. :. --. ------ ---- -- -- --- - - ------- ---. ----- - - 25 0 

()oal _ ....... ----- ~ --- - . --- ---- ------ ---------- ------ -- ---- ------ - -·--- · · · · · · 9 

Sand~tone, Cawood .... __ .... __ . -- ... ---- ~ ---------- .. --- .. -----.------------ 80 0 

Condensed sect·ion on Crummies Creek. 

Sandstone, Reynolds, " Pi I ot Rock" _ ..... ___ . _ ........... _ ....... _' .... ______ _ 80 0 

Interval . __________ .. __ . _________ ..... _ .... - --.-- --.- - .... -.-- -- -- . -'.-- -- -- 140 0 

Sandstone, finely conglomeratic, Jesse ... __ -.. ----.- _. _--- _-.- ... --- .. __ ----.- · 20 0 

Interval . __ . __ . _. _ .. ___ .-- __ -.-- _ ...... -.- -- .... --- - - - -.. - ----- .. - . - - . -... -- 800 0 

CoaL ________ .. __________________________________ .. ___________ . __ . ___ ... ___ _ 3 0 

Interval __________ . __ .•. __ .. __ . __ .. __________ ... __ : _. ____ .· .. _. _____________ _ 70 0 

Coal, Kellioka _____ .. ______ . __ . ___ .... ____ .. _ ..... _____________ . _ ... _ . _____ _ 4 0 

Interval ______________________ .. ____ . __ . __ .. _________ ._. ____________________ _ 40 0 

CoaL.------------·---·-----------·--·------------------------------------·- 1 0 

Interval __ ... __ .. __ . ___ .. -........ ----- ... --.-- -·---- ---- .. ----.----.----- .. . 30 0 

CoaL.----------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 1 0 

Interval _____ . _________________ -. _______ . ___________ . _______________________ _ 80 0 

Coal, Harlan .. _____ . __ .. _____________ . __________ , _____ . ______________ .- ___ , __ 4 0 

Interval ________________________________________________________________ . __ _ 25 0 

CoaL .... ·------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 4 

Interval ____ •. __ ... _____________________________________ . __________ . _______ _ 110 0 

CoaL ......• ---.-----·.---.----~---------------'---------------------- .. -_ .. 3 6 

Interval ___ . _ . __ ...... _ ........ ___ . _ .. __ ... -.... __ . ___ . ____ ...... _ . ____ . __ .. 15 0 

CoaL ......... ___ ......... _____ . __ ...... ___________________________ .. ___ . __ _ 2+ 0 

Interval . ____ · _____ .. __ .... __ .. _ ... __ ... _______________ . ____________________ _ 70 0 

CoaL ....... -- .. - - - - ... : - -... - - - - - - - -.. - - - -. - - - - - - - - - - -... - - - - - - - - - -. - - - - -.. . 1 9 

Sandstone, Cawood_. __ .... __ .... _. __ .. _____________________ .. ______________ _ 70 0 

COALS. 

The principal coals o£ this district are the Smith 11-foot coal reported on 

Grays Knob, the Wallins Creek coal, which was measured at a number o£ points, 

a coal above the Kellioka coal, the Kellioka coal, a coal a short distance above 

the Harlan coal, the Harlan coal, and £rom one to three coals below the Harlan 

coal whose stratigraphic correlations are not entirely clear. · 

COALS OF HANCE FORMATION. 

In this district practically all the coals exposed in the Hance £ormation come 

above the Cawood sandstone. At several points these coals have a thickness o£ 

3 feet and over, but as a rule it was not possible to correlate any o£ these over 

any broad horizon, so we can not assert the workability o£ any o£ these over any 

large area in the district. It will be convenient to consider them by localities. 

On Catron Creek a coal, which ranges £rom 18, inches to 2 feet, is practically 

200 feet below the Harlan coal and between two massive sandstones. This coal 

can be traced up Slater Fork from above its mouth nearly to the mouth o£ 

Pounding Mill Branch. Below the mouth of Slater Fork it was thought that 

this coal was seen at two or three points. Its greatest thickness showed on the 

west side of Catron Creek, on Enoch Branch, and will be considered under the 

description of the next district. On Mr. G. W. Aeger's land, on Fee Branch o£ 

' Catron Creek, a 28-inch coal was found, with a knife-edge of clay 8 inches £rom the 
176 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL !fiELD, KENTUCKY. 

bottom, at a barometric elevation of 1,435 feet_. Over it is (1 inches of shale and 

. sandstone (1021a). An analysis of this coal is as follows: 

Analysis of coal on George HZ Aeger's place. Per cent. 

Moisture ......•...............•..... __ .............. _____ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 794 

Volatile hydrocarbons ... __ ............ , .... __ ............................•... 36.786 

Fixed carbon ................................................................ 57. 639 

Ash ...... ___ .................................. _ .. _.......................... 2. 920 

Sulphur ................................................. _ ................ ___ . 861 

Other coals less than 1 foot in thickness were seen below the horizon of this 

coal. Two coals were seen on . Grays Branch; the lower one, 8 inches thick 

and at an elevation of 1,320 feet, appeared to be 50 feet above the top of the 

Cawood sandstone; the other coal, 20 inches thick, was 60 feet higher. On the 

north side of Martins Fork opposite this, coals at probably the same horizons 

show, the upper of which at one point was reported to be 30 inches thick. 

A short distance below the mouth of Bobs Creek, on the Steven Cawood 

place, on the \Vest side of Martins Fork (1029), a coal has been opened at apparently 

the horizon of the lower of the last two mentioned coals. At this point, however, 

it shows -two benches, of which the upper is 2 feet 5 inches thick and the lower 

21 inches thick, separated by 15 inches of clay streaked with coal. The roof 

here is a dark-drab sandy shale. Below the coal is a drab fire clay. (See Pl. 

XXX, A.) Up Bobs Creek this same coal, judging from its stratigraphic position, 

showed a thickness of 2 feet 5 inches (1030). The roof here was dark-blue shale. 

Farther up Bobs Creek (1033) it has been stripped and was reported as 30 inches 

thick. Thirty feet below this and immediately on top of the Cawood sandstone 

is an .8-inch coal, while a 20-inch coal was noted about halfway vertically 

between this and the Harlan coal (1037). On the north or northeast side of 

Martins Fork, nearly opposite the mouth of Bobs Creek (1130a), the coal lying 

immediately on top of the Cawood sandstone appears to have been formerly mined 

a little, though the opening has now fallen in. Farther up between the mouth of 

Bobs Creek and the mouth of Crummies Creek two coals 20 feet. apart are seen 

outcropping at a number of points (1095-1098), though at none of these points was it 

possible to measure a section of either coal. The lower of these lies immediately 

on top of the Cawood sandstone. Up Crummies Creek the coal immediately above 

the Cawood sarldstone shows just where that sanqstone runs under the creek (1081). 

This is on the William Browning place and the coal bas been' mined a little. It 

shows a thickness of only 21 inches and is overlain by H feet of dark-blue shale 

and underlain by 12 inches of fire clay w1th 3 inches of carbonaceous shale 

below. About 60 feet stratigraphically higher and farther up Crurnmies Creek 

(1082) two coals 9 feet apart have been opened. The upper of these shows an 

upper bench of 35 inches, then 9 inches of fire clay, 1 inch of coal, 1t inches of 

shale, and a bottom bench of coal 6 inches thick. Nine feet below, the interval 

being shale, about 2 feet thickness of coal was seen. This bottom bench is 

reported to be from 3 to 4 feet thick. This is on the .T. C. Carter place. Over 

the coal is 30 feet of shale. These coals outcrop in the stream bed just above 

the mouth of Little- Creek of Crummies (Pl. IV, B). On Long Branch of Crummies the coal immediately above the Cawood sandstone was seen (1081), but 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXIX 

A. COAL AT DANIEL BROWNING'S, CRUMMIES CRE EK. 

B. COAL AT G. NOE'S OPENING, MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 
COALS Olf MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 177 

could not be measured. Sixty feet above a blossom. of the thin coal was seen 

(1080), and 30 feet above that another coal, which ·was reported 3 feet 6 inches 

thick. These two coals are at about the same horizon as the two on the Carter 

place on Crnmmies Creek, though they are here 30 feet apart instead of 9 feet. 

Farther up Long Branch on the E. V. Napier place (1076, 1077) apparently the 

lower of these two coals outcrops in the hills on either side of the road. In 

the hill to the southwest of the road (1076) the coal showed an upper bench of 3 

inches, then H inches of fire clay with a main bench below of 26 inches. Below 

that are 5 inches of sandyfire clay and sandstone. Over the coal are 6 inches of 

shale· and sandstone. Over the ridge on this same road on the G. lV.· Smith 

place on Cranks Creek apparently these same coals are soon, and medsurements of 

them are given in Mr. John R. Proctor's report. He makes them 20 feet apart 

(1073, 1072) and reports the upper orie as being 43 inches thick and the lower one 

as 30 inches thick. No partings are given. On Martins Fork just above Cawood 

the coal just above the Cawood sandstone has been mined and showed a thickness 

of 3 feet 6 inches, without partings (1042). Ori tho south or east side of Martins 

Fork the same coal shows blooms along the roadway, and at one place measured 20 

inches in thickness (1043). Twenty-one inches of coal shows at Smith post-office 

at an elevation of 1,306 feet, and somewhat similar thin coals ~re sel}n at a 

number of points along Martins Fork below this and up Cranks Creek above this: 

On Cane Branch of Martins Fork (1052), at an elevation of about 100 feet beiow 

the Harlan coal, a coal is reported to have a thickness of about 3 feet. Below 

the Stephen Pace coal near Hurst (1059) three coals are reported, but none of 

them were measured, while just above Hurst, im~cdiately on top of the Cawood 

sandstone, a coal has been opened up giving a thickness of 3 .feet 1 inch, without 

partings. 

Reviewing the data just given, it is seen that at several points a coal lying 

within 2 or 3 feet of the top of the Cawood sandstone shows a thickness of 3 

feet or more, while at other places the coal in this position runs from only a few 

inches up to less than 2 feet, rendering doubtful the existence of a workable 

bed at this horizon. Fmm 20 to 30 feet above this in several places occurs a 

coal which ·in some places is workable, but more often is not. The coals on 

Crumnries Creek, Long Branch, at from 60 to 80 feet above the Cawood sandstone, 

may be at the same hori7.ons as the upper coal just mentioned, so that on the whole 

it would appear that there are at least 3 or 4, and possibly 5 or 6, coals between 

the Cawood sandstone and the Harlan coal, all of which are at one or more points 

of workable thickness, and all of which appear, on the whole, to be below a 

workable thickness. Two analyses were obtained of probably the same coal, the 

samples being secured by Mr. R. C. B. Thruston, and the analyses by Robert 

Peter. The first is described as a coal on Crummies Creek of Martins Fork, and 

as showing an upper bench of 3 feet, a shale bench of 11 inches, and a coal bench 

of 5 inches. This agrees so closely with the section in the stream b13d of 

Crummies Creek on the T. C. Carter place (1082a) as to be considered the same 

coal. The second analysis is of the 43-inch coal on the G. W. Smith place on 

Cranks Creek (107 4). 

41--~o-49--06----14 
178 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Analyses of coal in Hance formation ·in 1\fartins Fork district (Peter). 

------------,--------,----

Constituent. A. ll. Constituent. A. B. 

1----1---- ----------1----1----

Moisture ................. . 

Volatile hydrocarbons .... . 

Fixed carbon ............. . 

Per cent. 

1. 20 

35.10 

57. 10 

Per cent. 

3.20 

33.60 

56.80 

Ash ___ . ___ .. _ .. __ .' ____ .. . 

Sulphnr _______ .. _ .. _. _ .. . 

Per cent. 

6.60 

1. 906 

Pacent. 

6.40 

1. 782 

---- ________ .:.._ -----'--- --~- ---------------

The latter of these coals is described as somewhat weathered, which probably 

accounts for the high percentage of moisture in an air-dried sample. As shown by 

these analyses, these coals are of good quality and if found in sufficient quantity will 

pay for mining. 

COALS OF MINGO J<'ORMATION. 

• HARLAN COAL. 

The Harlan coal in thit> district maintains the same excellent thickness and 

quality that it showed in the Harlan district. While usually as free from partings 

as in the preceding district it is broken slightly by partingH at a number of points, 

·and toward the southeast corner of the diHtrict these partings in places may render 

the coal unworkable. Starting on Slater Fork we may study its section and character 

as represented in the following sections (Pl. XXVIII, p. 174). On Upper Double 

Branch it has been mined on the John Crider phwe (960), where it shows 44 inches 

without partingH. It has a san'dstone roof, showing 15+ feet of shaly Handstone, 

with a drab fire-clay floor. The roof appears to be good. At thiH point it is about 

25 feet above drainage. On Lower Double Branch this coal has been opened on the 

Thomas Harris place at an elevation of 165 feet above the forks of Catron (1000). 

The coal here shows a thickness of 4 feet without partings. Over the coal are 3 feet 

of sandstone and shale, containing streaks of coal which may locally thicken up to 6 

inches, but which run out entirely within a few feet. Above that is 8+ feet of 

massive sandstone. At one opening there is immediately above the coal 1 inch of 

shale, then 4 inches of hard scmicannel coal. Massive sandstone outcrops just below 

these openings. On Slater Fork there are several openings on the coal, one just 

above the mouth of Bee Branch, on the Frank Irving place, at an elevation of 1,626 

feet above tide (1011). The coal shows a total thickness of practically 4 feet with a 

t- to H-inch parting of dark-drab clay 1 foot 6 inches from the bottom. Two and 

one-half inches from the top is a half-inch streak of bone. Over the coal is 30+ feet 

of massive sandstone, appearing to make an excellent roof. The floor is a dark-drab 

clay. The bottom bench of ·coal is very hard at the bottom. The faces run cast and 

west. The coal is here about 75 feet above the creek. .T ust below the mouth of 

Fanners Branch this coal is again exposed, only about 3 feet being seen. It shows 

a t-inch parting 1 foot 10 inches from the top. The bottom of the coal is covered by 

sand which has washed in. There is masHive sandstone above and below the coal. 

On Pounding Mill Branch the Harne coal is again opened on the Gill Farmer place at 

an elevation of 1,612 feet above tide (1006). The coal here shows 4 feet and 1 inch 

of thickness with a 2-ineh clay part_ing 17 inches from the bottom. The roof is a 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXX 

A. COAL AT STEPHEN CAWOOD'S BANK, MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 

Vi ew showing opening 20 feet above Cawood sandstone, below the mouth of Bobs Branch. 

B. HARLAN COAL ON STEP HEN FEE'S PLAC E, TIMBER RIDGE BRANCH OF MARTINS FORK. 

View showing character of roof. 
COALS OF MARTINS FORK DISTJ:tiOT. 179 

drab clay shale with a thickness of over 10 feet. The coal is here about 15 feet 

above the creek bed. On Little Branch of Martins Fork, just north of Grays Knob; 

the coal is seen in the bed of the branch and also in a mine on the Smith place., Its 

elevation is approximately 1,595 feet (110], 1102). The coal at both places measuves 

from 3 feet 3 inches to 3 feet 5 inches thick without partings. The roof _is brown 

shaly sandstone. Below is 18+ i~ches of light-gray fire clay. In the creek bed 

there arc above the coal 8 feet of shale with 30 feet of laminated sandstone aboYe 

th~t. On Turtle Creek this coal has alr~ady been described at the Stephen Osburn 

opening. It makes even a better showing at the Henderson Fee opening in the nose 

of the hill between the right and middle forks (1129). The _coal shows an upper 

bench of 4 feet G inches with a hard bony parting 2 fe'et 1 inch from the bottom, 

then below from 3 to 4 inches of clay is a 6-inch bottom bench of coal. Over the 

coal is 3 feet of light-drab shale with sandstone above. In mining it is found 

advisable to leave the top 3 inches of the coal as a roof. At some points a 

number of t_hin clay partings break the coal up rather badly. On the right-hand 

fork of Turtle Creek, at an elevation of 1,612 feet, the same coal is partly exposed in 

the bank beside the stream bed. Two feet 6 inches were seen overlain by sandstone. 

As at the Stephen Osburn place a 15-inch bcpch of coal occurs about 15 to 20 feet 

below the principal coal; at this point being found beneath a bard sandstone that 

produces a small rockhouse or fall in the bed of the stream. On Bobs Creek the 

Harlan coal was seen at two places, both on theW. S. Hensley farm. In Grapevine Hollow (1035) the coal shows a total thiekness of 4 feet, with one-half inch of 

hard coal 5 inches from the top, with from one-fourth to one-half inch of clay 2 

feet lower; and a t-inch streak of pyrite 13t inches from the bottom. On the 

north side of the creek it shows a total thickness of 4 feet 7 inches, including a thin 

parting 33 inches from the top and a 2-inch parting 2 inches lower (1036). At the 

first place the roof is a laminated sandstone 10 feet or more in thickness; the floor is· 

clay. At the second place the roof is of shale. On Crummies Creek a number of 

openings have been made upon this coal. The first of these,· on the north side, is on 

the Daniel Browning place (1094). The coal shows a total section 5 feet 1t inches 

•thick, including 4 inches of shale 15t inches from the bottom. The 42-inch upper 

bench is partly splinty. Over the coal is 8 feet plus of sandy shale. Twenty feet 

or more of sandstone outcrops immediately below. On Little Creek of Crummies 

(1091) the coal at one point has been mined and reported as from 5 to 6 feet thick. 

On the .J. C. Carter plaee (10~3), on the main creek, the coal shows a total thickness 

of 44 inches, but includes two partings. The upper is 3 inches thick, the lower 2t 

inches thick 13 inches from the bottom. The top of the upper bench of coal was. 

not seen here; the floor is fire clay. On the Carter and Cawood land (1084) is a coal 

which, though at an elevation of· 90 feet higher than the last, has been thought to 

be the same coal. It shows 41 inches of coal with a 3-inch parting of carbonaceous 

shale 19-! inches from the top. Over the coal is 20 inches of fire clay with streaks 

of coal from 1 to 2 inches thick 8 inches from the top. Above the fire clay is 12 

feet of sandstone. On the G. W. Thomas place (1085) the coal resembles the coal 

on the ,J. C. Carter place in having two partings with a l-inch band of coal in the 

middle, and it resembles the coal at the last place in being overlain by fire clay 

with massive sandstone above. It shows a total thickness pf practical'ly 4 feet., but 
180 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

as that includes 12 inches of fire clay below the top bench of 1!) inches of coal and 

H- inches of shale 1 inch lower, the coal can hardly be considered as workable at 

this point. Here the coal was about 30 feet barometrically lower than at the Cttrter 

.and Cawood barik. Some question has been raised 1ts to whether these are all the 

same coal, but the resem blam~e between the coal sections as well as their relationship 

to the sandstones above and below seem to indicate that they are. Several openings 

have also been made on Long Branch of Crummies Creek. On the :southwest side 

of the creek, on the John Napier place, the coal has a total thickness of 4 feet and 

1 iuch, including a 4-inch parting of clay 6 inches from the top; the roof is sandstone. 

On the John Brownir1g· place, on the north side of the creek, the upper and lower 

benehes of coal remain at· about the same, but the parting has thickened to about 

23 inches, ineluding 12 inches of carbonaceous fire clay, 2 inches of coal, 1t inches 

of carbonaceous shale, 3t inches of coal, and 4 inches of carbonaceous shale. The 

roof here is also sandstone. Other openings on this branch had fallen shut when 

examined. Crossing over to Cranks Creek, opening·s were formerly made on 

several coals on the G. W. tlmith place. Mr .• John R. Proctor reports the one 

which is considered to be the horizon of the Harlan: coal ~s showing 36 inches of 

coal without partings. On Martins Fork below Smith this coal was seen on Cane 

Branch (1047). where it gave a total· thickness of 36 inches, the upper 14 inches 

being weathered and poor. The roof here was shaly. Farther up Martins Fork 

on the ridge on the right of Wilder Branch one-fourth mile from the mouth 

this coal bas been opened up on the F. S. Hensley place (1056). It shows a total 

thickness of 50t inches, including 1 inch of clay 5 inches from the top and 

one-half inch of bony ~;oal 7 inches lower. The floor here is a blue clay. .Just 

below Hurst post-office on Martins Fork (1059) this coal has been mined locally 

on the Stephen Pace farm about 200 feet above the valley. The coal shows a 

· total thickness of 44i im·hes. It has streaks of bone coal H inches from the 

top and 2t inches lower, and bone one-baH ineh below that. The roof is shale, of 

which from 10 to 12 inches are taken down for head room; the floor is a soft 

clay. Considering these sections together, the coal in this district shows an 

average thickness. of ·a little less than 4 feet, nearly all of which' in most cases• 

can be obtained in mining. It will be noted that in a large number of cases 

the roof is sandstone, or there is only a small thickness of shale between the 

coal and a somewhat massive and thick sandstone bed just above. In most 

cases also there is a thick, fairly massive sandstone.closc below the coal, which 

may in some cases reach a thickness of from 60 to 100 feet, though usually it 

is not over 50 to 60 feet. In most cases where there are partings these are only 

thick enough to serve to assist in mining, so that on the whole while the coal 

does not show quite as good sections as in the preceding district, it probably 

can be counted upon as workable over the larger part of the area underlain by 

it. The following analyses by A. S. McCreath from samples obtained in 1892-3 

will give a fair idea of its quality in this district: · 
COALS OF 1\IARTrNS FORK DISTRICT. 181 

Analyses of Ho:rlan coal in 1lfartin8 Fork d·istrict. 

Constituent. A. B. c. D. ];_., 

'l1er cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per amt. 

!\foistnre ------------------------------·---- 1. 502 

Volatile hyllrocarhons ............ " ..... : .... 37.518 

Fixed carbon ' ------------------------------- 55.648 

Ash ......... "······························ 4.630 

Sulphur ------------------------------.------ . 702 

A Frank Irving place on Slater Fork (1011). 

B. W. S. Hensley place in Grapevine Hollow of Bobs Creek (1035), 

C, John Napier place on Long Branch of Crummies Creek (1078). 

D. F. S. Hensley place·on Wilder Branch of Martins Fork (1056). 

E. Stephen P~tce mine on ~Iartins l''ork below Hurst (1059). 

2.240 1. 692 2. 124 1. 600 

38.310 38.5iS ::lS.946 39.380 

513.256 513. 175 55. 778 54.996· 

2.470 2. 760 2.450 3.270 

. 724 . 795 . 702 . 7.54 

These analyses :;how a· coal very' low in moisture; about or below the average 

in sulphur, running about three-fourths of 1 per cent, and low in ash. The total 

amount of combustible matter is high, but of this the volatile hydrocarbons are 

above the average, so that the proportion of fixed carbon is only about an average. 

On the whole,' these show this coal to be excellent, though probably not as much 

a coking as a gas coal or a coal for i'iteam purposes. Considering its thickness 

and workability, this bed by itself g·ives value to the whole district. 

Analysis of coal on Field place on Little· Branch of C:rummiP.s Creek. Per cent. 

Moisture _ . _. _ ... _ ..... __ . ____ .. __ .. __ .............. _ .................. _. _. _ . 3. 140 

Volatile hydrocarbons ...... __ .... ·----- ............ ---· .............. ---· ____ 38.440 

Fixed carbon .. __ ........ ·--· .. -· .. ·--·---· .................... _____ ..... ·---· 55.330 

.Ash ____ ........ -----· ..... -·-·.-·-·-· .......... __ · __ ....... ·-·---· ... _______ . 2. 530 

Sulphur ... __ . ___ ............ ·. _ ......... _ ...... _ ....... _ .. _. _ ... _ ... __ .... _.. . 560 

KELT.IOKA COAL. 

As in some of the pre.ceding districts, the Kellioka coal yields a large total 

thickness but is generally so split up with partings as to render its workability 

questionable in pa;·ts of the district. On ~later Fork it has been mined on the 

Carlo Britton place on Bee Branch. The coal here has an actual elevation of 

1,904 feet, being about 330 feet above the mouth of the branch (1010). The coal 

shows an upper bench of 6l inches, then a parting of mixed coal and shale of 7 

inches, 21 inches of clay, 1 foot of coal, 2 inches of black clay, and a bottom bench 

of 2 feet 6 inches; the floor is of dark-drab fire clay. The sample obtained here 

included from the 2t-inch clay band for 3 feet down, the bottom of the coal being 

at the time under water. -The faces run northeast and southwest. There is a 

slight dip here to the northwest. Near the schoolhouse on Slater Fork an old 

opening partly fallen in showed 18 inches of coal, 5l inches of clay, 2 inche~:~ of 

coal, and 10 inches of clay, with 1 inch of coal exposed above ,the tilling of the 

mine. Below the coal is 20+ feet of light-brown clay shale; about 20 feet below 

the coal is a cliff of. massive sandstone 40 feet thick. As. a somewhat similar cliff 
182 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

was seen at the Britton hank, hut above the coal, there is some question as to 

whether the coal was the same as that on Bee Branch. On Pounding Mill 

Branch of Slater Fork, 500 feet vertically above the mouth, is a coal con;elated as 

the same as the Britton coal. It was only partly exposed; 2-! feet in one bench was 

seen with apparently 2 feet of coal 6 inches above only partly exposed (1008). 

On Bobs Creek on the W. S. Hensley place (1039) this coal yields an unusually 

thick section, showing a total of 8 feet/7 inches. This included a 7 -inch parting 

14 inches from the top, with a bench of coal from 0 to 4 inches below, then a 4-inch 

clay parting; 37 inches lower are two 6-ineh partings of clay separated by only 

2 incheg of coal. On Crummies Creek on the Benjamin Field farm this coal 

shows a total thickness of G7t inches (1092). First, there is 23t inches of coal, 

H inches of shale, 2t inches of coal, one-fourth inch of bone, 6 inches of coal, 

9 inches of fire clay, H inches of coal, H- inches of carbonaceous clay shale, 

3t inches of coal, 3 inches of fire cia};, _2-! inches of carbonaceous shale, and 12t 

inches of coal; the floor is sandstone, the roof is a sandy drab shale. On Long 

Branch of Crummies the coal at about this horizon shows 27 to 29 inehes of 

good cannel coal, overlain by 20 inches of cannel shale. This is on the John 

Napier place (1078ct). Following the road over the ridge to Cranks Creek on 

the G. W. Smith place, the eoal at th1s horizon is reported by Mr .• John R. 

Proctor as 42 inches thiek. This coal shows again on David Fee Braneh of 

Wilder Branch of Martins Fork (1055). Its section shows a total thickness of 58 

inches, with H inches of bony coal 15 inches from the top. Over the coal is 4 

inches of soft clay with sandstone above. The coal is approximately at an 

elevation of 2,025 feet above tide. The faces run northeast and southwest. The 

follow_ing analyses were obtained from this coal. The first is from the Field 

place on Little Branch of Crummies Creek (1092); the second from Davia Fee 

Branch of Wilder Branch of Martins Fork (1055); the third is from G. W. 

Smith's on Cranks Creek (1074ct). 

Analyses of Kellioka coal in llfart·ins Pork district. 

Con!"tituent. 1, 2. 3. 

---

Per cent., Per cent. rer cent. 

Moisture ______ .... _ ...... -------.------------------------- -- .. -- 3.140 1. 770 2.80 

Volatile hydrocarbons ...... ____ .................... _ ..... . ------ 38.440 38.990 32.00 

Fixed carbon. __________ .. _!. __ .......... _________________ . ------ 55.330 56.396 62.80 

Ash. ________________ --------------------------------------- --·---- 2.530 3. 140 2.40 

Sulphur._ ... _____ ... _______ . __ ... __ ... ____ ...... __________ _ 

------ . 560 . 704 . 354 

The third of these analyses is by Peter, from a sample obtained by Mr. 

R. C. B. Thruston: the others are by McCreath, from -samples obtained in 

1902-3. 

These two analyses indicate. a coal of very good quality, being low in ash and 

sulphur as well as in moisture, though no higher than the average in volatile 

hydrocarbons. In total combustible matter these analyses -rank with the best 

found in this region. -
• 

COALS OF MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 183 

Its position in the hill indicates that this coal underlies . a large horizon, 

although as before stated the evidence now in hand suggests that it will not be 

workable over more than a portion of that area, on account of the numerous and 

irregular partings to which it is subjected. In a general way this coal lies about 

250 feet above the Harlan coal, which in turn is about an equal distance above 

the Cawood sandstone that outcrops so prominently a short distance above 

drainage all along Martins Fork. 

.Just west of this district on Slater Fork there is a coal of workable thickness from 30 to 50 feet above the Harlan coal. Traces of such a coal were . 

found at a few points in this district. On Pounding Mill Branch of Slater Fork . 

such a coal was reported as 3 feet thick, and is said to have been formerly 

opened 50 feet above the Harlan coal (1007). Ahove the Stephen Pace mine on 

Martins Fork, near Hurst, there is reported to be a cannel coal 50 feet above 

the Harlan coal (1057). The coal first mentioned west of this district is mainly 

a cannel coal, and its occurrence suggests that cannel coal may be found at this 

horizon and m~y be of workable thickness at points, but it is doubtful if it will 

be wo1:kable over any large area. It has not been considcrea in determining the 

amount of workable coal in this district. 

COAL AT TOP OJ<' .MINGO FORMATION. 

Between the Wallins Creek coal and the Kellioka, coal of a workable thickness was noted at apparently seveml different horizons. Of these perhaps the 

highest was a 33-inch coal with a thin clay parting in the middle, found on 

the Millard Farmer place on the right-hand branch of Rocky Branch of Slater 

Fot'k (1020). Stratigraphically this. coal appears to lie 10 to 20 feet above the 

· Puckett sandstone. It has not been counted upon as of value in this region. 

About 70 feet below the bottom of the Slater sandstone a coal was found on 

Cowpen BraiJch. of Slater Fork (1018), which was about 30 feet above the mouth 

of the braneh, or ·approximately about 2,230 feet above sea level. As shown by 

the following· section, it is too badly split ·up to be of any value. The section 

shows coal, 4 inches; shale, 1t inches; coal, 16 inches, including 2 inches of bone 

2t inches from the top; shale, 7 inches; coal, 4t inches; shale, 2 inches; coal onehalf inch; clay, 13 ·inches; coal, 5 inches. Over the coal is 3 feet of shale with 

some massive sandstone above. At about this same horizpn on the ridge 

between Wilder Branch and Slater Fork on the F. S. Hensley place is found a 32-

inch coal. It has an actual elevation there of 2,21)2 feet (1109). Near the upper 

forks of Slater Fork, in the field just above the schoolhouse, an opening has been 

made on a coal which shows a thickness of 3 feet 4 inches without partings (1014). 

Over it are 2 feet of light-drab clay shale, then 6 inches of coal, not well exposed, 

with 5 feet of light-drab clay shale above. The same coal shows a similar thickness 

a short di~tance up the fork to the south nearly in the bed of the stream. At the 

opening above the schoolhouse the coal has an elevation of 1,983 feet, andc is about 

160 feet above the creek bed at the schoolhouse. At this point it appears to 

be about 50 feet above the Kellioka coal. On the Benjamin Field place on Little 

Creek of Crurm;nies Creek (10!;)3) are two coals 60 feet apart, of which the lower 

was thought to be the Keliioka.coal, while the upper would correspond in position 

....r· 
• 

184 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

with the coal just described on Slater Fork. At this point the upper coal shows a 

thickness of 43 inches of bright, partly splinty coal with thin, irregular partings but 

no regular parting. Under it is a sa,ndy fire clay, and over it 2 feet of shale and 

1 foot of shaly sandstone with S+ feet of shale above. Ou the Johri Day place on 

Crnmmies Creek (1088) was seen a 38-inch coal without partings. Over it were 3 

feet of shale to 6+ feet of sandstone. The floor is fire clay. The coal is bright 

and good looking. The resemblance of this coal to the coal just described on the 

Benjamin Field place has made it seem possible that it is the same coal rather 

·than the Kellioka coal whose horizon would come nearly to this level. 

COALS OF CATIWN FORMATION. 

WALLINS CREEK COAL. 

The Wallins Creek coaL was seen at several openings, probably at enough to 

warrant our asserting that it will yield workable coal at this horizon all through 

the Martin8 Fork and Grays Knob ridges. The ridges south of Martins .Fork 

above Cawood are probably not high enough to catch this coal and while indications are that it underlies the portion of Little Black Mountain in this district, 

it is not certain that it will prove workable there. The following section of this Goal 

measured or reported will show its thickness in this district. On Mahlan or Lower 

Double Branch of Catron Creek it is opened on the Mahlan Irving place (1003) at 

an elevation a little above 2,500 feet, and shows a total thickness of 7 feet and 

1 inch, including a 12-ineh parting of creamy-white fire clay 8 inches from the 

bottom. The floor is a drab fii·e clay. The roof is composed of 1 foot of darkdrab elay shale which tends to come down in mining, being overlain by 15+ feet 

of light-drab and brown sandy shale. An entry has been driven in about 35 feet 

here on the faces, which run J30utheast and northwest. Supposedly the same coal 

has been opened on the Millard Farmer place, on the right-hand branch of Rocky 

Branch of Slater Fork of Catron Creek (1019), and at this poiiJ.t the coal has an 

actual elevation of 2,615 feet. As far as could be measured, it showed a 

thickness of 47 inches with a n--inch parting 20t inches from the top. It is 

reported as being much thicker. The sandstone outcrops a short distance above 

the coal, but neither the roof nor floor was seen. On the G. F. Farmer place, 

at the head of Farmers Branch of Slater Fork (1022), this coal was opened at a 

barometric elevation of 2,640 feet, whieh shows a top bench of coal 15 inches 

thick; then .a parting of 20 inches of hone coal and clay, of which the upper 

half is full of coal streaks one-fourth inch thick; then 29 inches of coal, including 

a 3-inch band 2 inches from the top, which. is soft and is mined. Below that 

are 3 inches of very hard nearly black bone; which forms the floor of the mine. 

Below that is light-yellow fire clay 4 inches thick. The roof is shale 12 feet thick, 

with f:andstone over it. It is reported that under the coal exposed in the opening 

are two benches, thought to be 15 inches thick, there being reported to be 6 feet 

of coal running in the whole seam. The faces run northeast and southwest. At 

this opening a number of_ specimens were obtained of Splwnopteris tenella Brongn., 

reported by Mr. David White as a type common in the lower Kanawha formation. 

Two measurements were obtained of a very thick coal in differ11nt branches of 
COAJ,S OF MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 185 

Mill Creek. This. coal was supposed to be the vYallins Creek coal. At one point 

the measurement gave a total thickness of fl feet lOt inches, including a l-inch 

parting 4 inches from the top and 5t inches of parting 51' inches lower down, 

and a l-inch parting 4 inches below that (1025). At another exposure the coal 

showed a ~hickness of 9 feet 5t inches. This showed H inche:; of bone 5 inches 

from the top, 2 inches of bone 3 feet lower down, 7 inches of clay 14 inches 

below that, with 4 feet of coal .in a lower bench, as far as it could be exposed. 

The roof here is a clay shale .15+ feet in thickness. At the first of these 

exposures the coal has an actual elevation of 2,482 feet and lies 340 feet above 

a sandstone which makes a waterfall in the creek bed where two principal forks 

of the creek come together. The upper coal in the first opening· shows hard 

streaks in the upper bench, while the lower bench is softer, showing some 

brownish streaks with thin plates of bony coal. The two analyses obtained at 

the first of tl1esc openings arc of the 51-inch bench and of the coal below the 

5t-ineh parting. In J obn. R. Proctor's report on this region he gives a section 

of this coal on Little Branch of Martins Fork which almost exactly resembles the 

section obtained on Lower Double Branch. It shows a total of 8 feet 7 inches, 

including a 7-inch fire-clay parting 15 inches from the bottom. Messrs. McCreath 

and d' Invillier's section of the lower of the two coals discovered by them in 

Grays Branch on Grays Knob gave a total thickness of 9 feet 1 inch, including a 

3-inch clay band 28 inches from the. top, 11 inches of fire clay 23 inches lower, 

3 inches of shale, 11 inches below that, and 2 inches of shale 25 inches from the 

bottom. On Turtle Creek two exposures of coal supposed to be at this horizon were 

found near the head. One of these gave the following section: Coal, 15t inches; 

clay, three-fourths inch; coal, 8 inches; shale, one-hal£ inch; coal, 3 inches; clay, 1 

inch; coal, 4 inches; day,_lt inches; coal, 7 inches; clay, 2 inches; coal, 3t inches; 

shale, one-half inch; coal, 4 inches. The coal is overlain by soft clay and underlain 

by a fire clay. The sample obtained at this opening included from the top of the 15tinch bed to the bottom of the 7-inch bench, so that it included all told 3i inches of 

parting, probably none of whieh could be separated in actual mining. The entry 

here runs S. 20° E. on the butts. The other opening showed coal, 2 inches; clay, 

1 inch; coal, 26 inches; clay, one-half ineh; bony coal, one-hal£ inch; coal, 11 

inches; clay, 1t inches; coal, 13 inches; bony coal, 1 inch; coal, 3 inches. This 

opening has an elevation of 2,443 feet. Roth openings are on the Taylor Low 

farm. Above the coal numerous fragments of coarse grit occurred which are 

supposed to have come down from the Jesse sandstone. These were followed up 

the hill, but no ledge in plaee was found. They appeared to come from about 

300 feet above the coal, a fact which suggested the presence of the Jesse 

sandstone at that height above the coal, and at an interval which corresponds 

closely with· the interval between .the Wall ins Creek coal and Jesse sandstone in 

the Wallins Creek district. 
186 CUMBERI,AND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The quality of the Wallins Creek coal was shown by the following analyses: 

Analyses of Wallins Creek coal, ~Martin.~ Ji'ork district. 

-~~ 

Constituent. A. B. c. D. E. F. 

-~~~- --~---

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

Moisture ......................... 1. 860 2.320 1. 858 1. 892 2.910 4.708 

Volatile hydrocarbons ------------ 36.000 40.150 37.212 35.628 33.610 34.285 

Fixed carbon ..................... 49.804 50.145 54.125 54.140 45.195 48.909 

Ash ------------------- ·--------- 11. 290 6.590 5.700 7.620 17.520 11.270 . ·Sulphur .......................... 1. 046 . 795 1.105 . 720 . 765 . 828 

A. llfahlan Irving place, Lower Double Branch of Catron. 

B. G. F. Farmer place, Farmers Brunch of Slater Fork. 

C. Upper bench of coal on Mill Branch on Henry Neal place (1026). 

D. Lower bench on l\Iill Branch, Henry Neal place (1026). 

E. Taylor Low place on Turtle Creek (10'26). 

F. W. McDonald Hall place on Grays Branch of Martins Fork. 

All analyses were by A. S. McCreath; samples from A to E, inclusive, were 

collected in 1902 and 1903. F was collected ·by McCreath and d'Invilliers. 

These analyses show this coal to run high in ash, as might be expected. of such 

a thick coal. Some of the samples indicate an average amount of sulphur, 

while some run above the average. It is below the average in proportion of 

fixed carbon. On the whole, it would appear to yield a coal in quality a little 

below the average of the better coals of this district; and in general this coal 

·may be counted upon to yield quite a large percentage of workable coal, and 

probably can be worked economically in connection with operations upon the 

Harlan or Kellioka coal, which lies near the foot· of the hill. 

SliiiTn; ll·FOOT COAL. 

This coal was not seen, but is reported by McCreath and -d'lnvilliers as 

occurring on W. McDonald Hall's land on Grays Knob. They say of this coal 

that it "is opened 90 feet vertically higher and immediately above the last-named 

development [Wallins Creek coal], and shows an enormous thielmess. ·r.· · * * 

This bed is here about the same [1,200 feet] elevation above the river and cliff 

sandstones, and is, moreover, about 400 feet beneath the fossil limestone." 

They assume that this coal was the same as the Wallins Creek coal (called by 

them Dean coal), but the stronger resemblance of the~ lower coal to our own 

sections of what we thought was Wallins Creek coal bas led us to assume that 

this upper coal is above the Wallins Creek coal, and for reasons stated in the 

chapter on general stratigraphy-mainly its relationship to the Cawood and Slater 

sandstones-we have assumed that it corresponds to the 11-foot coal. on the 

Granville Smith place at the head of Puckett Creek. It can not be said that 

much certainty exists in regard to this correlation, particularly as we did not 

ourselves see the two coals and can not be entirely sure that the one coal that. 

we did sec corresponds to the lower of these two coals. They gave the following 

section of this coal (1110): Shale roof; coal, 5-! inches; knife-edge parting; coal, 
COALS OF MARTINS FORK DISTRICT. 187 

3 feet 3 inches; fire-clay parting; 8 inches; coal, 1 inch; .shale, 1 inch; coal, 

5 inches; shale, one-eighth inch; coal, 7t inches; shale, 2 feet 4 inches; coal, 

5 feet 7 inches; total, 13 feet 6 inches. Two analyses were obtained of this 

coal, of which the first included the 3 feet St inches above the 8-~nch pat;ting; 

the second included the 67-inch bottom bench. These gave as follow's: 

Analyses of Smith 11-.foot coaJ on Gr~tys Knob. 

Constituent. A. B. Constituent. A. n. 

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

Moisture __________________ 8-906 4.362 Sulphur __________________ . 571 -532 

Volatile combustible matter·_ 35.734 35.908 Ash ______ ---------- ______ 7.630 5. 910 

Fixed carbon-- ---- ________ 47. 159 53.288 

i 

They say- o{ this coal that ''the a~alyses of the two coals do not show any 

material difference except in the percentage of water, that in the upper bench, or 

No. 1, being· very high and showing an abnormal weather•ing of the coal. The 

upper bench carries a small knife-edge of slate at 5t inches from the top, ·and 

the coal 'Yas ·very soft, pnlpy, and badly weathered. The lower bench is 5 feet 

7 inches thick, holding thin knife-edges of slate· at 3, 18, and 40 inches from the 

top, though all of these binders were included ·in the samples, <?Wing to the 

difficulty in separating them in regular mining; yet the percentage of . ash is 

exceedingly low. Indeed, both analyses are very favorable. -x- * -x- The bottom 

bench of coal presented an excellent appearance, being much firmer than the 

upper bench, though still soft, but apparently suitable for coking." 

As no coal was found at this horizon anywhere else in this district we are 

not prepared to assume that coal of this thickness or possibly even of a workable thickness will underlie the hills at this level. · 

The old State reports give sections of three coals on the James Howard place 

on Martins Forie These were not located in· the fiCld. The upper of these coals 

is Teported in one place as 250 feet above drainage and' described as .50 inches 

thick, with a l-inch parting 5 inches from. the top. The ·next coal below is reported 

as 250 feet lower, and is 5 feet 8 inches thick without partings. One report 

describes it as "being found at the base of the hills," or in another place as 

"at the base of Cumberland Mountain." From these notes it was judged that 

the coals occurred on Martins Fork above Smith. The upper coal agrees exa~tly 

in its section and elevation with what we have .called the Harlan coal on the 

F. S. Hensley place on \Yilder Branch of Martins Fork (1056). 1f the early data 

w;ere obtained from this locality or from the same coal in this ganeral region, they 

indicate that a coal had been found in a stratigraphic position just above the base 

of the Cawood sandstone having a solid thickness of 5 feet 8 inches. Ten feet 

below it there is reported: Coal and shale 15 inches; coal, 25 inches; shale, 6 inches; 

coal, 10 inches; shaly coal, 4 inches; coal, 4 inches. From its interval below the 

50-inch coal it would appear that this lowest coal would come immediately above 

the Cawood sandstone. The uppermost of the coals gh'en yielded the· first of 
188 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL ]'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

the following analyses. 'The 68-inch coal gives the second analysis. The analyses 

are by Peter of air-dried samples obtained by R. C. B. Thruston, October 14, 1886. 

Analyses of coals on -James Howard place, 1lfurtins Fork. 

Constituent. A. B. Constituent. A. B. 

-------------1----·-- ~--- --------~--1·----1-----

Per cent. Per cent. ~Jer cent. Per cent. 

Moisture .................. 1.10 2.0 Ash ....................... 2.60 :3. 00' 

Volatile hydrocarbons ..... :32.90 33.40 Sulphur ........ , ......... .5HJ .643 

Fixed carbon ............ ~. 63.40 61.60 

The !tsh from the first sample is deseribed as of a dark-salmon color and that of 

of the second sample as of a light-salmon color. The coke in both cases is described 

as very dense. Lacking definite information of the exact location of this section, 

we will not venture the correlation of the coals. 

SUMMARY. 

Summary of coals in lffartins Fork d:i.~tr·ict. 

Number of coal beds found ...................................................... : ... , 20 

Total thickness of coals ................ ~ . _ ..................................... feet.. 40 

Number of coal beds·of workable thickness .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. 6+ 

Average thickness of principal workable coals ................................... feet.. 4 

Total thickness of workable coal beds ........... c .............................. do.. .. 25 

Total thickness of coal in workable coal beds ................................... do.: .. 

Greatest thickness of single coal bed ................... · ........................ do .. .. 

Approximate area underlain by workable coal. ........... _ .............. _ ... _ .. acres .. 

Total available coal in district, estimated ....................................... tons .. 

20 

13~ 

20,000 

165,000,000 

; I I Wallins Creek. i Kellioka. H;trlu.n. ! Other coals. 

-----1-----

Appruximate elevation above tide .......... feet .. 2,500 1,850 1,600 

Thickness: 

Greatest ............................. do ... . 9% 8Ti2 13~-

Average -------------~---------------do .. .. 7! 4;; 4 

Least ................................ do ... . 5i 3 5 T2 

Average thickness of workable coal ........ do .. .. 6+ 3~ 4 3 

Number of measurements ..................... .. 7 9 24 9 

Area of seam ............................. acres .. :3,000 5,000 18,000 3,000 

Total coal per acre .. : .. ................. · .. tons .. 12,500 7,500 6,560 ----------- Available coal peracre .................... do .. .. 8,000 6,000 5,500 4,0QO 

Coal available in district .................. do ... . 24,000,000 30,000,000 99,000,000 12,000,000 

STRUCTURE. 

Over the part of thi8 district lying between Catron Creek and Slater Fork 

on the west and Martins Fork on the north and east the elevation upon the 

Harlan coal indicates that the rocks lie very nearly horizontal, or if there are 
UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 189 

local dips they are so balanced as to leave no general dip. The calculated 'elevation 

of the Harlan coal just above the mouth of Crummies Creek suggested a slight 

dip toward the cast at that point. It is possible that the same condition of fiat~1ess' 

holds true in Crummies Ridge between Turtlc>Creek and Crummies Creek. South 

of Crummies Creek and Martins Fork the influence of ·the folding of the Cumberland Mmintain is felt and the rocks show a rise to the south, though this does not 

become pronounced until Cranks Creek is reached. Along1 Martins Fork above 

Smith post-office the high dips of Cumberland Mountain are sometimes seen on 

the north side of the fork. At Hurst, on. Timber Ridge Branch, on the contrary, 

there is a fairly decided southward dip toward Martins Fork from the north. The 

dips of the rocks in the Cumberland Mountain are .quite variable in this dish·iet 

·and in a few places are overturned. Through the fiat area first described the 

Harlan coal is found at just about 1,600 feet. Southwest of Slater Fork there 

is a fairly rapid rise to the south, but this does not continue probably through the 

mountain, as the coals on the Martins Fork ·side of Martins Fork Ridge are but 

little higher than on the north side of the ridge. 

UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

This district inCludes the ridges between the Lower Puckett di~trict on the 

west, the Wallins Creek district on the north,· and the Mar~ins Fork district on 

the east. In it rise Puckett Creek; Wallins Creek, Catron Creek, Bi·ownie;; Creek, 

and practically Martins Fork. Of these Prickett Creek _headwaters occupy the 

largest area, and ·in all probability should mining be undertaken in this district 

the coals :here would first be attacked from the Puckett Creek side, a8 transpoi·tation would be down Puckett Creek. The name Upper Puckett Creek district bas, 

therefore, been applied because ·of this fact and the further fact that ·on the headw·aters of Puckett Creek was exposed one of the best sections of coals, if not the 

best section, in the Black Mountain part of the field. Ridges have the same general 

-character, narrow and irregular crests, and the same general height as in the two 

preceding districts. However, as the headwaters of several of tht:J creeks occur 

in this district, a h~:rger share of the coal proportionally is found here than in 

other district~ where the··valleys have been cut deeper and have been more or less 

widened. The coal of this district can probably best he reached by railroad 

branches up Puckett Creek, but it can also be ·i·eaehed by bra!J.ches up Brownies, 

Wallins, Catron, or Martins Fork. The dip being in the main to the north or 

northwest suggests that Brownies Creek and Martins Fork would not be favorable 

points for mining upon, the coal. Pu~lmtt Creek is further favored by lying in a 

.slight transverse syncline. 
190 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

STRATIGRAPHY. 

The relations of the coals of this district are best seen in Lee Branch of 

Puckett Creek. The following skeleton section gives the coals and their intervals: 

Section showing coals and intervals on Lee Branch of Puckett Creek. Ft. in. 

Interval from top of ridge ................................. · ................... 110 0 

Coal; Smith 11-foot ................................................... _...... 11 0 

Interval ............................... '···................................... 20 0 

Coal (?) ........................................... , . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 

Interval .. .' ....................................... _ .... c . • • . • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • • 20 0 

Coal, reported ...... ·······'························ ............ , ........... 2-3 0 

Interval ............................................. : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 0 

Coal, \Vallins Creek (?) ........................... · ........... : . ...... ~...... 3 8 

Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 0 

Sandstone, Puekett ......... , ....... ·.· .. -....... : _............................ 30 0 

Inferval .......................................... ·.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 0 

Coal....................................................................... 3 

Interval ..................................................... _.............. 80 0 

Coal ................................................................... _ _ _ _ 7 

Interval .......................... · .......................................... 140 0 

Coal, Kellioka (?) ........................ ~ .... ·.................... ... . . .. .. 7 3 

Interval . c .... _ ... __ ......... _ .......... · .. · .......................... ; • .. .. .. . 230 0 

Coal, reported ......... _ .......... _ ................. __ ... ~ ........... _. _ ... _. 3 0 

I~terval ......................... : . ......... ~ ............................... · 50 0 

Coal, Harlan-Hance ............................. ·............................ 4 0 

Interval ........................... "---·------·-----------------------------·· 200 0-

Coal, Puckett ...... : ......... __ ... __ ..... _ ... __ .... __ ..... _ ..... _ ...... ___ ._ 2 10 

Interval ......................................................... · ........... 30 0 

Coal .... .......... ......... ... .. ... ..... .. .. . ................. .. . .. . . ...... 8 

It can not be asserted with entire certaintv that the correlations in the 

above sectio~ are correct. An attempt was made. to trace the Puc.kett sandstone 

from its more typical locality on Jackson and Reynolds mountains into this 

region, and ·it would seem. to be fairly successful, but the fact that other 

sandstones at some points make prominent cliffs produces some doubt as to the 

correctness of the final result. Around the head of Puckett Creek the sandstone 

here called "Puckett" is quite distinct and makes cliffs at. a number of ·poi~ts. If 

this be the Puckett sandstone, the 44-inch coal occupies about the position 

assumed for the Wallins Creek .coal1 and the Smith 11-foot coal is about the 

correct interval above that to eori·elate with the 3- to 4-foot coal at 150 feet 

above the W allius Creek coal in the Wallins Creek basin. Again the interval 

from the Puckett sandstone down to the Smith 4-foot coal agrees with the 

interval from that sandstone down to the Hance coal, or approximately 800 feet. 

Again the interva:l from the 4-foot coal to the 7-foot coal agrees with the interval 

between the Harlan coal and the Kelli0ka coal,_ while the interval between the 

4-foot coal and the 34-irich coal corresponds with the interval between the Hance 

coal and the Puckett coal. _ 

The first section on Pl. XXXI, opposite, is a section from the top of the ridge 

at the head of Lick Branch of Path Fork of Puckett Creek down to the gap at the 

head of Black Mountain Branch; then down the road to Brownies Creek; near Lee & 

' 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

~{ Ridge at head 

of Path Fork to 

Wallins Greek 

Sang Trace Puc. kett Creek 

Toms Branch 

Saylor's Storel-iead of Puckett. 

Lee Branch 

CZ7" 

Head of 

Wallins Creek 

GIO" 

C29" 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL XXXI 

Catron Creek 

Coon Branch 

Martins Fork to 

head of Catron 

Wa !I ins Greek 

Banner Fork 

Catron Creek Jones Bran·ch 

COLUMNAR SECTIONS, UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=300 feet. 
SECTIONS IN UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. un 

Saylor's store, and down Brownies Creek. In this. section the correlation of 

the 66t-inch coal has been in doubt, because this coal is 100 feet or more farther 

below the Puckett sandstone than the Hance or Harlan coal, yet not far enough 

to be the Puckett coal. On the other hand, the group of three coals, 50 feet 

below, resembles the Puckett coal on Puckett Creek, and the rocks in the 

intervals between this coal, the coal with the three benches, and the coal with 

two 17-inch benches, closely resemble the section immediatel_y below the Puckett 

coal at its type locality on Puckett Creek. The coal given in that section as 

66t inches, which at other places showed nearly 4 feet of solid coal, has been 

tentatively called the Hance coal, while the coal showing three benches has been 

called the Puckett coal. This correlation, however, is strongly questioned on 

account of the smallness of the interval between them which does not appear to be 

over 60 or 70 feet, as against a usual interval of 200 feet on Puckett Creek and 

Toms Branch. The interval, however, is not very different from that between 

the Hance coal· and the coal immediately above the Cawood sandstone that is 

seen farther down Brownies Creek, or in Hance Ridge. 

The third section on that plate shows the rocks seen in a climb on Toms 

Branch of Puckett Creek. The fourth section shows the coals and rocks seen in 

a climb up Sang Branch of Wallins Creek. In this the Wallins Creek coal is 

developed with its typical section. The Puckett sandstone and Reynolds sandstone are well developed, and the position of the ,Jesse sandstone, though not seen 

in this section, was readily obtained from the elevation of this sandstone where 

seen on Toms Branch, just over the ridge where it was typically developed. 

The 44-inch coal above the Wallins Creek has been correlated as the equivalent 

of the Smith 11-foot coal; the coal showing 36+ inches may be the equivalent 

of the Kellioka coal. The intervals and coals of this section are as follows: 

Section showing coals and ·intervals on Sang Branch of Wallins Creek. 

Interval fro\ll top of hill ........... __ .. _ .. _ ... _. __ . ___ .. _ .................. . 

Sandstone, Reynolds . __ . _ ............. _ . _ ................................. . 

IntervaL ................ --.............. -.- ........... ----.--- ..... -.------

Interval, position of Jesse sandstone. ____ ................................... . 

Interval .................................................................. . 

Coal, Smith 11-foot (?) -----------------------------------------------------

Interval ............................... -.--.-.---.-.-.---------------------

Coal .................................................................... .. 

Interval ...... _ ...... _ ............ _ .................... ~ .................. . CoaL ........................ ______ .... _ .. _ . __ . ___________________ ... _ . __ . _ 

Interval .................................................................. . 

Coal .. . .. . . . . . ........................................................... . 

Interval .................................................................. . 

Coal, 'vallins Creek ................................•...•............ _____ .. 

Interval ........ __ .. _ .................................................... .. 

Coal . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. - -.. -.............. . 

Interval ............. _ ............ __ . _. __ ........ _____ ... __ . _ .. _ ..... _. _ .. . 

Sandstone, Puckett .......................................... : . ............ . 

Interval.------- ..................................... · ........ ____ ------ __ .. 

Coal, Kellioka (?) ...................................... _ ... _ .•........ ____ _ 

Interval .......... _ .. _ ........................... ___ ..•... _ .. _ .... _ ... ___ .. 

CoaL ..................... --.-.---- ... ---------------------.-----------.----

Interval (to mouth of branch)--·-------------------------------------------

41-No. 49-06-15. 

Ft. 

60 

50 

180 

40 

170 

3 

20 

1 

30 

1 

40 

2 

50 

8 

120 

1 

30 

60 

390 

3+ 

460 

2 

110 

in. 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

8 

0 

11 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

4 

0 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

0 
192 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The fifth section is a section of the rocks on Banners Fork of Wallins Creek. 

Coal was seen only near the mouth, so that the stratigraphy of the upper part 

of the section was left somewhat in doubt. Four coals were noted in the lower 

part of the section, which had a thickness of 2 feet 10 inches, 1 foot 6 inches, 

1 foot 11 inches, and 6 inches, respectively, beginning at the top, with intervals 

of 160 feet, 60 feet, and 40 feet. The next section was obtained at the head of 

Wallins Creek, and shows the Wallins Creek coal typically developed. This 

section gives: 

Section showing coals and intervals on Wallins Creek. 

Ft. in. 

Interval, mostly sandstone .... ~ ...................•...••..................... 110 0 

Sandstone, Reynolds (lower part ? ) .......................................... . 60 0 

Interval, mainly sandstone ................................................. . so 0 

Coal .......... _____ ....... _ ....... _ .......... _______________ . ___ ........ ___ _ 10 

Interval ................................................................... . ],5 0 

Coal ...... : ........................ ·_. _ ..... ___________________________ . : ___ _ 2 5 

Interval ................................................................... . 10 0 

Sandstone, massive, Jesse .............................. ~ .................... . so 0 

Interval, shales and shaly sandstone ........................................ .. 40 0 

Sandstone, massive ........................................................ .. 60 0 

IntervaL ....................... ._ .......................................... . 140 0 

Coal, Wallins Creek, type locality ........................................... . s 0 

IntervaL .................................................................. . 30 0 

Coal' ......... __ . ___ .. _________ .. _______________ ... ·. __________________ ._._ .. 11 

Interval, shales and sandstone ............................................ .. 125 0 

Coal .............................. _ . _ ...... ____ . _______ . __________________ __ 1 9 

Interval .................................................................. .. 90 0 

Sandstone, Puckett (top) .................................................. .. 10 0 

Interval ........ ~ .......................................................... . 510 0 

Coal ...................................................................... . 2 4 

Interval .................................................................... . 220 0 

Coal bloom ............. ~..... . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. ......................... . 

Interval ................................................................... . 10 0 

Coal ..................................................................... .. 2 0 

Interval .......................... _ ........................................ . so 0 

Coal, just above mouth of Banners Fork ................................... .. 0 

The next section was obtained on Jones Branch of Catron Creek, and in it 

. no coals were measured except the Harlan coal and the Pansy coal, both obtained 

from openings on . Catron Creek. 

The next section gives the coals and rocks .on. Coon Branch of Catron Creek. 

Here again the Wallins· Creek coal is well developed· and a 3- to 4-foot coal at 

the same interval above it as the 44-inch coal on Trace Fork, which has been 

assumed to be the equivalent of the Smith 11-foot coal. The Harlan coal near 

the base of this section is from the same opening as that in the preceding section. 

The intervals and coals of this section are as follows: 
SEC'l'IONS IN UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

Section on Coon Branch of Catron Creek. 

Interval from top _________________________________________________________ _ 

Sandstone, pebbles in lower portion, .Jesse _________________________________ _ 

Interval ____ -- -- __ -- ------ -----, ------ --- --- - - ---- - ----- - ----------- --- - -- -- Coal ________________________________ : _____________________________________ _ 

Interval __ .-.--- _____ - ___ - ___ - -- -- ---- - ----- - - ---- ---- ---- ---- --- ____ - - --- --

Coal _ . _____ ---- ____ .. ---- ------ -- -- __ - - ---- - --- ------ ---- ------ - __ -- ------ Interval, mainly sandstone __________________________ _ : _____________________ _ 

Coal------- ______ ------------------ ____ _. _____________ ----------------------

Ft. in. 

20 0 

70 0 

G5 0 

3+ 0 

110 0 

3-4 0 

90 0 

1 

Interval __________________________ - - ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 50 

3 

0 

7 

0 

9 

0 

6 

0 

8 

Coal, vVallins Creek _________________________ ~ _____________________________ _ 6 

Interval _______ - ______ - -- - _______________ .---- - _______ -- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 50 

Coal ____ ----------------------------------------------------- -------------- Interval. __ .---- ________ -- __ -----------------: ____ ------____________________ 25 

Coal _ • _________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________ . _____ . ________________ _ 1 

IntervaL ____ · ________ ,--------------_---------_------- __ -------- ___ ---.- _ ___ 15 

Coal _ ----------------------. __ --- _ --- __ ---------------------- ______ -------- 1 

Interval ___ - ---:-- ---- ---- __ - - ---- ---- - ----- ---- ---:--- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 0 

Coal _ • __ . _ - - - - - ________ - _____ - - - - - - __ - - - - - - - - _____ - _ , - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3-4 

Interval (Puckett sandstone should have appeared in this interval)_. ___________ 245 0 

Sandstone, massive, Slater- _______________ ----- ________ -_____________________ 80 0 

Interval ___ - - --- ____ ---- -- ___ - _ - -- -- __ - - -. - _ -. ______ - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 350. 0 

·coal, Harlan ____________________ - - - _________________ . _______________ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 0 

193 

The last section. is taken close to the preceding, running from the head of 

Catron Creek down to Martins Fork. It is of interest mainly because of the 

entire absence of sandstone at what has been assumed as the horizon of the 

Puckett sandstone. The heavy sandstone in the middle of the section is 

considered as the Slater sandstone, and the Puckett sandstone should come a little 

over 100 feet above, or about in the position of the second coal bloom from the 

top. The .Jesse sandstone is characteristically developed in this section, containing 

pebbles as it does on Coon Branch of Catron Creek. . This section and the ~ne at the 

head of Wall ins Creek shows the massive sandstone which lies a short distance 

below the Jesse sandstone. In some cases this is the most massive sandstone 

noted in a climb. As in the Wallins Creek district, the position of the Harlan 

coal on Wallins Creek is debat!tble. An attempt was. made to find its horizon by 

tracing the Cawood sandstone up Wallins Creek in this region. Unfortunately 

the sandstones of the lower part of the section are none of them continuously 

cliff makers, and doubt existed as to the correctness of the final correlations. 

If we assume that the sandstone immediately 1below the 1St-inch coal on Banners 

Fork of Wallins Creek is the Cawood sandstone, as one correlation made it, then 

the 34-inch coal may be the Harlan coal, and correspondingly the 28-inch coal 

on the right-hand fork of Wallins Creek. By other correlations it appeared 

more probable that the Harlan coal should come immediately above the cliffmaking sandstone, 60 feet below the 34-inch coal. As no coal was seen at this 

horizon in any of the climbs the question was left in doubt, and we have run 

the line at the bottom of the Mingo formation at the horizon of the 34- and 

28-inch coal in the two sections mentioned. 
194 CUMBERLAND G.AP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

COALS. 

As shown by the columnar sections already given, we may count upon 

workable coal at at least four horizons-the horizon of the Smith 11-foot coal, 

the Wall ins Creek coal, the Kellioka coal, and the Harlan coal-with possibility 

of workable coal at the horizon of the Puckett coal. Of none of these can it be 

asserted that they will yield a workable thickness over all of the area underlain 

by them. The Harlan coal and the Wallins Creek coal give the best promise as 

far as present data go. Probably the only coals seen of the Hignite formation 

were two at the head of Wallins Creek. One of these, which measured 29 inches, 

came immediately above what was considered the Jesse sandstone, whose top 

marks the bottom of· the Hignite formation. This would occupy about the 

position of th"c Lower Hignite coal if our correlations are correct. .Fifteen feet 

above it was seen a 10-inch coal which would come in the position of the Upper 

Hignite coal of Log Mountains. As neither of these coals is workable, the 

question. of their correlation is a minor one. One hundred and forty feet above 

the upper of these coals a coal bloom was seen that suggested the outcrop of a 

rather thick coal. With these exceptions no coals" seen in this formation were 

so exposed that their sections could be measured. 

COAL OF LE~' SANDSTONE. 

One or two coals have been found on the upper part of Martins .Fork above 

"The Narrows." One of these (978) shows a thickness of 36 to 40 inches under 

from 8 to 10 feet of dark-blue shale. The coal appeared to be good and very 

hard. It has a fire-clay floor. Another coal of unknown thickness was found 

higher up. The stratigraphic position of these coals in the formation could not 

be determined. At this point the rocks are lying nearly horizontal, this being 

a part of the monocline of Cumberland Mountain, in which the strata having 

been turned up at a high angle in the north face of Brush M,ountain, then turn 

and extend across the headwaters of Martins Fork with very little dip, being 

slightly upturned again as they approach the escarpment at the Butts of the 

White Rocks. On account of this position of the rocks it is possible that this 

or any thicker coal that may be found in this region may yield a small body of 

workable coaL On account of the pressure and movements to which it has been 

subjected such coal is apt to be, as in this case, very h~rd or else badly broken 

up, yielding little lump coal. 

COALS 01<' HANCE FORMATION. 

On account of the elevation of the drainage in this district, there are in 

this district few exposures of the coals of the Hance formation. Those on Wallins 

Creek have .in the main been discussed under the heading "Wallins Creek 

district," as it was more convenient to consider them at that point in connection 

with other outcrops of the same coals in that district with which it was thought 

they could be correlated. Two of these coals are shown on Pl. XXXIV, page 196 

(792, 792a). On Lee Branch of Puckett Creek a 34-inch coal without partings 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER .NO. 49 PL. XXXII 

r-~--------.--------------------------------.------------- --------

sMnH 11-FooT CoAL. 

968. 771. 967. 913, 

Coon Branch of Catron Creek. Sang Branch of Wallins Creek. Coon Branch of Catron Creek. Lee Branch of · Puckett Creek. ~ Fro~t place. 

=36"± 

I~· 

785, 

Right Fork of Wallins Cre~k. 

1

13" 

1' 

12" 

1" + 25" .:::::;26" 

960. 959. 

Coon Branch of Catron Creek. John Branch of Catron Creek. (Type.locality.) 

H. Hensley. 

18'' + 38"+ ~56"+ 

786, 

Right Fork of Wallins Creek. 

7" + 21'' =28' 1 

900. 

Saltlog Hollow of Left ll'ork of Lick Branch of Path l::l'ork of Puckett Creek. 

KELLIOKA COAL. 

983. 907. 

Old Horse Branch Puckett Creek. of Martins Fork. 

51" + 76"! =127"! 

WALLINS CREEK COAT •• 

767. 783a. 965, 910. 918. 

San~ Branch of 'Valli ns Creek. Right Fork of Wallins Creek. Coon Branch of Catron Creek. Head of Puckett Creek. 

930. 927. 

Middle Fork of Bear Tree Branch Bear Tree of Puckett Creek. Branch of Puckett Creek. 

922a. 933. 

. -

227:;"" + 38" =60}:1" 

787. 794. 

··I· 

3" + 39' 1 

=i2'' 

926. 

Bear Tree Branch of Puckett Creek. 

I =30" . 

956. 

LeeBranchof Jackson )!ill 

Martins Fork. B r an c h o f 

Right Fork of Banner!'\ Fork of 'Vallins Creek. Wallins Creek. 

Johu Branch or Catron Creek. 

Puckett Creek., :Myra Osburn. 

18" + 2411+ =4211 + 

17" + 29" =i6" 

=

13" 

8" 

13" 

8" + 26" =34:" 

5'1" =52" 

SECTIONS OF COALS ABOVE THE HARLAN COAL, UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

Scale: I inch=S feet. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXXI II 

A. KELLIOKA COAL ON THE WILL LEE PLACE, UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

Near head of Laurel Hollow, Martins Fork. 

B. HARLAN COAL AT THE WASHINGTON HENSLEY MINE. 

On Catron Creek, opposite the mouth of Johns Branch. 
·coALS OF UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 195 

showed on the William Lawson place near the mouth of the branch. The elevation 

there is 180 feet below the Granville Smith 4-foot coal which has been consiqered 

the Harlan coal. This coal would, therefore, have the assumed position of the 

Puckett Creek coal. On Lick Branch of Path Fork of Puckett Creek, near .Jerry 

Saylor's (901), the coal shows at a barometric elevation of about 1,660 feet. As 

far as seen, there is an upper bench of 13 inches of coal with a clay parting of 

one-fourth inch, 1 inch of coal, 2 inches of bone, 16 inches of coal to a .lower 

bench of bone coal. Whether this was the bottom of the coal or not could not 

be determined (901). Over the mouth of Toms Creek, 190 feet up the bank 

(902), is a 3-foot coal with a thin clay seam 1 to 2 inches thick about 6 inches 

from the bottom. It is underlain and overlain by hard sandstones. On Laurel · 

Branch of Martins 'Fork 160 feet vertically above the mouth is a coal at about 

the same horizon as the 34-inch coal on Puckett Creek (924), which shows 4 inches 

of shaly coal, 1 inch of clay, 1 inch of shaly coal, 32-§- inches of coal and a knifeedge clay parting 19t inches from the top. An analysis of thi~> coal shows as 

follows: • .Analysis of coal from Laurel Branch of Martin.g Fork. 

Per cent. Moisture . __ .. ___ . _____________ . ________________ . __ ... . ___ . _ .. ____ . _. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. 944 

Volatile hydrocarbons. ___ . _______ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 0 _ 0 0 0 0 _____ 0 0 0 __ 0 _ 0 0 0 _ 0 _ 0 0 0 0 _ 0 0 0 _ 0 39. 466 

Fixed carbon 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 _ 0 _ 0 ____ 0 _ 0 0 _ 0 ____ 0 0 0 _ 0 _ 0 0 0 0 0 ____ 0 ____ 0 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 __ 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 0 _ 53. 499 

Ash 0 0 0 __ 0 _ 0 0 0 _ 0 0 0 _ 0 • 0 _______ 0 0 __ 0 0 _ 0 _ 0 _ 0 0 0 _ 0 _ 0 0 __ 0 _ 0 _ 0 0 __ 0 0 _ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _ 0 0 0 ~ 0 _ 3. 290 

Sulphur 0 ...... _ 0 0 ________________ • ______ .- _________ • ________ 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. 801 

The analysis is of the 32t-inch bench only. 

On Martins Fork just above the mouth of Timber Ridge Branch on the north 

• side, and immediately overlying a bluff of sandstone at that point, 37 inches of 

coal without partings has been faced up (1062a). On the whole the coals below 

the Puckett coal in this district show a thickness that exceeds the workable 

thickness so slightly that they are of questionable value in the presence of the 

better coals above. A number of beds from 1 to 2 feet thick were noted, and in 

some cases those may have come at horizons of the 3-foot coals at other places. 

It is probable that .a small percentage of the area is underlain by workable coal at 

these lower horizons. 

COALS OF MINGO FORMATION. 

The Mingo formation in this district carries at its base the Harlan coal, which 

appears to be workable over a large part of this district. The Kellioka coal 

comes some 250 feet above the base of the formation, and two or three other coals 

of barely workable thickness are found, but they can hardly be considered as of 

value in this region in the presence of the thicker coals below. 

HARLAN COAL. 

The Harlan coal in this region is less available than in its typical development 

about Harlan, ranging from a total thickness of nearly 7 feet (of which neariy 5 

feet are workable) down to nearly 2 feet. It probably can be counted upon to yield 

workable coal with a thickness of 3 feet over quite a proportion of the district. 

On Puckett Creek we find a coal in Black Mountain Hollow of Puckett 32 inches 

thick, which it has been thought might come at this horizon; over it are 17 inches 
196 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

of shale to sandstone and below it 2 inches of shale to sandstone (714). On Bear 

Tree Branch of Puckett Creek (925) the coal shows a thickness of about 4 feet. 

This includes one-half inch of bony coal 15! inches from the top, underlain by 1t 

inches of clay, then three-fourths inch of clay H inches lower, and at-inch clay 

parting 15t inches from the bottom. The roof is a sandstone and the floor a 

bluish-gray clay. The coal here has an elevation of 1,734 feet. On Lee Branch of 

Puckett Creek this has been opened on the. Granville Smith, or, as it is now, Frost 

place, where it has long been known as the Smith 4-foot coal. It shows a total 

thickness of 4 feet with a l-inch bone parting i1 inches from the bottom. Thin 

clay streaks one-fourth inch or less in thickness were. noted at 14t inches from the 

top, H inches lower, and 20 inches below that. Below the coal is 1 inch of clay 

and 2 inches of coal, then fire clay. Above the coal is clay sh!lle and massive sandstone a short distance above. A sample obtained from· this bank was too badly 

weathered to give a fair idea of the quality of the coaL On Puckett Ci·eek above 

Toms Branch about 200 feet above the creek bed at the mouth of the branch this 

coal shows 11 thickness of 3 feet with 1 to 2 inches of clay 6 inches from the bottom. 

Sandstone outcrops immediately above and below the coal (902). On a branch of 

Jackson Mill Branch of Puckett Creek this coal showed a thickness of 3 feet plus, 

the bottom not being visible. The coal here was solid and good and reported to burn 

well by those who have used it (939). This is on the .Tames Shackleford plac.e. On 

a side climb from the right-hand fork of Jackson Mill Branch of Puckett Creek this 

coal showed a thickness of only 27 inches. It has over it 4 feet of sandy shale grading up into shaly sandstone, with below 12 inches of tire-clay floor to a hard sandstone. At both of these openings on Jackson Mill it lies between two sandstones as at • 

the type locality around Harlan. At the opening on the right-hand fork (935) the 

coal is bright and firm with faces running from N. 50° E. to S. 40° E. The roof 

flakes down. On Catron Creek this coal shows on Steam Mill Branch on the 

Morris Napier place just above Pansy (944). It is badly broken up by a 16-inch 

parting, the lower bench being 18 inches thick, and the upper bench, which is 

about 30 inches thick, has a !-inch parting 7t inches from the top and at-inch parting 

2 inches from the bottom. The roof is shale. At the next opening on the Washington Hensley place, opposite the mouth of John Branch (952); this coal shows an 

unusual thickness. There are three benches, the upper of which measured from 

2 feet to 2 feet 7 inches; then comes a grayish-clay parting from 2 inches to 1 

inch in thickness, then a little bench from 1 foot 10 inches to 2 feet 2 inches in 

thickness. The lower 8 to 14 inches of this bench is a good cannel coal with conchoidal fracture. Below an 8-inch parting of clay there was seen at the month of 

the drift 1 foot to l foot 4 inches of coal, also a canneL The roof is a brown 

shaly sandstone for 2 feet, with 8 feet plus of sandy shale above. Between the sandstone and the coal a little shale is sometimes seen ranging up to a thickness of 4 

inches. The faces run N. 40° W. The sandstone roof appears to be of good quality; 

The coal here is 150 feet above the creek at an elevation of 1, 710 feet and shows a 

slight eastward dip. 

On John Branch,· to the south of the last opemng, the Harlan coal has been 

opened on the Myra Osburn place (956). Here it showed 52 inches of coal without 

partings, and a sandstone roof. The coal has an excellent roof here. Its elevation 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

714. 

Black Mountain Hollow of Path 'F'ork. 

944. 952. 

Steam Mill Wash. Hensley. Branch. Morris ·Napier. 

925. 

Bear Tree Branch. 

8" + «%'" 

=471£" 

CATHON CREEK. 

955. 

John Branch. Myra Osburn. 

958. 

HARLAN COAL. 

PUCKETT CREEK. 

905, 902. 

Lee "Branch. Frost place. Above Toins 

1•' + <17'' =18'' 

986. 

Branch. 

1-211 I~ 6" 

2" + 36" =38'' 

980. 

John Branch. Upper Double Branch. Timber Ridge Branch. 

Steven Fee. 

M'" + 38~" =39'' 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXXIV 

939, 935. 

Branch of Jack- Right Fork of son Mill Rranch. 

1-" 

=36"+ 

._ 

MARTIXS FORK. 

982. 

Old House Branch. Bert. Hensley. 

16" + 49Y.:j" 

=6:JJ.i'' 

924. 

Laurel Branch of Laurel Hollow. Sam. llensley. 

~'l·w· 6'' + 3:27!3" =387:)" 

Jackson Mill Branch. f .. =27" 

BROW~IES CHEEK. 

604, 

Branch near Lee &: Saylor's store. 

COALS IN THE HANCE FORMATIO!{. COAL IX LEE FORMATION. 

792a. 792. 

Banners Fork of Wallins Creek. 

15" + 30.%" =45}4" 

2" 

8" 2" 

-

6" 

15" 

4" + 29" =33" 

901. 

Lick Branch of l-'ath Fork of Puckett Creek. Jerry Saylor. 

1

13" 

J.!l" 

M" 1" 

16" 

1" + 30" =31" 

902a. 1062a. 

Toms Rranch of ].lartins Fork, -·i= .~~~:~ ~M" 

=34" =37" 

COAL SECTIONS, UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 

Scale: 1 inch=S feet. 

978, 

Martins Fork above the Narrows. 

=36-40" 

J· 
COALS OF UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 197 

is 1,678 feet, indicating quite a sharp dip from the Washington Hensley bank. 

On account of the difference in the two sections some question was raised as to 

the correlation of, these two coals, and it is possible that the bottom coal in the 

·washington Hensley bank lies below the coal opened at the Osburn bank, 

though it was not seen. The opening here is about 60 feet above the adjacent 

drainage. A little farther up John Branch, on the east side at (958), supposedly 

the same coal has been opened, but it shows there a thickness of only from 32 

to 33 inches. Its elevation there is 1,6:77 feet. The roof is massive sandstone. 

The coal on Upper Double Branch of Catron Creek, 44 inches thick, on the John 

Crider place (986) was described under the preceding district. 

Crossing over to Martins Fork the Harlan coal was seen on the Stephen Fee 

place on Timber Ridge Branch of Martins Fork (980). Its total thickness was 39 

inches, including a half-inch parting 9 inches from the bottom. Over the coal is 

a massive cross-bedded sandstone (sec l'l. XXX, B, p. 1:78). On 0\dhouse Branch 

of Martins Fork (983) this coal gave a total thickness of over 5 feet, but that 

includes a 16-inch parting of drab clay 9t inches from the top. The bottom 

bench is 3 feet 4 inches thick, ineluding 14 inches of cannel at the bottom. The 

analysis included only the 40-inch bench.. The coal is here 20 feet above the branch 

at an actual elevation of 1,889 feet above tide. On Laurel Branch of Hensley Branch 

of Martins Fork this coal has been opened upon the Sam Hensley place (924). This 

shows a main bench of 32t inches of very hard coal with some brown streaks. Over 

it is ·1 inch of bone, 1 inch of coal, an.d 4 inches of bone. It occurs in the bed of 

the branch at an elevation of 1, 710 feet above tide. There •is a knife-edge of clay 

lDt inches from the top of the 32t-inch bench. The following six analyses are by 

A. S. McCreath from samples obtained in 1902 and 1903: 

Analyse.~ of Harlan coal in Upper Puckett district. 

Constituent. A. B. c. D. E. F. G. H. 

------

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

'\Va,ter ______ .. _------ _------- 6.610 1. 822 1. 388 1. 720 2.072 1. 944 2.076 3.602 

Vola tile matter ____ - _____ - ___ 33.870 35.028 35.562 38.740 41. 558 39.466 36.944 35.293 

Fixed carbon ________________ 53.176 57.285 52.632 56.178 47.665 53.499 58.304 55.412 

Sulphur ____ : ______ -- ____ ---- .504 0 705 0 798 0 742 0 755 1.801 .716 .583 

Ash _____ . ___________________ 5.840 5.160 9.620 2.660 7.950 3.290 1. 960 5.110 

-------

A. Four-foot opening on the Frost place, or old Granville Smith place, on Lee Branch of Puckett Creek (905). 

B. 1\Iorris Napier place on Steam ~I ill Bmnch of Catron Creek, just above Pansy (9H). 

c. Wash. Hensley bank on Catron Creek, opposite Jones Branch (952). 

D. Stephen Fee bank on Timber Ridge Branch of Martins Fork above Hurst (980). 

E. Old house Branch of Martins Fork, Bert Hensley place (982). 

F. Laurel Branch of Hensley Branch of Martins Fork on the Sam Hensley phtce (924). 

G. 1\Iym Osburn place~on John Ball Branch, probably the same as No. 955. 

H. G. w. Hensley place on Catron Creek, probably the same as 952. 

G and H are from analyses by McCreath from samples obtained by McCreath and d'Invilliers, 1888. 

These analyses are in nearly all cases of samples taken very near the 

surface and often badly weathered. On the whole tliey show rather a high 

percentage of ash, generally a medium to low percentage of sulphur, though 
198 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

one sample gave a high percentage of sulphur. The proportion of fixed carbon 

ranges from quite low to high, with an average about medium for this district. The 

percentage of volatile matter is usually rather above the average, in one case 

running over 40 per cent. These facts suggest a coal of good quality with rather 

a high ash, probably due to the fact that the samples included small partings in 

many cases. 

As a result of its low position in the mountain, coming as a rule 'fairly near 

drainage, this coal underlies a large portion of the district, and should it prove 

to be as a whole no worse than may be judged from the sections already 

obtained, it ought to yield a large amount of workable coal. Its elevation at 

the cast is about 1,600 feet, but it tends to rise to 1, 700 feet on Puckett 

Creek, and in places on Martins Fork, where it is brought within the influence 

of the Powell Riyer anticline, it reaches an elevation of 1,800 to 2,000 feet. 

McCreath and Peter both give analyses of the upper and lower parts of 

the Washington Hensley bank separately as given below; the A and C analyses 

are by McCreath from samples obtained by McCreath and d'Invilliers; B and D 

are by Peter from samples obtained by R. C. B. Thruston; A and B include the 

coal down to the top of the 1 foot of cannel; C and D include the 2 benches 

of cannel 1 foot thick and 16 inches thick. 

Analy.1es of coal at CJ. W. Hensley plnce on Catron Creek. 

Constituent. 

JVIoisture ______ ... _. _ _ _ _ ____________________ .... __ . _. __ . 

Volatile hydrocarbons _______________ . _____ . ______ . ___ . 

Fixed carbon. ___ . _____________________ . _________ . ___ . _ 

Ash-------·----·---·--------------·---·------·--· ... 

Sulphur _________ . __________________ ------ ___ ...... __ --1 

A. B. 

Per cent. Per cent. 

3.602 

35.293 

55.412 

.5.110 

.583 

2.50 

31.90 

60.80 

3.80 

. 438 

c. D. 

Per cent. Per cent. 

1. 284 0.80 

40.656 37.30 

47.723 54.90 

7.960 7.00 

2.367 1. 925 

These analyses show the cannel coal to be of excellent quality as regwrds 

its percentage of ash, but to have such a high percentage of sulphur as to 

render its workability doubtful. For ordinary steam purposes, worked in 

connection with the bituminous coal above, it may prove satisfactory. 

KELLIOKA COAL. 

The type of this coal for this district was on the Hh·am Hensley place on 

John Branch of Catron Creek (959). The coal here shows a total \jhickness of 

7 feet 1 t inches, including 6 inches of clay 17 inches from the top, 3t inches. of 

dark-drab elay 17 inches lower, 8 inches of drab clay 3t inches below that, and 

a bottom bench of coal 40 inches thick, including a l-inch par'ting of black clay 

1 foot from the bottom. The analysis of this coal included only the bottom 

bench practically 3 feet thick. Above the coal is 6 feet plus of drab shale. 

The faces here run N. 40° E.. This coal lies at an elevation of 1,957 feet, or 

about 300 feet above the branch. One hundred and fifty feet higher, the massive 
COALS OF UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 199 

sandstone outcrops and makes cliffs all around the head of this ravine. On Coon 

Braneh of Catron Creek (967) the coal supposed to be at about this horizon 

showed two benches, the upper 12 inches thick and the lower 24 inches plus; 

the bottom was not seen. Between them arc 21 inches of carbonaceous shale. 

The upper part of the parting contains some fire clay and the lower part some 

coal. Over it is 8 feet of thin warped sandstone. On Oldhouse Branch of 

Martins Fork (983) this coal is divided into three benches, an upper one 24 inches 

thick separated by 9 inches of shale from a middle bench 16 inches thick. The 

bottom bench is 3 feet thick and is separated from the upper coals by 3 feet 6 

inohes of clay and shale. The roof here is shale. The elevation here is 2,089 feet. 

On Lee Branch of Martins Fork on the Will Lee farm (922a) this coal shows a 

total thickness of 78t inches, including only 1 inch of shale 7t inches from the 

top, and 3 inches of clay 44 inches from the bottom. Soft streaks of bony coal 

were noted in each bench, seriously affecting the quality of the coal. From the 

standpoint of thickness and workability this is the best section of the coal seen, 

provided that the 3-inch parting be mined in and all of the coal taken (922a). 

The sample obtained here included only the 44-inch bottom bench below the 3-inch 

clay parting. On the opposite side of the ridge on the old Granville Smith place 

(907) the same coal has been opened, and has commonly been known as the Smith 

7-foot coal. lt shows a main bench 5 feet 3 inches in thickness, including a l-inch 

parting 14 inches from the top. There are 4 inches of coal 22 inches above the 

main coal. The coal here is hard and firm, and has locally been called the anthracite seam. The sample included all of the main bench below the 22-inch shale 

parting. 

On the middle fork of Bear Tree Branch of Puckett Creek (930) is a eoal 

showing a total thicknesf-' of 61 inches. This coal occur8 at an elevation of 330 feet 

above the Harlan coal as exposed on Bear Tree Branch, but on account of its resemblance to the Kellioka co~l, and allowing a possibility of the dip to account for the 

difference in the interval, it will be considered the Kellioka coal. The upper part 

of the coal is badly broken up, showing first a 5-inch ben<'h of coal, then 4 inches of 

shale, then 6 inches of bony eoal, and 6 inches of good coal. This is separated from 

the lower bench by St inches of clay; the lower bench shows 3lt inches of coal, 

including a l-inch clay parting 2 inches from the top. ·The sample obtained here 

for analysis included only the 28t-inch bottom bench. In a hollow to the east, of 

the last on Bear Tree Branch (927), a coal somewhat similar to the last has been 

opened at an elevation about 68 feet lower, or at about 2,066 feet. This shows a 

main bench of 3lt inches. Under it are 2 to 3 inches of shaly coal; over it are 

9 inches of clay, then 6t inches of coal, and 8 inches of clay, with 2t inches of 

coaly shale at. the top. The roof is a sandy shale ; the floor is a clay (927). 

On Jackson Mill Branch of Puckett Creek this coal was reported as having been 

opened at several points (933). At one of these the coal was said to be 7 feet 

thick (928). At another (932) it was reported 6 feet 8 inches thick; at a third 

(933), there could be seen 9 inches of coal, then 18 inches of clay, with a streak 

of bony coal in the upper part; then 15 inches plus of coal, the bottom not 

being seen. This was at the proper elevation above what was thought to be the 

Harlan coal. Taking these sections as a whole, it is evident that, while they show 
200 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

total thicknesses up to 7 feet or more in most cases, the portion of them that 

could be worked ranges from about 2~ feet to 5 feet, or 6t feet in the case of 

the exposure on Lee Branch of Martins Fork. On the whole, however, it may 

be doubted if this coal will yield on an average more than about 3 feet of coal 

that can be economically worked. 

The quality of the Kellioka coal is indicated by the following analyses: 

Analyses of Kellioka coal in Upper Puckett district. 

Constituent. 

Mo isture ....................... .". 

Vo 

Fix 

Ash 

Sul 

latile hydrocarbons ............ 

ed carbon ..................... 

----------------·---.---------

phur .......................... 

A. 

Per cent. 

1. 80 

34.20 

60.10 

3.\JO 

. 917 

Jl. C. I D. 

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

1.844 1. 630 1.534 

38.506 38.990 37. 106 

54.584 54.222 51. 298 

3.940 4.030 8. 720 

1.126 1. 128 1.342 

E. F. 

Per cent. Per cent. 

]. 74 1. 868 

33.32 39.232 

59.24 54.376 

5.70 3.300 

1. 034 1. 224 

A. Seven-foot coal, old Grandville Smith place, Lee Branch of Puckett Creek; sampled by R. C. B. Thruston, October 12, 

1886. Analysis by Robert Peter. 

B. Same coal, same locality; sampled by McCreath and d'Invilliers, 1888. Analysis by A. s. McCreath. 

C. Same coal, same locality; sample obtained in August, 1902. Analysis by A. S. McCreath. 

D. Lower part of bed 3 feet thick from Hiram Hensley Branch, John Branch of Catron Creek; sampled by R. C. B. 

Thmston, July, 1887. Analysis by Robert Peter. 

E. Same locality; sampled August, 1902; analysis by A. S. McCreath. 

F. William Lee place, Laurel Branch of Martins Fork, includes only the lower 44 inches of coal; sampled August, 

1902; analysis by A. S. McCreath. 

These analyses indicate the coal to have an average quantity of ash, but to 

be considerably above the average in sulphur, and from fair to high in fixed 

carbon, indicating a good coal for steaming purposes. 

Forty feet above the Harlan coal a cannel coal has heen opened upon John 

Branch of Catron Creek that has attracted some attention. It was not opened 

when visited in 1902. McCreath and d'Invilliers report the coal as 4 feet 6 inches 

thick, of which the top, 1 foot 9 inches, is bituminous coal and the bottom, 2 feet 9 

inches, cannel. McCreath obtained the following analyses of the upper bituminous 

bed (A) and of the cannel bed (B); the third analysis (U) is of a cannel-coal sample 

collected by Mr. R. C. B. Thruston and described as "8 miles from Mount Pleasant 

(Harlan), at the head of Catron Creek of Martins Fork. * * * Sample from 

22-inch seam in bed containing 3 seams, 2 of stone coal, severally 18 and 6 inche~; 

thick, separated by a 2-inch shale parting; 120 feet above drainage, a dull, grayblack cannel coal, irregularly laminated." As the description indicates that it 

was not in ,John Branch of Catron, we have supposed this to be the same bed from 

some neighboring point on the main branch of Catron Creek. Its analysis has, 

therefore, been inserted at this point. 

r 
.. 

COALS OF UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 201 

Anulyses of coal at head of Catron O·eek. 

Constituent. A. B. c. ~-- -----

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

2.692 1.126 1. 66 

36. 728 47.969 42.80 

56 .. 756 32.235 35.44 

3.045 17.795 20.10 

. 779 . 875 .549 

These analyses indicate the cannel coals to be of fairly workable quality. 

They are fairly free from sulphur and show a high percentage of volatile hydrocarbons, as is usual with cannel coal. On the whole we are inelined to consider this 

a workable coal. It is possible that this horizon will furnish pockets of cannel 

coal at other localities, some of which may prove of sufficiently good quality to be 

workable if at the same time they have the requisite thickness. 

COALS AT TOP OF MINGO FORMATION. 

Below the Wallins Creek coal several small coals outcrop on Coon Branch of 

Catron Creek. At the head of Wallins Creek the coal just above the Puck~tt 

sandstone, which has bQen noted at a few places, is exposed (785), and' shows a 

thickness of 26 inches, including a l-inch parting 12 inches from the bottom. It 

has a shale roo£. An outcrop of the same coal, according to our correlations, 

was noted just above Granville Smith's house on the trail to Martins Fork. It 

has not been counted as a workable coal in the presence of the thicker coals. 

A little below the Puckett sandstone, in the head of ·vv allins Creek, another 

coal shows a thickness of 21 inches with a l-inch parting 5 inches from the bottom 

(786). About the same position, possibly on Salt Log Hollow of the left-hand fork 

of Lick Branch of Path Fork of Puckett Creek (900), the coal was seen 38t inches 

thick. There is an upper bench 17t inches thick of hard coal, one-fourth inch of 

clay, one-half inch of coal, one-fourth inch of clay, 41- inches of coal, one-fourth 

inch of clay, 5 inches of coal, 1 inch of sulr.ihur streak, and 6t inches of coal. The 

roof is a soft clay. Over the coal was a massive sandstone. This coal, of which 

an analysis was obtained, lies immediately below cliffs of massiye sandstone. At 

the time it was seen the Puckett sandstone had not been traced through this area, 

and when that was done later by another member of the party, it was not eertain 

that the sandstone immediately over the coal -occurred at the horizon of the 

Puckett sandstone.. This coal was !Lt an elevation of 2,300 feet, while the Puckett 

sandstone at the head of Lick Branch has an elevation of about 2,500 feet. An 

analysis of this coal shows as follows: 

Anulysis of coal on Lick Branch of Path Fork of Puckett Creek. 

Per cent. 

Moisture ...........•.. _... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 492 

Volatile matter ... _.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38. 018 

Fixed carbon .. __ .......... --- .................. ___ .... -... . __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50. 765 

Sulphur ______ . __ ._~ •.......................................... _ .. · ....... _... 1. 855 

Ash ..••• _. ___ . _____ .. ·- ~ .................... ~ .............. -•. __ ......... _ . . . 6. 870 
202 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

COALS OF CATRON }<'ORMATION. 

WALLINS CR~JEK COAL. 

The Wallins Creek coal was seen in two places on Wallins Creek with almost 

exactly the same ;;ection, the difference being a matter of only a few inches. 

On Coon Branch of Catron Creek (967) a somewhat thinner section was seen, 

though still bearing ·a general resemblance to the Wallins Creek section. On 

Puckett Creek a coal assumed to be at this horizon showed a thickness of between 

3 and 4 feet without partings. The typical locality for this coal is in this district 

at the head of Wallins Creek. It is exposed naturally in several of the branches 

of the creek at one or two points. At one point here a block of this coal 

showing its full thickness is said to have been cut out and sent to the New Orleans 

Exposition. At this point the coal shows a total thickness of 8 feet 4 inches, 

including 7 inches of bone and coal 5 feet 4 inches from the top, and 7 inches of 

clay 7 inches from the bottom. The 7-inch parting is a hard dark-drab calcareous 

shale, ringing when struck with a hammer. The roof is dark~drab clay shale with 

a thickness of 1 foot with shaly sandstone above. At another exposure at the 

head of Wallins Creek the upper bench showed 5 feet 6 inches in thickness; then 

came 2 feet of crumbly coal, while the parting o£ hard blue rock is 1 foot 6 inches 

thick; the bottom bench is 8 inches thick (783). On Sang Branch of Wallins Creek 

(767) the• upper bench of coal is 5 feet 10 inches thick, the bony coal 3 inches thick 

with 12 inches of coal between that and the shale parting 7 inches thick. The 

lower bench is 8 inches thick. The bottom. bench in this case, as in the sections 

at the head of Wallins Creek, would, of course, not be worked, and it is possible 

that no attempt will be made to work any of the coal below the bench of bone. 

In that case the thickness of workable coal would be reduced to from 5 feet 4 

inches to 5 feet 10 inches. The roof of the coal on Sang Branch is shale "for a 

thickness of at least 9 inches. On Coon Branch of Catron Creek (965) this coal is 

a little more split up. Its section shows 32 inches of good bituminous coal, 4 

inches of good splint coal, 20 inches of good bituminous coal, 2 inches of bone, 1t 

inches of coal, 2t inches of bone, 1 inch of coal, 2t inches of clay, 1t inches of 

coal, 1t inches of clay, and 10 inches of· splinty coal. Over the coal is from 50 to 

60 feet of shale to sandstone. Under the coal there showed, partly covered, about 

3 feet more of coal and bone to a bottom bench of coal 3 inches thick resting 

on· 3 to 4 inches of carbonaceous shaly clay, and that on fire clay, grading down 

to a blue sandy shale for a thickness of 4 feet to a sandstone. The coal here has 

an elevation of 2,601 feet on the left fork and 2,625 £eet on the right fork of the 

branch. On Coon Branch the Puckett sandstone is not recognizable, but the Slater 

sandstone crops out with a thickness of 80 feet above the mouth of the branch. 

The Jesse sandstone shows its characteristie pebbly faCies 320 feet above the cmiJ. 

On Lee Branch of Puckett Creek, below the Smith 11-foot coal, this coal is reported 

to show a thickness of 44 inches (910). In a climb in the field above Mr. Smith's 

house this coal showed 3 feet 3 inches thick with 3 inches of shale on top. The 

following analysis of this coal is by A. S. McCreath from a sample obtained in 

1902 at the typical locality at the head of Wallins Creek. The second analysis is 
. COALS OF UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 203 

by Peter of possibly the same bench of coal at the same point, from a sample obtained 

by R. C. B. Thruston in August, 1884. The sample was air-dried. The third analysis 

is of the 44-inch seam reported 80 feet below the 11-foot coal on Lee Branch of 

Puckett Creek, supposed to be at the horizon of the ~r allins Creek coal. It is by 

Peter, from a sample by R. C. B. Thruston. This sample was also air-dried . 

.Analyses of Wallins Creek coal. 

Constituent. A. B. c. 

Per cent. Per cent. Per ceT\t. 

Moi~ture ..................... "· ................................ . 2.348 2.20 2.40 

Volatile combustible matter ..................................... . 37.792 35.10 34.20 

Fixed carbon ................................................... . 52.359 56. 70 60.60 

Sulphur ........................................................ . . 731 . 818 . 684 

Ash ........................................................... .. 6. 770 6.00 2.80 

T'he coke has the same general character as most of the cokes of this regiona fair quality with a tendency toward a granular structure. The ash here is quite 

high and the moisture percentage indicates a· we.athered coal-something to be 

expected, as the samples were obtained directly from the outcrop. The percentage 

of sulphur was fairly low. The percentage of fixed carbon is below the average. 

On the whole, however, this can be classed as a good steam coal, and samples 

obtained from the unweathered coal may show it to have a better coking quality. 

In considering the value o£ this eoal it seems safe to assume that it underlies the 

ridge around the head of Wallins Creek, yielding an average thickness o£ workable 

coal of between 5 and 6 feet, but it shows a tendency south of the head of Puckett 

Creek to thin down to an average thickness of between 3 and 4 feet. 

SMITH 11-FOOT COAI,. 

This coal is typically exposed on the old Granville Smith place at the head 

of Lee Branch of Puckett Creek (913). ~t bas been named from the exposure 

at this point, as this opening has been well known throughout ·the region, 

and the coal has generally been spoken o£ as the Granville Smith 11-foot coal. 

The seam shows a total thickness of 11 feet 4. inches. There are two principal 

partings in the coal, the uppermost a 12-inch parting 4 feet 9 inches from the 

top and the other 9 inches thick 3 feet 4 inches lower. This upper bench shows 

1 inch of parting 3 inches from the top and a knife-eQ.ge parting 16 inches from 

the botttom. The sample obtained for analysis of this coal in 1902 included only 

from the l-inch parting in the upper part of this bench down to the 12-inch 

clay parting. Over the upper bench is 6 inches of shale with 2 inches of coal 

above. The bench between the 12- and 9-inch partings shows a knife-edge parting 

9 inches from the· top and ~ clay parting 22 inches from the bottom. Below the 

9-inch parting are two benches of coal, f.i and 8 inches, respectively, separated by 

4 inches of shale. The 5-inch bench is very hard coal. The. roo£ is shale and 

firm, changing 2 feet above the coal into a thin-bedded sandstone. The floor IS 

41-No. 49-06-16 
204: CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIBLD, KENTUCKY. 

fire clay, underlain by coarse sandstone. On Sang Branch of Wallins Creek (767) 

this coal shows a thickness of 44 inches without partings. On Coon Branch of 

Cati·on Creek a very poor exposure of it indicated a thickness of from 3 to 4 

feet (771). At this point, however, it was badly weathered, and it was not possible to get a good section (!:l67). It is of course possible that the coal at the 

last two exposures represents only part of the coal as exposed at the Smith place, 

the 12-inch parting possibly having thickened so as to separate the two main 

benches. On Trace Fork a 23-inch coal was found about 15 feet below the 

44-inch coal, which may be a lower bench of the Smith 11-foot coal, though, as 

a sandstone bed comes between the two, it would hardly seem probable. We 

must therefore consider that if this eorrelation is correct, the 11-foot coal on Lee 

Branch is simply a local thickening of a bed which normally runs from 3 to 4 

feet in thickness. Thirteen feet of coal on Grays Knob, thought to lie at the 

same horizon, would be a similar instance of a local thickening, and It would not 

be unexpected under these circumstances if a similar thickening should he found 

at other points. 

The following two analyses of this coal at the type locality include only the 

upper bench of coal. The first analysis was from a sample .obtained in 1902, the 

analysis being by A. S. McCreath; the second analysis from a sample obtained 

Octobe~, 1886, from Mr. R. e. B. Thruston, is by Peter. The sample for the 

last analysis was air-dried. 

Analyses of Smith 11-foot coal, Lee Branch of Puckett Creek. 

Constituent. A. B. 

Per cent. Pe1· cent. 

Moisture_ . _ • ____ . _ . _____ . _ • _. ___ •• _ . ____ .. _ •• _. ___ •. _ . _ . _ .. _ •• __ . ____ . _ • __ _ 2.500 4.00 

Volatile combustible matter ..••..• _._ .. _ .. _ .• _ ..•. ___ ...... __ .. _ .•.• ___ .••• 37.010 31.00 

Fixed carbon • __ .. _. _ . __ ·- .....•.•.•.•.. _ ..•.•... _ .. __ . _. __ . __ • __ .. _ .. _ .•.. _ 49.680 56.00 

Sulphur . _ .. _. _ . _ .. _ ........•.••.• ___ ..•••• _. _. _ •... ______ •.•• _____ •.. ____ _ . 990 1. 027 

Ash ____ . _ .. ___ • ____ ..•.. _ ....•.. __ . _ •.•.. _ ..... - . __ . _ .. _ .• __ . _ .... ___ ... __ 9.820 9.00 

The coke obtained was fair but somewhat granular in structure. These 

analyses show this coal to be of fair quality, though carrying a large percentage 

uf ash and a small proportion of fixed carbon. The moisture percentage indicates 

that the coal was more or less weathered. It may be safe to figure on this coal 

showing a thickness of between 3 and 4 feet under most of the area with a 

greater thickness locally, which can hardly be considered in figuring the value 

of the eoal, as it is very apt, as in the section on Lee Branch, to show partings 

when thick which will reduce the actually workable coal to nearly the lower 

figure. 

CORRE!,ATION OF COALS OF CATRON FORMATION. 

In this district the Catron formation shows at least five coals, of which two 

may be considered workable. The two workable coals are here about 150 feet 

apart. The lower of them has been considered as at about the horizon of the 
t;TRUCTURE OF UPPER PUCKETT DISTRICT. 205 

Poplar Lick coal of Log Mountains, though it would not be safe to assert exact 

correlation. If it is the Poplar Lick coal of the Log Mountains, it is possible 

that the higher coal (the Smith 11-foot coal) is the representative of the Klondike 

coal of tht;~ Log Mountains. In the section on Coon Branch a coal measuring 

3+ feet, as far as exposed, and badly broken npwith· partings was found about 

60 feet below the bottom of the Jesse sandstone. Judging by the very poor 

section seen, it can not be considered as workable. 

SUl\fi\IARY. 

Sttrn:mary of coal8 of Upper Puckett district. 

Number of coal beds found ......... ____ .... __ .............. ____ .; ....•. 

.Total thickness of coals ........................................... feet .. 

Number of coal beds of workable thickness (2+ feet) ........... _ ..... _. 

Average thickness of principal workable eoals ................•..... feet.. 

Total thickness of workable coal beds .. __ ...... _ ........ __ ... _ ... do ... . 

Greatest thickness of single coal bed measured .. -·-- ........... __ .. do .. _. 

Greatest thickness of coal in single bed measured ............. _ .. _do ___ _ 

Approximate area underlain by workable coal ...... ~. ___ ......... acres .. 

"Estimated total tonnage of district .. _ ................. _ ........... tons •. 

25+ 

60 

13 

4 

45+ 

nt 

9 

20,000 

130,000,000 

Smith 11-foot. Wallins Creek. Kellioka. Harlan. 

Approximate elevation above tide ........ feet._ 

Thickness: 

Greatest . _ ................. __ , . ____ . do ... . 

Average ........ ________ ........ ___ .do. __ _ 

Least.._ .....•.... _ ... ____ ........ _.do ... . 

Average thickness of workable coal ..... do ... . 

Number of measurements---------------------

Area of seam --------------------------"acres .. 

Total coal per acre .. ____ .. __ ........ _ ... tons .. 

Available coal per acre _________________ do ... . 

Coal available in district ________ ........ do .... l 

2,800 

llt 

6+ 

3 

3~ 

3 

1,000 

10,000 

4,000 

4,000,000 

STRUCTURE. 

2,650 . . . -.. ·- l, !l5Q, _1L~~~~2,_0Q_O . ' 

8t 10r'2 6+% 

6 6i 3~ 

3t 3~ 2t 

51" '2 3! 4 

5 6 15 

5,000 5,000 16,000 

10,000 10,000 6,560 

4,000 4,000 5,500 

17,500,000 20,000,000 88,000,000 

As a whole the structure of this district is monoclinal, rismg more or less 

steadily on the northwest edge to Martins Fork. Along Puckett Creek from the 

mouth of Path Fork to the mouth of Rockhouse Branch, unless our correlations 

are incorrect, the dip practically just equals the descent of the stream, amounting 

to nearly 200 feet in that distance. From there, southeastward to Laurel Branch 

of Martins Fork, the rise appears to be somewhat greater, probably 300 feet or 

more. In the headwaters of Wallins Creek a somewhat similar rise exists, as 

well as in the head'Yaters of Catron, which shows in the ridge between Catron 

and Wallins and Puckett in the rise of the Wallins Creek coaL This coal, which 

has an elevation of 2,496 feet at the head of Hobbs Branch, rises to about 2,620 

feet at the head of Banners Fork. Between that point and the head of Trace 

........_ ....... -·-..____~,-~ _ ..... ~,~-
206 CUMBERLAND GAP OO.AL FIELD, KENTUOKY. 

Fork or the right-hand fork of Wallins Creek there appears to be little change in 

elevation. The coals on Coon Branch of Catron Creek have an elevation of 2,625 

feet on the right-hand fork and 2,601 on the left-hand fork. At the extreme head 

of Catron Creek the same coal is estimated. to have an elevation of a trifle over 2,800 

feet and a little less at the head of Puckett Creek. 

CORRET,ATION OF COAT~S. 

By DAVID WmTJ<J and GEORGE H. AsHLEY. 

While of very minor economic value, the question of the correflpondence of 

the coals of the different fields is one of great interest to mining men. Where 

coals are highly persistent, such correlations may he of high value, as it may be 

possible to predict ahead the quality as well as thickness and reliability of any 

given coal. In this field the coals seem to be fairly persistent in respect to thickness and quality, but hardly enough so that the characteristics· of the coals at 

one place will serve to identify the same coals elsewhere, or to prove useful in 

predicting their value. 

The following chapter, while written by Mr. Ashley, is based almost wholly on 

data obtained by Mr. White. It has already been stated that all the rocks exposed 

in this basin are believed to be of Pottsville age. In the early geo'logic work in 

this part of the Appalaehian field it was supposed that what is here called Lee 

.. . represented_ J!-ll _o_f. ~he Pottsville of this region. Later discovery of Pottsville 

-·--~~--- ·plants In the upper part of-the Norton formation in the Bristol quadrangle led to 

the conclusion that the top of the Pottsville must be placed much higher than 

was at first thought possible. 

In his Geology of the Virginias, 1884, Mr. ·w. B. Rogers makes the following· 

classification of the Coal Measures: 

Lower barren group, XIV. 

Lower coal group, XIII. 

Great conglomerate or conglomerate coal group, XII ( Pottsdlle). 

Greenbrier shales, XL 

In his coal report for the West Virginia Geological Survey (1904), Prof. I. C. 

White, following in the main his Bulletin 65, United States Geological Survey, 1891, 

uses the following names for the corresponding groups: 

XVI. Dunkard. 

XV. Monongahela. 

XIV. Conemaugh 

XIII. Allegheny-Kanawha. 

XII. Pottsville. 

XL Mauch Chunk red shale, Greenbrier, or Mountain limestone. 
CORRELATION OF COALS. 207 

Messrs. Marins R. Campbell and Walter C~ Mendenhall, in their " Geologic 

Section along New and Kanawha rivers in vVest Virginia" (Seventeenth Ann. Rept. 

U. S. Geol. Survey, 1896), give,the following correlations: 

XIV. Charleston sandstone. 

XIII. Kanawha formation. 

!

Fayette sandstone (Nuttall). 

Sewell formation. , 

XII. Raleigh sandstone. · 

Royal formation (upper three-fourths). 

'{Royal formation (lower one-fourth). 

XI. Princeton conglomerate. 

Hinton formation. 

In the Charleston and Pocahontas folios, United States Geological Survey, 

1896 and 1901, Mr. Campbell correlates as follows: 

XIV. Charleston sandstone. 

XIII. Kanawha formation. 

/

Sewell formation. 

Raleigh sandstone. 

XII. Quinnimont shale. 

Clark formation. 

Pocahontas formation. 

{

Bluestone formation. 

XI. P~inceton forn:ation. 

Hmton formatiOn.· 

The parallelism of No. XIII and the Kanawha formation was given in these 

folios as partial only, since the inspection of the fossil floras of the Kanawha had 

shown as long ago as 1896 that the lower half at least of the Kanawha formation was of Upper Pottsville age: Further study of the paleohotanic evidence 

by Mr. David White led to the inclusion of all of the Kanawha lying below the 

Stockton coal-practically the entire formation-within the limits of the Pottsville, 

the upper part of the Kanawha being regarded as a greatly expanded equivalent of 

the Mercer group of western Pennsylvania. The Stockton coal, with a portion 

of the Charleston sandstone, was accordingly correlated with the Allegheny 

formation (XII£). The term "Allegheny-Kanawha," as finally employed by 

Prof. I. C. White for No. XIII, is inapplicable, since it is substantially equivalent 

to writing it "Allegheny-Pottsville." 

Turning now to the Cumberland Gap coal field, it is possible at this time to 

give only preliminary and provisional correlations. Apparently the Lee formation 

of this field includes everything from the bottom of the Pocahontas formation 

to the top of the Raleigh formation and possibly a little higher. The Hance 

formation and the lower part at least of the Mingo formation appear to correlate 

with the Sewell of "the Kanawha region. The plant material collected from the 

Bennett Fork coal is too scant for definite correlation purposes, but it appears to 

be typically Sewell. 

The roof of the Mingo coal furnished a flora which has some things in 

common with the Lower Kanawha coals of the New River region, though a 

definite opinion can not be. offered at this time. The Catron formation is 

probably all included in the Lower Kanawha of New River, as both the ·wallins 
20~ CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Creek coal and the Lower Hignite coal appear to be distinctly referable to 

the Lower Kanawha of West Virginia. The Bryson formation appears to be 

included in the time of the Upper Kanawha, judging from material collected at 

the horizon of the Red Spring eoal, which will probably fall in the upper part 

of the Kanawha formation, and not far from the Winifred and Coalburg coals. 

In Mr. Campbell's report on the Big Stone Gap coal field, 1893, he gives 

the following table of formations: Feet. Harlan sandstone _____________________________________________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 880 

'Vise formation. _______ ----- __________ ---- ________________________________ ; ___ 1, 270 · 

Glade ville sandstone_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 100 

Norton formation __ . _______ . _. ______________ .. __________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 280 

Lee conglomerate. ____________________ •. ___ .. ____ . __ . _________ . _______________ ·1, 500 

Assuming that the top of the Lee has been drawn at the same horizon at 

Cumberland Gap as at Big Stone Gap, and that Mr. Campbell's measurement of 

the Norton is correct, his Gladeville sandstone should come about- at the horizon 

of the Puckett sandstone of the Cumberland Gap field, as that sandstone has 

been estimated at about 1,350 feet or a little less above the top of the Lee. It 

is possible that the top of the Lee at Big Stone Gap was drawn at the top of 

the Yellow Creek sandstone of this field, in which case the agreement is still 

closer. On the other band, taking the position of the Gladeville sandstone 

as given on upper Clover Fork on Mr. Campbel,l's map, and McCreath and 

d'Invillier's desci'iption of the sandstones seen along that fork from the edge of 

Campbell's map to the edge of the map accompanying this report, it would 

appear that the Gladeville corresponded to the massive sandstone just above or 

below the Harlan coal. Messrs. McCreath and d'Invillicrs thought· that the 

heavy sandstone in the upper valley of Clover Fork could be traced down into the 

Cawood sandstone just above Harlan court-house. Careful tracing, however, shows 

that the latter sandstone passes beneath Clover Fork below Jones· Branch. ln view 

of the possibility of error in the correlation of the Gladeville sandstone from its 

typical locality over Black Mountains into Clover .Fork and the lack of definite 

detailed tracing of the sandstones down part of Clover Fork, little reliance can 

be placed on this last correlation. One or two facts favoring the correlation of 

the Gladeville sandstone with either the sandstone just above or just below 

the Harlan coal are, first, the existence of rather heavy coals just abdve and just 

below the Gladeville. On Poor Fork, near Poor Fork post-office, there is a coal 

that locally reaches a total thickness of 16 feet, and at one point shows a 13-foot 

bench 'vithout parting. On Clover Fork this coal just above the Gladeville appears 

to be thin, but a thick coal, not important eastward, appears just below the 

Gladeville. If either of these coals correspond with the Harlan coal, the 

Gladeville would necessarily correspond to one of the sandstones . close to the 

Harlan coal. T n the second place, the top of the Gladeville is described as 1,270 

feet below the bottom of the Harlan sandstone, which is described as carrying 

pebbles. If the pebble-carrying horizon of this region-the .T esse sandstonecorresponds with the bottom of the Harlan· sandstone of the head waters of 

Clover Fork the space from that down to the Harlan coal, which is about 1,200 

feet, agrees well with the interval farther east. No accurate measurement from 
CORRELATION OF COALS. 209 

the Harlan coal to the top of the Lee was obtained around Harlan, and the 

assumed interval of 600 feet is based on the assumption that our correlations of 

the Cawood sandstone from Harlan to Wallins Creek, and of the Harlan coal 

with the Hance coal 'vere correct. If our correlations are correct and Mr. 

Campbell's measurement of the Norton be correct, it is evident that the Gladeville 

correlates with either the Slater or Puckett sandstone of this region. In the 

latter case, the three thick coals mentioned by Mr. Campbell, as occurring above 

the Gladeville on Clover Lick Creek and elsewhere, may correspond with the 

Wallins Creek coal and the thick coal above and below, and the Imboden seam 

which he places 190 feet below the Gladeville may correspond with the Creech 

and Mingo coals of the Cumberland Gap area. 

There are no data at hand for making correlations with the Elkhorn coal. 

According to a section of the Pound Gap region by Mr. Crandall, the Elkhorn 

bed, that gives its name to the Elkhorn field, is at a maximum 565 feet above the 

top of the Lee. This would suggest its correlation with the Harlan coal. Mr. 

J. N. Hodge has con eluded from hi,fl work in those regions that the Elkhorn and 

Imboden coals are the same bed. Probably. much more detailed work will be 

required to decide the question definitely. 

Prof. J . • T. Stevenson has tre~ted the stratigraphy of the Pottsville group in 

a broad way in his valuable paper on "The Carboniferous of the Appalachian 

Basin" (Bull. Geol. Soc. America, vol. 15, pp. 37-210). He has, however, necessarily passed over the Cumberland Gap field, because of the small amount of 

data that had previously been published on this field, such data as a rule not 

being sufficiently detailed to permit of his making correlations. Among the 

correlations which he makes between outside fields may be noted with interest 

his correlation of the Elkhorn coal of ·the Elkhorn field with the Kelly coal of 

the Big Stone Gap area, the Kelly coal coming 75 feet above the Imboden coal. 

The Jellico field joins this on the northwest. Mining at Jellico is upon two 

beds, the Jellico and the Blue Gem, the latter occurring about 110 feet below 

the f~rmer. About 450 feet above the· .Tellico occur two coals, of which the 

lower is called the Dean coal. A series of sections by Mr. White led him to 

think that he had .traced the Dean, .Tellico, and Blue Gem in the reg·ion about 

Coalport and Fourmile Creek northw~st of Pir:eville. Near Pineville his ti·acing 

led him to conclude that the Jellico coal of the Coalport region was represented 

by the coal 200 feet above the Pineville coal at West Pineville. Good sections 

were obtained on Dean Branch of Greasy Creek at two points near Coalport and 

at Fourmile Run, all of which gave the interval from the Dean coal to the 

Jellico coal as about 450 feet. From Fourmile Creek to west Pineville is but a 

few miles, so that it was thought highly improbable that the 450-foot interval 

given above should in that short distance have thickened up to 650 feet. Accordingly, it was concluded that the Pineville coal lay 200 feet below the Coalport 

.Tellico, the Blue Gem possibly being one of the intermediate coals. From West 

Pineville to the Straight Creek mines only part of the section was run, leaving· 

it uncertain whether the coal being worked there was the Pineville seam or the 

seam 200 feet above. The interest in this unsettled point lies in the fact that 

the roof of the coal.at the Straight Creek mines contained an abundance of plant 
/ 

210 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

forms that closely resembled' the flora at the Mingo rriines. Assuming that the 

coal now mined at Straight Creek is .the same as the Jellico, this fact suggests 

that the Mingo and Jellico coals are the same bed. Another fact tending to corroborate the conclusion is the finding of animal remains in the shales above the 

McG1iirc coal a short distance above the Dean coal. . According to the interpretation that the Jellico is the same as the Mingo, the Dean is the same as the 

Poplar Lick or the Wallins Creek coal, and the McGuire coal corresponds with 

the Klondike. On the other hand, according to a section prepared from Mr. 

Crandall's report on Whitley and Pulaski counties, the Jellico coal is only 400 

feet above the "Conglomerate" or Lee, whereas the Mingo coal has been 

calculated as over 1,000 feet above. A review of Mr. Crandall's original artiele 

reveals the faet that he does not give the exact distance of the .Jellico coal above 

the Lee, the necessary data evidently not having been found. It is evident, 

however, that he considered its position about the equivalent of the Bennett Fork 

coal on Bennett Forie Work done by him on Tackett Creek led him to the same 

conclusion. With this interpretation the Deap coal occupies the position of the 

Mingo coal. As tending to corroborate this correlation is the section of a coal 

250 feet above the Dean coal on the Ransom Slusher ·place on the left fork of 

Straight Creek. It sho\VS as follows: > 

Section of coal on left ./ork of &raight Creek. 

Ft. in. 

Coal ____ . ____ - ________ . ---- __________ -. ___ - __ - _-- ___ - ____ - __________________ _ 1 6 

Sandstone ____ --_----··--- ___________ _. ________________________ --------·---·--· 2 

Coal __ . ___________ . ____ . _ . ___________ . _________ .. _ . ___ . ____________________ .. 1 11 

Clay----------------------·----------------·--------. _________ -------------·_ t Coal ______________________ . _______________ . _________________________________ _ 4z 

Bituminous shale _____ . _____________________________ . ___________________ . _ _ _ _ _ 3~ 

Clay--------------------------------------------------·-----------------·-·-- 6 

This section certainly resembles the Sandstone Parting bed of the Log 

Mountains. At this time we are not prepared to do more than suggest those 

two possible correlations. 

There remains to consider the possible correlations with the coals to the 

south'Yest. In a section obtained by Mr. White at Big Creek Gap in the southwestern end of the Cumberland Gap coal field, the Rex eoal was calculated to 

be about 175 feet or more above the top of the Lee, according to· which bed, in a 

series of waning sandstones, is selected as the top of the latter formation. At 447 

feet above that comes the Kent coal, which on the head of Davis Creek, a tributary of Clear Fork of Cumberland, splits into two or three benches. One hundred 

and thirty feet below the Kent there is reported a coal, locally called the Blue 

Gem. By these measurements the Kent coal is 622 feet above the top of the 

Lee, or about in the position of the Bennett Fork coals; 240 to 250 feet above the 

Kent coal is a 41-inch coal with two partings in the middle, probably the Rich 

Mountain coal, with at least three coals in the interval. This would be in the 

position of the Kellioka coal of the Black Mountains. One hundred feet higher a 

4-foot coal is reported on Davis Creek. 

The next important coal above this is the Jordan, showing 5 feet of coal with 

1 inch of parting 12 inches from the top. This is 200 feet above the 4-foot coal, or 
CORRELATION- OF COALS. 211 

about 560 feet above the Kent coal. Neither this nor the 4-foot coal agree in 

interval above the Kent coal with the interval from the Bennett Fork coal to the 

Mingo coal. Mr. Crandall reports that on Tackett Creek the Mingo coal shows 

less than 3 feet, so that it is possible that the Mingo coal is represented by coal 

reported 16 inches thick, 75 feet above the 4-foot ·coal. Under it is a massive sandstone that might well be the Fork Ridge sandstone, while 120 feet lower is another 

sandstone corresponding to the lower sandstone on Bennett Fork. At 620 feet 

above the _Jordan bed is the lower of bvo coals, the upper one being about 25 

feet higher. These upper coals have about the position above the Kent that the 

Upper and Lower Hignite coals have above the Bennett Fork coal. Furthermore 

they agree with the Hignite ·coals in·· being accompanied by· upper Kanawha 

fossils. 

The above eorrelations have been suggested on the assumption that the Rex 

coal is only 175 feet above the Lee.; Should, however, there he a difference in what 

has been assumed to be the top of the Lee by Mr. White at Big Creek Gap and by 

Mr. Ashley at Cumberland Gap, it is possible that the Rex coal may be nearly or 

quite 200 feet higher, or about 375 feet above the assumed top of the Lee at Cumberland Gap. While this is still considerably below the assumed elevation of the 

Bennett Fork coals above the top of the Lee, in view of the uncertainty existing as 

to the exact elevation of the Bennett Fork coals above the top of the Lee, it seems 

permissible to correlate the Rex coal with the Bennett Fork coal. In that case the 

Kent coal is at practically the same elevation above the Rex coal that the Mingo 

coal is above the Bennett Fork. On this basis the Jordan coal occupies about the 

position of the Poplar Lick or Kloi1dike coal, though its interval above the Kent 

is a little greater than either the Poplar Lick or Klondike above the Mingo coal. 

The Rich Mountain coal is about the same elevation above the Kent as the Sandstone Parting, while the 4-foot coal reported on Davis Creek as 100 feet above the · 

Rich Mountain is not represented by a thick coal on Bennett Fork. 

· In this correlation the upper coals before mentioned at 625 feet above the 

,Jordan bed will come nearer the horizon of the Red Spring coal. Furthermore it 

agrees with the Red Spring coal in being accompanied by an upper Kanawha 

flora. This last correlation is of inten~st ns suggesting the correlntion of the Kent 

coal with the Mingo, the Creech, the Imboden, and possibly those with the Elkhorn 

bed of the Elkhorn field. 

Crossing over to the vVartburg field there is found a coal low in the series 

above the Lee that has been extensively worked and that would seem to correspond 

to the Rex coal. About 1,400 feet above this coal, sometimes called the Coal Creek 

coal, are two coals known loc~,tlly as the Upper and Lower Block coals-the eoals 

which are open at Red Ash above Careyville, at Abbott and above Peach Grove, 

near Better Chance, and in the \Vind Rock Mountain, about 5 miles northeast of 

Oli;er Springs. These Upper and Lower Block coals have about the same elevation above the Rex coal that the Upper and Lower Hignite coals pave ahove the 

Bennett Fork coal, so that if the Rex coal be correlated with the Bennett Fork, as 

suggested above, it seems probable that the Coal Creek coal corresponds with the 

Bennett Fork coal, and the Upper and Lower Block coals of the Briceville region 
212 CUMBERLAND. GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

correspond with the Upper and Lower Hignite coals in the Log Mountains region. 

Still above the Block coals about 550 feet are one or two thick coals, one of which 

may represent the horizon of the Red Spring coal. Still above that 200 feet are 

thick coals, associated with which is a mixed flora of Kanawha and Allegheny, 

but still of clearly Kanawha age. If the correlation immediately preceding is 

correct, this last plant horizon will come at or above the top of the highest strata 

in the Log Mountains, or in that part of .the Black Mountains studied and mapped 

by us, and as at this horizon the plants indicate still Pottsville age it is evident 

that all of the rocks in the area studied by us are of Pottsville age. 

Provisionally, the Anderson sandstone of the Briceville area is thought to be 

continuous with the Harlan sandstone of the Estillville area, and b,?th with the 

Charleston sandstone of the Kanawha region. 

EXPT_.OITATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF COALS. 

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF COALS. 

In connection with the description of the coal beds, chemical analyses· have 

been given of the coals, the analyses being· made by Mr. A. S. McCreath from 

samples obtained in 1902 and 1903, or from samples obtained by McCreath and 

d'Invilliers in 1887, or by Robert. Peter, formerly State chemit>t of Kentucky, from 

samples obtained by different inembers of the Kentucky Survey. The analyses by 

the last analysist were in all cttscs of air-dried samples, and it is not known whether 

the samples obtained represented an average of the whole seam or not, though 

it has been assumed that in most cases at least it did. The analyses obtained in 1902 

and 1903, and it is believed also those obtained by McCreath and d'lnvilliers in 

1887, -were obtained by cutting a section of the coal, or of such part as seemed 

desirable, excluding only such partings as it was thought would be excluded in 

practical mining. It should be remembered that in the majority of cases these 

samples were obtained from outcrop coal, in some cases the coal being soft and 

crumbly, and so badly weathered that it would 'not make a coherent eoke. At the· 

end of the report- on the resources of the Cumberland Valley by Messrs. McCreath 

and d'Invilliers they summarized the analyses of the coals obtained by them, givirig 

a general description of the quality of the coa.ls. They examined and tested the 

coals in what is now the Big Stone Gap coal field of Lee and Wise counties, Va., 

then the coals from the bead of Clover Fork of Cumberland River to Pineville, and 

then the coals of the Yellow Creek basin, comprising practicall.v what is included 

in the area west of Yellow Creek in our study. For the sake of eomparison the 

averages and other data fumished hy them of the three districts will be given. 

The tables as reported exclude the cannel coals. The samples analyzed from the 

Big Stone Gap district (19 coals) averaged as follows: 

Average analysis of coals from Big Stone Gap d'istrict. 

Per cent. 

Moisture .. _ ... _. __ . ---- .. -............. -... -..... ---- ... -.... -- .. --- .. -.---- 1. 918 

Volatile matter ____ .• -.- .. - .. -.... _.- ...... -..... -.. --- ... ---- ____ -- .'. ___ . __ . 36. 449 

Fixed carbon __ ••... ___ . ____ .. - __ . __ . _.:. _.:. __ . ___ . ____ . ____ . _____ --- _______ 53. 815 

Sulphur __ .... _. __ .- __ -. --- .. -.- ... __ .. _ ........ ----. --- .. --.-. - __ -- .. -. _. __ . L 396 

Ash ______ . ________________ . _________ .................... ·.-- .. ---. _ ---. _. __ .. 6. 432 
CHEMICAL CHAR-ACTER 01<' COALS. 213 

The extreme::; in composition show as follows: 

Per cent. 

"\Vater_ ........ ___ ... _ .. ___ . ____ . _. _. __ ... ____ ... _ ... _______ .. __ •. _. _ _ 0. 978- 3. 572 

Volatile matter _ ........ _. _ . ____ ..... _. ____ . __ ...•....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31. 437-41. 539 

Fixed carbon ...... : ........ ___ ................. · ...................... 47.224-59. 741 

• Sulphur ..................................... :........................ . 436- 4. 771 

Ash. ___ ...... ~....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 700-15. 660 

Of the 19 samples thus grouped 1 shows less than 2 per cent of water; 6 show 

more than 2 and less than 3 per cent of water, and 12 show more than 3 and less 

than 4 per cent of water.. Of the same number of samples 12 show less than 1 per 

cent of sulphur; 1 shows more than H per cent and less than 2 per cent of sulphur; 

6 show more than 2 per cent of sulphur. Of ash 4 show less than 3 per cent; 4 show 

more than 3 and less than 5; 3 show more, and 8 less, than 8. 

The coals between the head of Clover .Fork of Cumberland River and Pineville, 

in all 26 coals, averaged as follows: 

Average analy.'fis of Cumberland Rive1· coals. 

Per cent. 

vV ater ....................... , ............................................. ·_ . 3. 285 

Volatile matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36. 625 

Fi"xed carbon ................................................................ 54.399 

Sulphur...................................................................... . 852 

Ash ............... _· .............. _ ......................... -.......... . . . . . . . 4. 839 

The extremes arc: 

'Vater ....................... __ ........... ___ . _. _ ... -- ... _____ .·. _ •... -.-

Volatile matter ................. _ ........... _ ............... ~ ........ . 

Fixed carbon .............. _ ........... _ ............. _ ............... . 

Sulphur ............ ____ ............ __ ................. ___ .. _________ _ 

Ash-------------------------------------------·-----------.-----------

Per cent. 

1. 162- 8. 906 

34.028-39.980 

47.159-58.304 

. 532- 1. 39e 

1. 935-11. 270 

Of the 26 samples thus averaged 11 show less than 2 per cent of water; 4 show 

between 2 and 3 per cent of water; 2 show between 3 and 4 per cent of-water; and 9 

show more than 4 per cent of water. Of the same coals 18 show sulphur less than 

1 per cent; 8 between 1 and H per cent. Of ash 8 show less than 3 per cent; 6 

show between 3 and 5 per cent; 9 show between 5 and 8 per cent; 3 show more 

than 8 per cent. • 

Of the coals on· Yellow Creek, 6 in number, the following average is given: 

Average analysis of coals on Yellow Cl·eek. Per CCJit, 

Ivloisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 896 

Volatile matter .............................................................. 37. 170 

Fixed carb0n .................................................................. 53. 046 

Sulphur.................................................................... 1. 428 

Ash .......... _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. 460 

The extremes are: 

"\Vater. ..... ------ ....... _· ____ ................ ---- .................. .. 

Volatile matter ..................................................... _. 

Fixed carbon ..... " ....................................... _ •........ _. Sulphur .....•.. _ .... __ ... _ .. __ .. __ ........ __________ . _______________ _ 

Ash . _. _ ••••... __ •.................................... -... -.. ---..... . 

Per cent. 

1.240- 3.492 

35.000-40.785 

49.671-58.832 

. 733- 2. 434 

2.540-9.545 
214 CUMBERLAND GAP COAJ, FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Of the 6 samples thus grouped the amount of water shown in 4 is less than 2 

per cent; in 1 it is between 2 and 3; in 1 it is between 3 and 4. The sulphur in 2 is 

less than 1 per cent; in 2 it is between 1 and H- per cent; in 2 it is between H- and 2 

per cent. The ash in 1 is less than 3 per cent; in 2 it is between 3 and 5; in 3 it is 

more than 8. 

In discussing these tahles they say as follows: 

" A comparison of these tables and averages will show the general superiority 

of the coals tributary to the Cumberland River route; whereas between the two 

others there is very little differenec. 

''Perhaps the most striking feature brought out by comparison of these 

re>mlts is the excessive percentage of water in many of the coals along the 

Cumberland River route, nine of them showing O\Ter 4 per cent. This is,· 

doubtless, due in a Yery large measure to the geographic position of these 

coals, by which their exposure to the north storms has brought about more rapid 

weathering and change of physical structure than is the case with the coals on 

the south side of the mountain divide in Virginia, as well as those but partly 

exposed to the effects of the elements from the Yellow Creek territory. While 

this weathering has produced a higher percentage of water in all the coals.,_ which 

were apparently quite dry, it has likewise probably effected a decrease in the 

percentage of sulphur and perhaps ash. It will, undoubtedly, prove to be the 

case upon further developments, but while these coals will be found to earry only 

a normal percentage of water, they will not show such a. marked increase 

[decrease?] in their percentage of sulphur and ash. • 

"In the matter of ash, it may be taken for granted that any decrnase in 

this constituent, due to leaching, is fully compensated for by the presence of 

infilt1~ted mud, for many of the samples show this feature to a marked extent. 

It will readily be seen that the coals as a whole are essentially gmded as 

gas coals; for while undoubtedly the chemical analyses of many of them would 

serve to indicate coals more adapted for coking purposes, it has not been found 

possible to say how far such coals would make a marketable coke when subjected 

to a regular oven test; und their behavior in crucible teflts in the laboratory was 

such as to suggest some doubt as to their proper Classification in the coking coal list 

from their failure to show satisfactory tests. Nevertheless, sueh negative results 

may he, and doubtless are, due in a great measure to the fact that practically all 

of the samples were taken from outcrop and sometimes badly weathered coal; and 

it is well known that the weathering of coal greatly deteriorates, if indcc'd it 

does not entirely destroy, its coking qualities. That this weathering was excessive 

in many instances there can be no doubt, for the coal was soft and pulpy. 

"The general list of analyses will, however, serve to classify them as. usually 

good steam coals, rich in volatile matter, and thus insuring a quick fire and the 

rapid generation of steam." 

Since the above was written the coals of both the Big Stone Gap area and 

the Yellow Creek area have been developed and coked upon a commercial scale. 

As far as could be learned, and as far as ;;uch coke was seen, it was of good 

quality, and it is probable that when tested from regularly mined coal the coals 

of the Cumberland River field will also yield good coke. Nevertl~elcss a 
CHEMICAL OHARAC'l'ER OF COALS. :dlf> 

comparison of the analyses given with those of standard bituminous coals show 

that these coals should, as a whole, be classed with the gas coals rather than with 

the coking coals. In the same report Messrs. McCreath and d'Invilliers give the· 

average analyses of various well-known fuels, which, for the sake of comparison, 

might be repeated here. 

Analyse.~ of .~tandard bituminous coals. 

---

Water. Volatile Fixed Sulphur. Ash. matter. carbon. 

---·--- ----

Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 

Westm oreland gas coal •.••••••• " ...•.... · .... 

Pennsy 

Clinch 

Clinch 

Cardiff 

Co nne! 

Flat To 

lvania gas coal . _ ...............• _ ..•. 

Valley gas coaL ..................•... 

Valley steam and coking coal ........ _ 

steam coal ........... __ .............. 

lsville coking coal ........ __ .. _ ....... 

p coals ..... __ .. _ .. _______ . _____ •• _._. 

1. 427 37.521 

1. 280 38.105 

1. 180 37.398 

1. 152 31.451 

2.552 33. 123 

1. 260 30.107 

1.011 18.812 

54.921 0.713 5.418 

54.383 . 792 5.440 

56.732 . 619 5.602 

57. 754 . 759 8.884 

56.774 1. 326 6.225 

59.616 . 784 8.233 

74.256 . 730 5.191 

A study of the analyses of coals of the Cum berland Valley district from 

samples obtained in 1902 and 1903 was made by averaging· the analyses of a few 

of the principal coals. For this purpose the Wall ins Creek, the Creech, and 

Kellioka, the Hance, and the Harlan coals have been seleeted. The Hance and 

Harlan coals are supposed to be at about, if not at, the same horizon. The 

average of the samples of Wallins Creek coal give as follows: 

are 

Average analysis of VVallins . Creek erial. 

Per cent. 

Moisture ....... _ ............................ __ ... ___ ................ _...... . 3. 571 

Volatile hydrocarbons _ ...•... _ ... _____ ... __ .... __ .. _______ ... _ ........ ___ . _.. 35. 679 

Fixed carbon ......................... ___ ................ _ ................ __ . 50. 796 

Ash .. _____ ......... _ .. _ .. __ .............. _____ .... __ ......... __ ............. 9. 017 

Sulphur_ ... _ ................ _ .... : ........... _.............................. . 812 

Of the 7 samples from which the above average was obtained, the following 

the maxima and minima: 

Per cent. 

Moisture ....... _..................................................... 1. 85S-12. 674 

Volatile hydrocarbons ................................................ 29. 366-40. 150 

·Fixed carbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45. 1!l5-54. 140 

Ash ... ______ ... __ ... __ ... ___ ............... ______ ........ _ ... , ___ ·____ 5:700-17.520 

Sulphur ...... , .. . .. .. • . . .. . .. . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . . . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . 525- l. 105 

In the same coals the water in 3 is less than 2 per cent; in 3 it is between 

2 and 3 per cent; in 1 it is over 3 per cent. The ash in 5 is between 5 and 8. per 

cent; in 2 it is more than 8 per cent. The sulphur in 5 is less than 1 per cent; 

in 2 it is between 1 and It per cent. · 
216 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

The following are the averages ,in the analyses of 5 samples of Creech coal: 

- Per cent, 

Moisture __ .... ___ , ___ . ____ .. __ .... __ .. _ .... ___ ...... _______ . __ ... __ ... _ .. __ . 3. 038 

Volatile hydrocarbons .................. ____________ . ___ ...... __ .... ____ . _____ 36.779 

Fixed carbon ....... __ ........ _. _ .. _. _ ... _ ... __ ... _ ...... _. _ .. __ . ___ .. __ . __ .. 55. 613 

Ash ....... _ .. _._ ... __ . _ ............. __ .............. _ ...... __ .... __ ... _..... 3. 850 

Sulphur ___ .:. ___ ._ .. _._. _____ . __ .... _ .... _ ........ _ ..... __ .. ___ .. __ . _ .... __ . . 719 

The same coals gave minima and maxima as follows: 

Per cent. 

Moisture ......... _. _ .... _ ... __ . _. _ ... _ .. __ . __ ... _ ... __ ... _, ...... _. . . 1. 350- 5. 100 

Volatile hydrocarbons ..... __ .. _ ... _ .... _ .. __ ........ _ .......... ___ . _ .. 35. 270-38. 760 

Fixed carbon ..... _ .. _ ..... _. _ .. · ....... _ .. _ ............... _ ..... _. __ .. 53. 101-57. 392 

Ash ...... _ ... _._. ____ ._._ .... _._._ .. _ .... __ ....... , .. _ ........ _ .. _.... 2. 800- 5. 840 

Sulphur ...... _._ .. ___ ...... __ ........ ___ . ___ ....... __ ..... _. __ .. ___ ._ . 608- . 913 

Of these, 1 has less than 2 per cent of moisture; 1 between 2 and 3 per 

cent; 2 between 3 and 4 per cent, and 1 more than 4 per cent. Of ash 1 has less 

than 3 per cent; 3 between 3 and 5 per cent; 1 more than 5 per cent. 

Five samples of the Kellioka coal yielded the following average: 

Average analysi.s of Kellioka co(tl. 

Per cent. 

Moisture ....... ______ ...... ___ .. __ ... _. _. _. _ ...... __ .......... _ ... _. ___ . _ _ _ _ 1. 667 

Volatile hydrocarbons ......................................... __ . __ ....... _.. 38. 324 

Fixed carbon._._ ................................ -·--._. ____ .................. 54.053 

Ash. __ ........•................... , .. _ .. _ ... _ ... _........................... 4. 860 

Sulphur •••••. __ ................. _ .... _ ............................ _ ... _. ___ . 1. 074 

The same coal gives the following minima and maxima: 

Per cent. 

Moisture ................... _ ......... __ .. ___ ........ _ •....... _ .. _.... 1. 534-- l. f\68 

Volatile hydrocarbons.----. __ ........ --- .............................. 37.106-39.232 

Fixed carbon ... _ ........... __ . __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51. 288-56. 396 

Ash .•••••••••.. ______ ._ .... _._ ... _ ............................•.. _ •. _ 2. 140- 8. 720 

Sulphur ..•.................................................. _ ... ___ . _ . 704- 1. 342 

All show moisture between 1 and 2 per cent. In ash 1 shows less than · 3 

per cent; 2 between 3 and 5 per cent; 1 between 5 and 8 per cent; 1 more than 

8 per cent. In sulphur 2 show less than 1 per cent; 3 between 1. and 1t per cent. 

Nineteen analyses of Harlan coal average as follows: 

Average analysis of Harlan coal. 

Per cent. 

Moisture ...... _ . _ ................. -- - .... - -... - . -.......... -............ __ . _ 1. 973 

Volatile hydrocarbons ...... _ ....................... _ .... _ .. _ .• __ . ___ . __ . _. _ .. 37. 553 · 

Fixed carbon ........................ -....................................... 54. 692 

Ash ... _ ••.... _ ........... , _ .......................................... : .... __ 4. 993 

Sulphur ................. ____ ._ ...... _................. . . _ ............ _..... . 791 

These 19 analyses show the following minima and maxima: 

Per cent. 

Moisture_ ................................. _ .. __ .. · __ .. _............... 1. 314- 6. 610 

\Tolatile hydrocarbons.--------------------------------------·········· 33.510-41.558 

Fixed carbon ... _ ........... _ ... _ .. ____ .................. _ ............ 47. 66.5-.57. 28.5 

Ash ..................... __ . ____ ..... ___ .............................. 2. 450-14.910 

Sulphur.............................................................. .504- 1.230 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

A. TIMBER RESOURCES OF UPPER CUMBERLAND VALLEY. 

View from mountain top1 showing gene rally forested co nditio n of the basin. 

B. VIEW IN FOREST, SHOWING FIRST GROWTH OF TIMBER. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXXV 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF COALS. 217 

Of these, 13 show less than 2 per cent of water; 4 between 2 and 3 per cent; 

1 more than 3 per cent. In ash 7 show less than 3 per cent; 6 between 3 and 5 

per ce~t; 4 between 5 and 8 per cent, and. 2 more than 8 per cent. 

The Hance coal, considered to be at the same horizon as the Harlan coal, 

shows as follows: 

A1;erage analyses of Hance_ coal. 

Per cent. 

Moisture ................................................................. __ . 2. 255 

Volatile hydrocarbons .................................................... __ •• 36. 150 

Fixed carbon ................................................................ 55.082 

Ash._ .............................. __ .................. ·...................... 5. 423 

Sulphur ............................ , ............................ · ........... , . 963 

Phosphorous ............... , ................ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . 026 

These show the following minima and maxima. 

Per cent. 

Moisture .................... , ............................. , . . . . . . . . . . 1. 240- 6. 636 

Volatile hydrocarbons ... , . :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34. 812-37. 784 

Fixed carbon ......................................................... 51. 623-57.483 

Ash.................................................................. 2. 580-10.680 

Sulphur.............................................................. . 667- 1. 285 

Of these 8 samples, 7 show less than 2 per cent of water, while 1 shows over 

6 per cent. Of sulphur, 5 show less than 1 per cent; 3 between l and l t per 

cent; of ash, 1 between H and 3 per cent; 3 between 3 and 5 per cent; 3 between 

5 and 8 per cent, and 1 more than 8 per cent. The comparison of these analyses 

with those obtained by McCreath and d'Invilliers shows them to agree very closely 

with the averages given by them. Of these, the Wallins Creek coal has a higher ash 

and much lower proportion of fixed carbon, nearly the same moisture, volatile 

hydrocarbons, and sulphur. The Creech coal has almost exactly the same proportion of volatile hydrocarbons, a little highei· proportion of fixed carbon, and 

a little less ash and sulphur. The- Kellioka coal shows less moisture, a higher 

percentage of volatile combustible matter, almost as much fixed carbon, but nearly 

the same percentage of ash and considerably higher percentage of sulphur. The 

Harbn coal agrees closely in its percentages,. except that the later samples were 

somewhat dryer. Compared with the standard bituminous coals given by 

McCreath and d'lnvilliers, it will be seen that the Harlan coal, of which the 

greatest number of analyses were obtained, shows a trifle higher moisture percentage than the three gas coals mentioned. It has almost exactly the percentage 

of volatile matter contained in the W cstn:ioreland coal, averaging hetween the 

Pennsylvania gas coal and the Clinch Valley gas coal. ln its percentage of fixed 

carbon it about averages between the Westmoreland gas coal and the Pennsylvania 

gas coal, being practically the same as either of those and a trifle below the Clinch 

Valley gas coal. In its percentage of ash it is below the three coals mentioned. 

In its percentage of sulphur it is almost identical with the Pennsylvania gas coal, 

which is a little higher than the other two. In a general way 1t may be said that 

its chemi<:~al analyses show it to be almost identical with the three coals mentioned-the Westmoreland gas coal, the Pennsylvania gas coal, and the Clinch 

Valley gas coal-being neither much superior nor much inferior- in any particular. 

Considered from the practical standpoint, some careful tests were wade of the 
21~ 0UMBERL.A.ND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Log Mountain coals by Mr. George R. Hislop, gas engineer of Paisley, Scotland, 

who has made the following report upon four of the Log Mountain seams. The 

first of these tables is of the Poplar Lick seam, the second of the Mason (Mingo) 

seam, the third of the Lower Hignite seam, the fourth of the Chenoa cannel coal. 

Practical resitlts of Log Jrfoitnta.in coal.• (Paisley Gas Works, Scotland). 

GASEOUS PRODUCTS. 

Gas per ton of coal 60° F., 30 inches bar ... cubie feet .. 

]<'rom 1 cubicfoot of coal. ..................... do .... 

Specific gravity of the gas (air 1 ,000) .... · ............. 

Hydrocarbons absorbed by bromide ....... per cent.. 

Durability of 1 cubic foot by 51 jet flame ............. 

Value of 1 cubic foot of gas ......... sperms (grains) .. 

Illuminating power of gas ......... standard candles .. 

Sulphureted hydrogen (H,S) in foul gas .... per cent .. 

Carbonic add (C02 ) in foul gas ............... do .... 

Carbonic oxide (CO) in foul gas ............... do .... 

Sulphur eliminated with volatile products .... pounds.~ 

Poplar Lick seam. 

--·-

12,230.00 

422.09 

510.00 

6.25 

471 1611 

535.84 

22. 16 

.75 

2.00 

7.25 

6.04 

Milson 

(Mingo) 

sean1. 

]1,895.00 

406.55 

514.00 

6.20 

461 5111 

524.84 

21.86 

1. 00 

L 75 

6.00 

7.63 

Lower 

Hignite 

seam. 

12, .520. 00 

432. Ji 

512.00 

6. 50 

481 1011 

543.60 

22.65 

-80 

2.20 

7.00 

6.04 

14,630.00 

470.25 

745.00 

18.30 

78' 4511 

989. 76 

4!. 24 

1. 20 

1.80 

'7. 75 

9. 18 

------------------------------------'----------'-----

LIQUID PHODUCTS. 

Tar per ton of coal ......................... gallons .. 15.22 

Ammoniacal liquor per ton of coal. ............ do .... 17.30 

Strength of ammoniacal liquor ............ 0 Twadd .. 2.75 

Hydrometric water per ton of coal .......... gallons .. 9.99 

Aqueous absorbent capacity of coal (determined by 

complete saturation) ........... -......... per cent .. 5.50 

SOI,TD PRODUCTS. 

Coke per ton of coaL ....................... poui1cls .. 

Carbon in coke ........................... per cent .. 

Ash in coke .................................. do ... . 

Sulphur in coke per ton of coal ............. pounds .. 

Heating power of 1 pound of coke (water from boiling point into steam) ..................... pounds.~ 

1,384.32 

97.70 

2.30 

5.60 

13.42 

15.81 16.30 

18.62 16.37 

2. 75 2. 75 

9.74 12.32 

5.25 5.36 

1,395.52 1,357.44 

98.80 96.50 

1. 20 3.50 

2.45 4.93 

13.57 13.25 

26.68 

6.30 

5.00 

3.40 

1.75 

994.78 

92.30 

7. 70 

3.58 

12.68 

Mr. Hislop makes the following remarks about these coals. Of the Poplal' 

Lick he reports as follows: / 

"This coal, while yielding a large volume of rich gas for bitumi~ous coal, 

affords at the same time 12.36 hundredweights per ton of first-class eoke. The 

coal, moreover, is very clean, and the fuel gas contains a very small percentage of 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXXVI 

A. LOGS IN YOCUM BRANCH OF CLOVER FORK. 

A large pe rcentage of the streams of the region present a similar appearance at many points. 

B. LOGS AT WALLINS C REE K N EAR MO UTH OF TERRYS FORK. 

Awaiting a ris e in the stream which will carry them down t he river to the mills. 
.CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF COALS. 219 

impurities, and in every respect the coal is a valuable one for gas manufacture: 

Compared with Main Lesmahagow cannel coal represented hy 100 (correlated on 

the basis of a production of 13,000 cubic feet of gas, 1,535.5 pounds of sperm per 

ton, and having regard also to the ·value of the secondary products and the cost 

of the purification of the g·as), this coal is equal to 70.17. 

"This coal may with advantage be employed for the manufacture of kiln coke, 

but is better adapted for the manufacture of gas, as the foregoing results show." 

Of the Mason (Mingo) seam he reports as follows: 

"This is a valuable coal, alike for the production of gas and coke; of the 

former it yields a large volume of 21.86-candle gas, while for purity and value 

as a fuel the latter can not be surpassed. The fuel gas contains a very small 

amount of impurities, and is therefore very easily purified. The coal is fully 

equal to the finest of English or Welsh coals. Compared with Main Lesmahagow 

cannel coal, represented by 100, this coal is equal, to 69.01. For the manufacture 

of kiln coke for metallurgial purposes this coal is very well suited, containing, 

as it does, about the smallest amount of ash and sulphur that I have yet found 

in a bituminous coal." 

Of the Lower Hignite coal he reports as follows: 

"This is a very valuable coal of its class for the rnaimfacture of gas and 

coke; it is easily distilled and yields up a large amount of illuminating matter 

per ton and affords at the same time 12.12 hundredweights per ton of first-class 

coke. · It is, in short, without one detracting feature. Compared with Main 

Lesmahagow cannel coal, represented by 100, this coal is equal to 70.25. The 

coal is better adapted for gas than for kiln coke manufacture." 

Of the Bear Greek cannel coal he reports as follows: 

"This is a cannel coal of exceptional value, as it is one of remarkable lightgiving power and purity, yielding, as it does, a sperm value of illuminating 

matter amounting to 2,068.69 pounds per ton, while at the same time affording 

a light and spongy eoke of excellent quality. The coal contains a very small 

percentage of both water and sulphur. Compai·ed with the Main Lesmahagow 

cannel coal, represented by 100, this coal is equal to 137.11." 

ln regard to the Bear Creek cannel coal, the following table is published in 

the mine inspector's report for 1899: 

Results of te.~t.~ of Bear G·eek cannel coal. 

Illuminnt- Volume of 

Gas per ton iug power of gas fr<!m one Coke per ton ·of coni, in gns in stand- t?n ol coal, of coal, m cubic feeL ard candles Ill pounds pounds, · · of sperm. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-!-~~- ----:------~- ~~~-

Lesmahagow .................... ----.--- ...... ------.--

Tyne Bog head ....... · ........................ ·.----- .. . 

Newbattle ........ _____ · ______ , .................. ------

Falling Rock .... _............ . ...... --- -.-----------."' 

Bear Creek (Log Mountains) ...................... --- .. 

Pi~evill~ Coal Co.'s (north of Pine Mountain) Boghead .. 

'Villaford ....... ·- :-__. ··-· .. --- .. -.- -· ------- · ·- .. 

41-No. 4!}-0(i--17 

13,201 

13,115 

12,461 

14,210 

14,630 

15,805 

15,835 

34.52 

38.22 

35.34 

36.15 

4L24 

36.26 

44.55 

1, 562' 

1,723 

1,5Q9 

1, 761. 51 

2,069 . 1,964.87 

2,418.68 

1, 019 

1,301 

983 

1,178 

995 

1,089 

995 
220 CUMBERLAND GAP CQAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

Compared with the Main Lesmahagow cannel coal, represented by 100, 

Falling Rock cannel is equal to 112.07, Bear Creek cannel is equal to 137.11, 

and Pineville-Willaford cannel is equal to 148.31. The above analyses are all 

from reports made by Mr. George R. Hislop, gas engineer, Paisley, Scotland. 

For comparison with these it may be st~ted that 1 ton of the famous Breckenridge 

cannel coal yielded in pounds of sperm, 2,407. 

THICKNESS OF COAL. 

The two principal factors determining the workability of a coal are its quality 

and thickness. Of these, the quality is of first importance. The question as to 

what constitutes a workable thickness in all cases will depend upon the quality to 

a greater or less extent. Many of the western coals, which are of somewhat lower 

grade thttn the Appalachian coals, are not considered workable under an average 

thickness of 3t to 4 feet, except in such districts as are not well situated as regards 

transportation facilities for bringing in the higher-grade coals from the east. On 

the other hand, where the coal is of unusually good quality, it may be worked down 

to below an average thickness of 2 feet. Thus in the Illinois field the higher, or, 

as they are locally called, bituminous coals are seldom worked commercially unless 

they reach a thickness of 4 feet. The block or semiblock coals of the same field, 

which are of a slightly better grade, are extensively worked in many mines where 

the average thickness is not over 3 feet; but as a rule in such mines work is 

discontinued as soon as the coal has thinned down to from 28 to 30 inches. ln 

contrast with that, the Blue Gem seam, in the Jellico district of Kentucky and 

Tennessee, which is just being· developed, has, it is claimed, an average thickness 

of only 22 inches, but as it is a very high-grade domestic coal it is found profitable 

to mine it even with as low a thickness as that. The main "J cllico vein" of the 

Jellico field is said to have an average thickness of about 39 inches. Again, its 

excellent quality makes its mining profitable. 

One of the large mines in central Pennsylvania is wm~king a coal 2t feet 

thick on the average, and this same bed has been worked in this and adjacent 

mines down to a thickness of 17 inches before mining was stopped. The famous 

Pittsburg coal bed of Pennsylvania, Maryland, \\Test Virginia, and Ohio, while 

often having a total thickness of 10 to 12 feet, has a workable thickness of only 

from 4 to 10 feet, possibly averaging about 7 feet. In this case the bottom coal 

and the roof coals are not worked. At its type locality in the Ormsby mine, at 

Twenty-first street, Pittsburg, the total thickness of the coal below the "over" 

clay is 61! inches, including 14 inches of bottom coal, the bottom coal usually not 

being mined. In the New River field the Quinnimont-.Fire Creek coal lies in 

swamps or basins, in which the coal ranges from 3 to 5 feet in thickness, but such 

f;Wamps are usually surrounded by areas in which it is very much thinner and in 

places is wanting altogether. 1\t many of the mines it is worked down to 2 feet. 

The Sewell coal, in the same field, ranges from a maxima of 5 or 6 feet to 2 feet 

6 inches or less going down New River. 

From what has been said it is evident that coals of the quality of the coals of 

this. district may be considered to be workable when from 2~ to 3 feet thick, and 

in exceptional cases 1i1ay be workable when 2 feet thick. In these figures we are, 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXXVII 

A. TIPPLE AND INCLINE ON BENNETT FORK. 

B. TIPPLE AND WASHING PLANT AT MINGO NO.1 M I N E. 
DEVELOPMENT AND MINING METHODS. 221 

of course, considering conditions as they will probably exist in the immediate future. 

Undoubtedly still thinner coals will be worked at the distant future. Compared 

with these thicknesses we find the Mingo coal, at present being worked wc:,.;t of 

Middlesboro, to range from 4 to 6 feet in thickness. The Klondike coal, where 

· being worked, would be pratically 6 feet thick; the Hance coals, in the Hance 

district, to· range from 4 to 5 feet in thickness; the Harlan coal to show usually a 

single bench more or less nearly 4 feet in thickness, often 1 or more feet of 

additional coal that may or may not be taken. TheW allins Creek coal, in the eastern 

part of the field, shows a single bench from 5 to 7 feet in thickness. The other· 

coals, both in the eastern and western district, will undoubtedly show large areas of 

coal from 0 to 4 feet thick, and probably still larger areas, in which the workable 

part of the bed will be from 2 to 3 feet thick. 

In regard to the volume of coal the figures already given in the body of the 

text are sufficiently comprehensive and need not be repeated here. It need be 

only recalled that the Harlan coal in the Harlan, Marflins Fork, and Upper Puckett 

districts has been computed to show an area of almost 100 square miles o£ coal, 

the larger proportion of which is believed to be workable. 

DEVELOPMENT AND MINING METHODS. 

As previously stated, the period of actual development in the Cumberland 

Gap coal field extends back a little more than ten years. The ~ary Hull 

mine at Chenoa was opened in November, 1893. The Bryson mine was opened 

in 1890, and by 1895 there were running the Bryson Mountain, Mingo Nos. 1 

and 2 mines, Reliance mine, and the Fork Ridge mine. As near as could be 

learned, the Bennett Fork mine was opened in 1896, the Excelsior mige in 1898, 

and the Mary Hull cannel-coal mine was abandoned July 21, 1899. The Ralston 

mines have been opened up since 1899. Yellow Creek mine was opened January 

8, 1902, the Nicholson mine opened in the fall of 1902. During 1903 openings 

were made at the Mingo No. 1 mine upon the Poplar Lick bed; at the Nicholson 

mine upon the Klondike bed; above the Fork Ridge mine on Puncheon Camp 

Branch on the Lower Hignite seam; also on Stony Fork by the Sagamore Coal 

Company, ·by Luke and Drummond, and in Coal Branch of Stony Fork by the 

Ralston Coal Company; also the Turner mine near Middlesboro. In the winter 

of 1903-4 an opening was also made on Bryson Mountain by the Sterling Coal and 

Coke Company. The above list gives all the mines upon a commercial scale in 

this district. Small mines have supplied local needs, and have been opened at 

a number of points, especially several on the Harlan coal near Harlan. In most 

catles these small openings have not gone in more than 50 to 75 feet from the 

outcrop, though a few of them have gone in 2,00 or 300 feet. Most of the coals 

of the district are fairly soft, so that a good miner can get out five tons without 

the use of powc!.er. The common practice in the district is to use 8-foot entries, 

60-foot pillars along the main entries, 40-foot pillars along cross entries, and 14_ 

to 15-foot pillars between rooms. Rooms range from 200 to 275 feet in length, at 

the average width of about 22 feet. An 8-foot neck is driven in 35 feet before 

turning the room. The larger mines depend mainly upon fans for ventilation, 

though at an early day furnaces were entirely depended upon. Most of the 

• 
• 

222 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL. l!'IELD, KENTUCKY. 

openings upon the coals are so high above the level of the railroad switch that 

the coal is sent down to the railroad upon an incline, for which purpose most 

of the mines use monitors. In some eases the same incline is used for more 

than one seam. 

In regard to the possibilities for future development, at present such development must largely depend on the future extem;ion or construction of railway lines. 

A new switch was building in 1902-3 up Stony Fork, on which three new mines were 

being located at the same time. This switch should give access to some of the coal 

on the north side of Stony Fork and to much of the coal on the south side. Most 

of the coal in the ridge between Stony· Fork and Clear Creek could probably best 

be reached by a switch on Little Clear Creek, as from that position entries could be 

driven upon the coal along the center of the syncline, thus securing drainage and 

easy haulage from both directions. Plans are under way for the construction of 

a road up Cumberland River as far as Harlan. Should this branch be built, 

undoubtedly other branches would in a short time follow up the main tributaries, 

such as Hance, Williams, Toms, Puckett, Forrester, and Wallin:-; creeks, and no 

doubt within a short time up the three main forks of. the Cumberland-Martin, 

Clover, and Poor. At the present writing the prospect of this road seems favorable, so that when completed practically all of the coal within the area studied should 

have available transportation facilities. With such facilities it is possible to foresee 

an almost _!lnlimited future development of this field. 

MARKETS AND TRANSPORTATION. 

Naturally this coal field will have no competition in supplying any demand 

within the .field or in the part of the Great Valley immediately east along the lines 

of railroad passing through Cumberland Gap. ·within a short distance, however, of 

Cumberland Gap thf) coals of this district will come into competition with the coals 

of the ;Jellico district and the Big Stone Gap district. In a general way it may be 

said that this district, in conjunction with the Big Stone Gap district and the ,Jellico 

district, will supply the Great Valley through tb.e northern half of Tennessee; in 

general, through western North Carolina, the northwestern half of South Carolina, 

and northern Georgia, the three districts mentioned and the coals of the Chattanooga 

districts will have to compete among themselves, and in this competition for most 

purposes the coal of this district will probably be able to hold its own. 

For domestic purposes the coal of Jellico has already attain~d an enviable 

reputation. For the rest of North Carolina and the northeastern part of South 

Carolina the four fields mentioned will have to compete with the noi.thern 

-Appalachian fields. For a considerable part of the rest of South Carolina t1nd 

the central part of Georgia these -.fields will compete with the Birming·ham field 

of Alabama. , 

The following schedule shows the freight rates to a number of points within the 

market district already cited. The rates given are for short tons and are from 

Middlesboro. An additional amount of 50 cents should be added (in case of the 

present mines) to Middlesboro. 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

MAP SHOWING COAL MARKETS AND TRANSPORTATION. 

PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXXVIII 

0 

L EGEND 

Markets 

I! I 

controlled 

il ! II 

by 

~ ~gj'f-f,,'j:J:.ppalach ja n 

~'" Markets supplied by Middlesboro and.Tennes$ee 

:J:T~~a\~~\~~fd~~ition with 

r==~-4i Markets controlled by Alabama fields. 

~~~~~ Markets supplied by Alabama in competition~ 

with northern Appalachion fields.. 

Markets fi~J ontrolle~ by':' eastern and western mtenor coal fields. 

Markets supplied .bY . eastern and western 1n tenor 

~~ll)~~~~ j~~~~fif~~ ~~~~th 

Coal ~ Measures . 

Scale 

ooa:::s:,;z;;,s,..,,..,,so~====7~5====~100 miles 

Lltwed l.ar.7ely on maf' of' coal markets of southern. ~ppalach1an coal field.• by C.H~ffayes, U.S. Oeologico.l Sun ·ey. i!2" A11n.UblReport, Part Ill, PlXV. 
MINERAL RESOURCES OTHER THAN COAL, 223 

Freight rates from Middlesboro. 

I Coal. I Coke. 

-------------1------11--------------.-----

Coal. Coke. 

Savannah,Ga ----------------- $2.05 $2. 00 Anderson, Ala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 40 

Charleston, S. C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 90 2. 00 Asheville, N. C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 37 

Atlanta,Ga ------------------- 1.40 1. 45 Birmingham, Ala . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 40 

Chattanooga, Tenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 . 70 Bristol, Tenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 20 

Sheffield, Ala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. SO 1.25 Macon, Ga.................... l.S5 

Isabella, Tenn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 20 1. 30 Columbus, Ohio: 

Knoxville, Tenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 . 55 Slack and run of mine. . . . . . 90 

Athens, Tenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SO . 90 All other kinds . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 05 

Columbus, Ga................. 2.05 2. 10 r;ouisville, Ky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 10 

Brunswick, Ga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 05 2.15 East St. Louis .. ·--------------- 2.00 

Cedartown, Ga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 40 1. 45 Mobile, Ala................... 2, 90 

Anderson, S.C................ 2.01· 

MINERAL RESOURCES OTHER THAN COAL. 

- OIL AND GAS. · 

On account of the nearness of this field to the recently developed oil fields 

of Kentucky-Knox and adjacent counties-the .question of the presence of oil 

and gas in this field is one that is frequently brought forward. In several places 

traces of oil have been found upon the surface of pools along the streams, 

particularly at low water. Generally the showing was very slight. In one case 

on Catron Creek, reported_ after the completion of the field work in Hi03, it is 

said that considerable oil showed. A few wells have been 'drilled for oil; one of 

. these is in the town of Middlesboro, Ky., and one on Bear Creek in the Log 

Mountains; other wells have been drilled for water. In all cases these found 

water, but no oil or gas in any quantity. While it can not be asserted that no 

oil or gas will be found in this district, a theoretical consideration of the 

structure of the field leads to a strong doubt of either of those substances ever 

being obtained there. On account of the upturned position of the rocks in Pine 

and Cumberland mountains, opportunity has been, given theoretically for the 

escape of the more volatile hydrocarbons, and through the structure· within the 

field,_ as on Brush Mountain, Rocky Face Mountain, and probably many minor 

faults scattered through the field which were not seen, due to· the stresses and 

movements to which the rocks here have been subjected, abundant opportunity 

has been granted the hydrocarbons to escape. 

BUILDING STONE. 

As is usually the case with Coal Measure sandstones, the sandstones of this 

district are usually shaly and seldom suitable :for building purposes. No sandstones were seen within the limits of the basin proper that suggested the 
224 CUMBERLAND GAP COAL FIELD, KENTUCKY. 

existence of desirable building stones, except on ~he very flanks of the basin in 

Pine and Cumberland mountains. Here the sandstones of the Lee formation are 

upturned, and in places these sandstones arc sufficiently pure to make an enduring 

stone, if stones of suitable color can be found. A small amount of stone was 

noticed on the trail over Laurel Hill from near the Seven Sisters of Cumberland 

to a little above Was iota, and at several places along the mountains these 

sandstones gave promise of stones suitable for rough structural purposes, with a 

possibility of some finer gray stone being obtained. On account of the lack of 

value of the coals in Pine and Cumberland mountains, a very small amount of 

work was done there, so that we do not feel prepared to indicate the position or 

extent of the stones there that may prove valuable for building stones, but 

simply to suggest their presence and• the desirability o·f further exploration in 

those areas. 

SOILS. 

The soils of this region consist of the bottom lands along the Cumberland and 

its main tributaries, and the soils of the hillsides. The Cum berland Valley soils 

arc fairly productive, considering the lack of limestone in the drainage area from 

which they are derived. Tl}e hillside soils yield largely if properly cultivated, 

but as they must lie idle every other year and cultivation must be largely by 

hand, they can not be considered as desirable farming lands. It is a little 

surprising to find the soil on a 'hill slope so steep that it can not be plowed 

yielding from 60 to 80 bushels of corn to the acre, and continue to give a good 

yield for 20 or 25 years without fertilization if allowed to lie idle every other year. 

CLAYS. 

Although at present little considered, the clays of this region may ultimately 

prove of as much value as the coals. Few shales were noted which appeared 

suitable for paving brick or similar purposes, the shales usually being sandy, 

or when containing but a small percentage of silica, being fissile, or bituminous, 

or otherwise apparently not suitable for the manufacture of the products . 

named. On the other hand, however, the clays found under the coals appear 

to be of excellent quality, and there is little doubt that in time their use for 

the manufacture of fire brick and probably for the manufacture of a large variety 

of clay products will be one of the most valuable assets of this field. In a 

general way the presence of fire. clay, and in many cases its thickness has been 

noted in connection with the coal. It is probable that special tests will have to 

be made of the fire clays to determine at what horizons these present the most 

suitable characteristics for any desired purpose. In 1904 the Middlesboro Pres.sed 

Brick Company began the successful manufacture of fire brick, paving brick, and 

high-grade building brick. 

METALLIC MINERALS . 

. As far as known, no metallic minera~s in workable quantities exist in this 

field. We were shown a specimen of 'limonite of the Oriskany type, which was 

reported to come from the headwaters of Shillaly Fork. The whole of that 

fork was not examined, and it is possible that near the headwaters it has cut 

through the bottom of the Lee formation, but it hardly seemed probable that it 

could have cut down to the Oriskany. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER NO. 49 PL. XXXIX 

A. TIPPLE AT RELIANCE MINE, NEAR MI DD LESBORO. 

H. WATT'S I RON FURNA C E, M I DDLESBORO. 
W AT~R POWER AND TIMBER. 225 

WATER PU'vVER. 

As already stated,- the profile of most of the streams of this district is not 

favorable to the production of water power, though a majority of them have a 

descent of from 1,000 to 2,000 feet. In most cases the larger share of that 

descent is close to the heads of the streams, where little volume has been attained. 

Two exceptions to that rule exist in the headwaters of Martins Fork and Shillaly 

Fork. On Shillaly Fork there is a fall of about 1,000 feet within a fraction 

of a mile where the creek turns from the southwestward across to a northward 

course in running into Clear Fork of Yellow Creek. No estimate was made of 

the volume of water, but it is certainly enough to :furnish probably several 

hundred horsepower even in a dry season. Martins Fork has a similar :fall, but 

it extends over a much greater distance. In this case it would be necessary to 

build a high retaining darn, and probably then to carry the water for some 

distance along the bank until a suitable head had been obtained. Small powers 

could po~sibly be obtained from some of the streams on the flanks of Pine 

Mountain or some of the other streams descending Cumberland Mountain. In 

most such cases the method of obtaining the power would have to be' by the 

building of high impounding dams near the lower end of the stream courses, 

selecting some point where the stream has cut through one of the massive 

cliff-making sandstones. Small water power is now developed at a number of 

points along Cumberland River and its principal tributaries, and many small mills 

are to be found scattered in many of the smaller branches of the principal creeks. 

The power developed in these c~ses, however, can not be considered of commercial 

quantity. 

TIMBJjJR. 

A large share of this area is at present covered with an excellent growth of 

timber, and much of the surface is probably too steep to be of value for other 

purposes than raising timber. In the district west of Middlesboro nearly or quite 

all the first growth of timber has been removed and a good second growth has 

sprung up. In the district east of Middlesboro the cutting has been selective. The 

black walnut has practically all been removed, including the stumps. At present 

the main lumbering is poplar, of which a large quantity and fine growth has existed. 

At the present rate it will take but a few years to completely exhaust this region of 

that valuable timber. Near Middlesboro considerable chestnut has been cut for the 

bark for tanning purposes. Farther to the east there is yet a large amount of fine 

timber, mainly chestnut and oaks. Trees with diameter of from 3 to 4 and 5 feet 

are abundant. As before stated, it would seem that a large part of these mountains 

presents an ideal region for scientific lumbering, the hill slopes being much too steep 

for practical farming, such farming as is done usually being at the ultimate expense 

of the soil, for after the exhaustion of the plant and food material in the soil, it is 

allowed to lie idle in such a way that a large share of it is gullied and washed away 

before a new growth of timber can be started to hold it in place. 

INDEX. 

A. Page. 

Adjustment of streams, future....................... 18 

1Eger, G. W., place of, coal on ....................... 175-176 

place of, coal on analysis of....................... 176 

Age of rocks........................................... 32 

Ages Creek, coal on.................................... 165 

sections on, figures showing....................... 160 

Agriculture, existence of ................................ 30-31 

Analyses of: 

Barner coaL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112, 113 

Big Stone Gap coals, average of................... 212 

Bussell coaL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 

Cannel coals .............................. 95, 154, 198,201 

Chenoa cannel coaL .............................. 95,218 

Cockerall's coaL................................... 113 

Coke-.- ................................... 100, 107, 112,156 

Cranes Creek coaL .......... }_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116, 122 

Creech coaL ........................ , . . . . 142, 170, 210-217 

Cumberland lUver coals, average of............... 213 

Dark Mountain coaL.............................. 114 

Hancccoals .......................... 118,127,129,140,217 

Harlan coal. ..................... 167,181,197-198,216-217 

Hignite coals .................................... 104,106 

Hoskins caul..:........................... 111 

Kellioka coaL ........................... 169, 182,200,216 

Klondike coaL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 

Mason coaL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,96 

Mingo coal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72, 96 

Miscellaneous coals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176, 178, 195 

Poplar Lick coal ................................. 100,218 

Puckett (Creek) coaL............................. 123 

Red Spring coaL.................................. 107 

Sandstone Parting coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

Smith 7-foot coaL................................. 200 

Smith 11-foot coaL .............................. 187,204 

Standard bituminous coals ........... ·............. 215 

Terrys Fork coaL..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 

· Wallins Creek coaL .............. 156,171,186,203.215,217 

Anderson sandstone, correlation of.................... 212 

Appalachian Highland, profile across, figure showing.. 15 

Appalachian Mountains, drainage of. ................. 1(;-18 

location and extent of............................. 14 

physiography of. .................................. 14-18 

rocks of. ............................. :. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Appalachian province, altitude of..................... 16 

description of. ..................................... 14-18 

drainage of. ....................................... 16-18 

physiographic divisions of......................... 14 

structure of................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Appalachian Valley, drainage of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-18 

location and description of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

physiography of. .................. : . ............ :. 14 

Arnett, Carlo, place of, coal on ................. ,...... 139 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 136 

P11ge. 

Arthur Heights peneplain, description of ........... 23-27,.10 

.Ashley, George H., field and office work of. ........... 11, 12 

Ashley, George H., and White, David, on corrchLtion 

of coals. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. . . .. . 206-212 · 

n. 

Bailey Branch, coal on.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 166 

section on, figure showing ....................... _ 160 

Baker and Cornett mine, coal at...................... 163 

sections at, figures showing. . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . . .. . 158, 160 

Baker Branch of Clover Fork, section on ............ 161,168 

Ball, Lloyd, place of, coal on .................... 165,167-168 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 167-168 

section on, figure showing..................... 160 

Banners Fork of Wallins Creek, coals on .. · .......... 152-153 

section on.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 192 

figures showing .................. _ 1.52, 190,192, 196 

Barner, F., place of, coal on ....................... _ 112 

Barner coal, analyses of. ................ _ . _ .... : . __ . 112, 113 

coke from, analysis of............................. 112 

description of. ..................... : ............. 112-113 

Barnett, James, place of, coal 011...................... '116 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 110 

Bartlett, J. H., aid of.................................. 12 

Bean Fork Branch, COlLI on ................ 95-98,103,106-108 

rocks on ..................................... 41, 43, 90,94 

section on .......................................... 89-90 

figures showing ............................. 82, 84,96 

Bear Creek, coal on ......... 87, 9.1-97,100-101,103, 105-106, 108 

coal on, analyses of. ...................... 96, 100, 100-107 

coke from, analysis of......................... 100 

rocks on ..... ~--- ............................... 41,43,86 

section on ... _ ..... __ ._._ .. ____ ...... ____ ._._. ______ 83-85 

figures showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 82, 84, 96 

Bear Creek cannel coal, comparison of other coals and. 219-220 

description of. ............. :...................... 219 

Bear Tree Branch of Puckett Creek, con.\ on ......... 196,199 

sections on, figures showing .... .' ................ 192,196 

Bco Branch of Slater Fork, coal on.................... 182 

section on, figure showing......................... 174 

Bee Rock, use ef term ................................. 35, 38 

Belt Railroad, grade of. ......................... ___ .. . 23 

Ben Fork of Little Clear Creek, coal on ............. 87-88,98 

section on, figure showing ................... _ .. . . . 96 

Bennett Fork, coals OIJ. ................................ 81,87 

grade of. ..................................... __ ... 22-23 

mines on. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. . . .. . . . 55 

rocks on ..................................... 39, 41,80-81 

sections on ................................... 64,69-71,73 

figures showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58 

structure on ................................... :... 80 

Bennett Fork coal, correlations of. ................... 40, 66, 

8&-88, 140,207,210-211 

description of ............•...... :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39, 68 

227 
228 INDEX. 

Page. 

Bennett Fork coal. occurrence of. ............ 33, 56, 64, 80, 87 

section of. ............. _ .......................... _ 64 

figures showing ..... __ .. _._ ............... ___ .. 56,58 

summary of. ........ _______ ----- ___ --------------- 79 

Bennett Fork district, access to. .. _________ .. ___ ..... 55 

coals of. ______ ....... ___________ ................... 60--79 

correlations in ...... __ .......... ______________ .. ___ 65--66 

geography of._ .. ___ ...................... _........ 55 

sections in ................... __________ 50--65,67,69-73,76 

figures showing_ ... _ .. ___ .. _._ .. _._. ____ ... _ ... 56,58 

stratigraphy of. ......... __ .... _._._._._ .... ___ . ___ 55-66 

structure of. ....... _ ... _ .. _._ .. _ ....... __ . __ .. __ .. _ 80--82 

summary of. ... _ .... ___ .. •. _. _. _. _ ... __ . _ .. _______ . 78--79 

topography of. ...... _ ... _. __ ... __ ._. _____ .... __ . __ 22--23 

Bennett Fork mine, coal at ..... ----- _______ ........... 39,68 

dips at ..................... _______ .. _______ ........ 81 

section near .. _._ .... _ ........ _ ... _ ......... _....... 64 

Berry, R. W., work of................................. 12 

Betsey Ann Branch of Brownies Creek, coal on _. _ .• _ _ 123 

Bibliography of region ... __ . ___ ....................... 13--14 

Big Black Mountain, structure of.. ___ ._. _______ . ___ ._. 172 

Big Cliffs, use of term ...... _._. __ . ____ . ___ . __ .. _ .. _ .. 40,131 

Big Creek, section on, figure showing ........... ------_ 174 

Big Creek Gap, section at ............ ---------- .. ----- 30--37 

section at, figure showing......................... 35 

Big Stone Gap field, coal of, analysis of. ....... ____ . 212--213 

rocks of. ........................ ____________ ....... 208 

Bill Grct•n Branch, section on, figure showing......... 120 

Dingham, Elijah, place of, coal on._._ ... _____ ._._ ... _. 136 

place of, section on, figure showing ___ ... ___ .. __ .__ 136 

Bingham, W. N.,placeof,coalon ................... 128,137 

place of, section on, figure showing .... _ .... _ .. _._. 136 

Bingham coal, correlation of. ....... _._._._._ .. __ ._.__ 134 

Bitumi:Q.ous coals, average analysis of ... _. ___ . ___ . _. _. 215 

Black Lick Branch of Brownies Creek, coal on .... _._. 141 

section on, figure showing ........ _................ 130 

Black Mountains, character of.._ .. _ .. _._._ .... __ ... _. 19 

coal in .. _ ........... ------ ___ ------- ______ --------- 30 

development in. __ ... _. ___ ._ .. _._ .. _. ___ . _______ ._. 53 

erosion on . .................. _. _. _ ......... _.. . . . . . 16, 18 

mining methods in, view showing ....... __ .. _._._. 220 

rocks in ..... ___ ..... _____________ ....... ___ ..... 41,43--44 

section of, figure showing_ .. __ ._. ___ . ____ .. _._._... 31 

summits of, description of. .. _____ ._._._ .. ______ .. _ 18 

Black Mountain Hollow of Puckett Creek, coal on.... 195 

section in, figure showing. ___ ._. __ ._. ___ ... _ ... __ .. 196 

Blacksnake Branch of Brownies Creek, coal on._ 135,139,141 

sections on, figures showing ..................... 130, 136 

Blacksnake Branch of Puckett Creek, coal on __ . ____ . 135, 

137-138,141 

section on, figure Showing ..... ___ ._ .. ____ ........ 136 

Blacksnake sandstone, occurrence of.. __ .. __________ .. 80 

Blanton, SarahJ place of, section on, figure showing... 152 

Block coals, occurrence of._ .. _ ... ________ --• ________ 211-212 

Blue Gem coal, thickness of. _____ . ___ ._. ____ .. __ . ____ . 220 

Bobs Creek, coal on ______________________________ 176,179,182 

sections on, figures showing .... _________________ 172,174 

Brierfield Gap, rocks at .. ·---------------------------- 34--35 section at .. ____ . ________________ c _________________ . 35 

Britton, Carlo, place of, coal on. ______ ._ ........... _._ 181 

place of, section on, figure.showing ____ . _. ___ . _.... 174 

Brownies Creek, coal on .... ________ . _______ . 128,135,138--140 

erosion on .. ____ .. _ .. ___ . ____ . ____________ -_____ .. _ 18 

rocks OIL ...... _ ............. _ .... _._ ... __ ....... 120, 135 

sections 011. ___ • _______ . ______ . ___ .. _______ - _ _ _ _ _ _ 190, 191 

figures showing ..... ____ .. __ . ____________ 130,136, 196 

Brownies Ridge, cliffs of.. ____________________________ 40, 131 

section on, figure showing ____ . _____ . ________ ._____ 130 

Browning, Daniel, place of, coal on ......... _ ... ____ ._. 170 

Page. 

Browning, John, place of, coal on ....... ____ .. _. _. _. _ _ 180 

place of, section on, figure showing .... ____ .• ____ .. 172 

Browning, William, place of, coal on_._. _____ ._. ___ ._. 176 

Brunnett, Chapple, place of, coal on ..... ______ ._______ 155 

place of, section on, figure showing_ ... __ . __ . _____ . 152 

Brunnett, James, place of, coal on. __________ . ____ .____ 152 

place of, section on, figure showing_. ___ ... __ ... _.. 152 

Brush Mountain. coal ln .... __ . ___ . __ ._._. _____ .________ 122 

fault at ... _ ....... ---------- __ . __________________ .. 47 

rocks of. ____________ . ___ . _. _. _. __________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 119 

Bryson formation, coals of. ..... _._ .. _______ .. _____ ._ 78, 108 

correlation of. .... __ ... __ ._. ________ . ____ .. ___ ._... 208 

description of.._._ ...... _. ______ . ___ . ______________ 33,44 

section of, figure showing. ________ ._. _____ ._. ___ ._. 5G 

Bryson Inine, coal at ... _ .. __ . ___ ... _._._ .... __ ._ .. _. __ 71,81 

developments at._ ...... ___________________________ 221 

section at .. _._. _____ ._. __ ._._._. __ . _____________ ... 71 

figure showing. ________ -------·- _________ --'---_ .58 

Bryson Mountain, coals on ...... _____________ . __ 66, 75, 77,78 

rocks in. ___ ._. ________________ . _____ . ____ . ___ .. _ 41,43-44 

section on. ______________________ ..... _____ . ________ 56--58 

figw-e-showing. _ .... __ _-_________ ,_ _____ ___ __ __ _ 56 

Buckeye Spring coal, description of.. ____ . ___ . ________ 96--97 

occurrence of. ......... __ ._._. ____ . _______ 84--85,87-88,94 

Buell, John, place of, coal on._ ... _____ .·:______________ 122 

place of, section on, figure showing _________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 130 

Building stone, occurrence of.. ______________________ 223-224 

Bull Branch of Puckett Creek, coal on .. ___ ... _._._. 135-136 

section on .. __ . _ .......... _____________________ . _. _ . 136 

n urrells Creek, section on, figure showing __ .. ____ ·- _ _ _ _ 152 

Bussell, James, place of, coal on. _________________ ----- 113 

place Of, section on, figure showing .. ..... _........ 110 

Bussell coal, analysis of. _ .. ______________________ . __ .. 113 

Butts of the White Rocks, altitude of __ --______________ 18 

c. 

Cairns, Thomas; aid of. ........ _ .. _ .... · .. ___ .. _____ ._. 12-13 

measurements by ................. __ ... _________ . __ 97-99 

seAJtions by, figures showing_. __ . __________ ._______ 9G 

Calfpen Branch, section on, figure showing____________ 174 

Calloway, section near ____ . ___________ ._.______________ 138 

Camp Branch of fltony Fork, coal on ___________ 74,75,77,102 

section on, figure showing. __ ........... _._. __ .. _.. 56 

Camp Branch of Wallins Creek, coal on. ____ ._ 75, 77,152-153 

section on ___________ . _________________ ----_________ 148 

figure showing._ .. _____________________________ 152 

Campbell, M. R., on West Virginia geology .. __ 14, 32, 33,207 

sectio11 by ___ ....... _. _ .................. _. . . . . . . 208 

Campbell Branch, coal on .. ___ . _____________________ 137,141 

section on. __________ ._.-.- ____________________ --_-_ 137 

ftgnres showing_. _______________ . _________ . __ 1301136 

Campbell place, coal on ... _____________________________ 123 

section on, figure showing_ ... _._.................. 130 Canada Ridge, coal in .. _______________________________ 52,90 

Cane Branch of Martins Fork, coal OTL. __ 177,180 

section on, figure showing_ - - _ -_ _ _ _ _ _ 172 

Cannel coal, analysis of. .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9.5 

occurrence of. __ 37; 39, 94,120,152-153, 183, 198,200,201,218 

Cannon Creek, coal on._._- ________ . ________ ----- ____ 112, 113 

coal on, analysis of._ .. -. _____________ ------- 112 

section on, figure showing- - - -. _ .. -_-- -- - --- ____ . 110 

Canoe Hollow of Poor Fork, coal on ____ ---------- __ -_. 164 

section in, figure showing.......................... 160 

Cany Fork of Clear Creek, coal on . _--.- .. - 87-88,97,103--106 

co·al on, analysis of..-.------------------.------. 104,106 

sections on, figures showing ... - .. -... -... -.- ..... - 84,96 

Cardiff steam coal, amtlysis of ... --.----.-----.-----.-. 215 

Carter, J. C., place of. coal on .................... --- 176--179 
INDEX. 229 

Page. 

Carter, J. C., place of, coal on, analysis of. .......... 177-178 

place of, sections on, figures showing ........ _ ... 172,174 

Carter and Cawood, land of, coal on ................. 179,181 

land of, section on, tlguru showing .... _............ 174 

Catron Creek, coal on ............... _ ..... 42,175,196,200,201 

coal on, analyses of. ........ _ ........... _ .... 197-198;201 

rocks on ................................. _ ..... 41-43,173 

sections on, figures showing ................. 172,190,196 

Catron formation, coals of.._ .. __ ..... _ ........ _ 33,74-76, 97.!. 

102, 142-143,15&--15_6, 170--171,184-188, 202-205,_208 

coals of, analyses of. .............. _ ............. 186-188 

correlations of. .................................. 201-208 

descriptions of. ............ _ ........ _ ........... 33,41-43 

section of. ....................... _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

figures showing .............................. 146,190 

Cawood, sections near, figures sh'owing ........ _. .. . .. . 174 

Cawood, Stephen, place of, coal on ........ _........... 176 

Cawood sandstone, correlations of. ................. 145-146 

description of. ..................... 37-38,120--121, 14.'l, 158 

occurrence of. ........ 33,130,145,147-150, 151>--162, 173,175 

section of, figure showing.......................... 146 

view of............................................. 34 

Charleston sandstone, correlation of.................. 212 

Chattanooga shale, occurrence of .. _................... 33 

Chenoa, drilling for oil near .................. _.. . . . . . . 85 

mining at. ........................................ 82,221 

Chenoa cannel coal, analyses of. .... _ ... _ ............. 95,218 

correlations of. .... _ .... _ .. _ ...... _ ..... _ ..... _ . 86-88,94 

description of. ..... , ............................... 94-95 

occurrence of. ...................... _._·_ .. 39,84-85,87,94 

practical results with ............................ 218,219 

section of. ............................. ~.. . . . . . . . . . 94 

figures showing ................................ 82,84 

Clays, character of. .......................... _......... 224 

Clear Creek, coal on ........... _ .................... 95, 99,110 

coal on, analysis of. ........ _ ... __ ...... _ .... _ . . . . . 104 

rocks on ......... _ ... _ ........................ _ .... 38,86 

sections 011 ..... _ .. _. _____ ...... _ ... __ •. ____ . _. _ _ _ _ _ 39 

figures showing ...... _ .... _._ ....... _ ..... _. 82, 84,96 

Clea.r Fork of Cumberland, coal on ......... __ ....... _. 103 

Clear Fork of Yellow Cn,ek, coal on ......... :_._. 121,123,126 

future erosion by ...... _ .. _ ..... _ ... _ .... ___ . . . . . . . 27 

sections on, figures showing ....... _ ........ __ . . . 110, 120 

Clear Fork Ridge, coal in .... _ .................. __ ..... 117 

Clifi-making sandstones: occurrence of._ ..... _ .. _ .. 29,39-40 

value of. ..... · ........................ ____ 29 

views of ......................................... 60,34,36 

Cliffs, occurrence and character of. .................... 29-30 

Clinch Valley gas coal, analysis of. .................. 215,217 

Clinch V1tlley steam and coking coal, analysis of...... 215 

Clover Fork, coal on ............................. lfl3, 16&--166 

rocks on .... : ................................ _ .... 138-158 

section on. __ ....... _ .. __ .. _ ... __ .. __ ._. ____ ...... _. 160 

figures showing ............... · ............... 158,160 

Coal, analyses of. .................................... 212-220 

beds of.................................. 10 

character of. ....................................... 10,30 

development of. .................... _ ... 10,50--55,221-222 

geology of. ....................................... 50--222 

i!npnritics in .. __ .... __ .. __ .. ____ ... _. __ .. _____ . ___ . 10 

measurements of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . 53 

numbers used to show . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 

sections of, method of representing ... ____ ......... 54 

method of representing, figure illustrating. . . . 54 

thickness ·of......... . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . 220--221 

See also individual coals, mines, districts, etc. 

Coal Branch. See_ Rockhouse Branch of Stony Fork. 

Page. 

Coal Creek coal, correlation of......................... 211 

occurrence of. .......... _ .................. _....... 87 

Cockerall's coal, analysis of_._......................... 113 

Coke, analysis of. ............... __ ........... 100,107,112,156 

making of. ............... ,......................... 10 

production of. ..................................... 10,31 

Colson, D. G., well of.................................. 25 

Connellsville coking coal, analysis of.................. 215 

Coon Branch of Catron, coal 011. ................ 199,201-202 

section of. .............................. _ ........ 192-193 

figures showing ...................... _ ....... 190,192 

Coon Branch of Wallins, section on, figure showing . . 146 

Coosa Valley, locationof.............................. 14 

Copperas Lick coal, occntrcnce of. ................... 83,108 

section of, figure showing .................. : .. _.... 82 

Copperas Fork of Laurel Fork, coal on. .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . 99 

section on, figure- showing .................... _:. . . 96 

Correlation of coals ................................ _. 206-212 

Cow Branch of Bean l<'ork Branch, coal on ....... _.... 98 

Cowpen Branch of Slater Fork, coal on............... 183 

Crandall, A. R., analyses by ........................... 72-73 

measurements by .......................... 96-98,103,211 

on coal correlations................................ 210 

on Bennett Fork district coals ................. 74-75,77 

sections by .......... 39,43,56,60, 73,83-84,94,101,10&--106 

figures showing ....................... 56,58,82,84,96 

work of............................................ 52 

Cranes ?reck, coal on ....... : .. ;;· ... _.···: ... 115-117,122,124 

sectwns on, figures showmg.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110, 120 

Cranes Creek coal, analyses of. .................. _ ... 116,122 

coke from.......................................... 116 

descriptions of.: ...................... 37, llf>--116,122-123 

position of......................................... 37 

sections of, figures showing... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110, 120 

Cranks Creek, coal on ............................ 177,180,182 

coal on, analysis of. ............................ :.. 182 

sections on, figures showing ...... __ ._ ... _ .... _._ 172,174 

Cranks Ridge, section of, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

Creech, Frank, place of, coal on....................... 134 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 

Creech, I. N., place of, coal on......................... 134 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 

Creech, Millard, place of, section on, figure showing... 166 

Creech, Robert, aid of................................. 12 

reference to ........................ 40,53, 125,128,121-142 

Creech coal, analyses of. ..................... 142,170,216-217 

description of. ........................ 40,141-142,169-170 

correlation of. ................................... 209,211 

occurrence of.. ...................... 63,40,87,131-132,162 

sections of, figures showfng ...................... 130,158 

summary of....................................... 143 

Crider,John, place of, coal on ................ ·.......... 178 

place of, section on, figure showing .......... _..... 172 

Crummies Creek of Martin Fork, coal on ........ 176-182,184 

coal on, analyses of. ......................... 177-178,181 

section on.......................................... 174 

figures showing .......................... : ... 172,174 

Cubage Creek, coal on ..................... _ ......... 125,126 

section on, figure showing......................... 120 

Culture of Cumberland Gap region ............. _ ...... 30-31 

Cumberland Gap, cause of............................ 19 

coals at............................................ 35 

fault at............................................ 19 

location of. ........................................ 9,11 

rocks at ............................................ 33-34 

section near......................................... 34 

Curnberlaml Gap coal, description of. ........... 115,121-122 
230 INDEX. 

Page. 

Cumberland Gap coal, section of, figure showing . . . . . 120 

Cumberland Gap road, section on..................... 34 

section on, figure showing......................... 110 

Cumberland !.fountain, coal in........................ 119 

diastrophism on ....................... · ............ 46-47 

erosion on ......................................... 18-19 

location of......................................... 9 

rocks in ........................................ Hi, 46,119 

structure of ...................................... 9,46-48 

figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Cumberland peneplain, description of.. ............... 16--17 

Cumberland Plateau, altitude of...................... 16 

drainage of. ....................................... 16,30 

location of......................................... 14 

rocks of.: ..•..................... ·.................. 14 

Cumberland River, co1tl on .......................... 138,154 

coal on, analyses of................................ 213 

coke from .................................... 214-215 

drainage to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 30 

fall of. ............................................. 20-22 

map showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

history of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 18 

riflles in, cause of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

rocks on........................................... 35 

section on................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 

figures showing .............................. 1.>2, 158 

tributaries of...................................... 9,30 

valley of, timber in, views of. ................... 216,218 

<;Jum berland River ftnd Tennessee Railroad. . . . . . . . . . . 82 

Cup Gap, rocks at..................................... 34 

D. 

Dark Ridge, coal of. .................................. . 

coal of, analysis of ............................... . 

David Lee Branch of Wilder Branch, coal on, analysis 

I of . .-....................................... . 

114 

114 

182 

Davis, Charles Henry, acknowledgment to ............ 12,13 

Day, John, place of, coal on........................... 184 

Deadening Branch of Blacksnake Branch, coal 011. •• 1371141 

analysis of......................................... 142 

Dean coal, correlation of.............................. 210 

Denny, John, place of, coal on ................ :........ 125 

Denny, William, place of, coal on .................... l17-ll8 

place of, coal on, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 

section on, figure showing..................... 110 

Developments, character of. ..................... 10,221-222 

Devonian black shale, thickness of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Dip, variations in ............................... .-..... 45-46 

Drainage, character of. ....... ___ ..... ___ ..... _ ... 9,16-18,30 

origin of. ....................................... 17-18,27 

relation of structure and..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Duffield, Willard Ward, work of...................... 12 

Durham, William, place of, coal on .............. 122-123,126 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 123 

section on, figure showing..................... 120 

E. 

Eads house, coal near. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 

Elevations, summary of .................. . 

Elkhorn coal, correlation of................ . ... 209,211 

Elliott, R. II., measurements by .................. 85,95,103 

Ellis, Hiram, place of, coal on ....................... 141-142 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 142 

section on, figure showing..................... 130 

Ellis Branch of Blacksnake, coal on, analysis of....... 142 

Ely, Anthony, place of, coal on........................ 137 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 136 

English Creek, coals on................................ 164 

section on ........................................ 160-161 

Page. 

Enoch Branch, coal on................................ 175 

Erosion, effects of. .................................... 18-19 

Evans, John J ., place of, coal on ................ 100-101,103 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 100 

section on, figure showing..................... 84 

Evans, William K., place of, coal on.................. 98 

Evans farm, section on, figure showing .............. 96, 110 

Ewing Creek, coals on ............. , ................. 151-152 

section on.......................................... 150 

figures showing .... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146, 152 

Ewing Creek coal, correlations of. ................... 152-153 

occurrence of. ................................... 148-150 

Ewing Spur, coal in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 

Excelsior mine, coal of ............. ·.................... 114 

section at, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 

F. 

Falling Rock coal, character of. ..................... 219-220 

Falling Witter Creek, erosion on....................... 18 

Farmer, D. S., place of, coal on ....... ___ .............. 166 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 160 

Farmer, G. F., place of, coa.I on .................. , .... 184,186 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 186 

Farmer, Gill, place of, coal on......................... 178 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

Farmer, Milla.rd, place of, coal on ................... 183,184 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 174 

Farrner, Shennan, place of, section on, figure showing. HiO 

Farmer, W. C., place of, coal on .... , ................ 166-168 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 167-168 

section on, figure showing .......... _ ....... _.. 160 

Farmers Branch ·of Martins Fork, coal on ........... 166,170 

coal on, analysis of................................ 170 

section on, figure showing ..................... · 172 

Farmers Branch of Slater Fork, coal on............... 184 

coal on, analysis of................................ 186 

section on, figure showing......................... 174 

l!'aulting, cause of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

location of......................................... 9, 44 

Fee, Henderson, place of, coal on...................... 179 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 172 

Fee, Stephe.n, place of, coal on......................... 197 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 197 

section on, figure showing..................... 196 

Fee Branch of Catron Creek, coal ori.................. 175 

Fern Lake, coal OIL ••..•.•.........•.•......•.•..•.• 66--67,80 

section near... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

water supply from................................. 25 

Fern Lake road, section on............................ 65 

Field, Benjamin, place of, coal on ................... 181-183 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 181-182 

section on, figure showing..................... 174 

Field work, character of. ........................ 11-13,50-52 

Fitzhugh, G. D., measurements by ............ ." ... 95-98,108 

sections by .............................. 39,84,101-103,105 

figures showing ................................ 84,96 

Flat Top coals, analysis of............................ 215 

Folding and faulting, occurrence of. .............. 9, 20,44-50 

Fork Ridge, coal in.................................... 77 

Fork Ridge Coal and Coke Company, mine of... . . . . . . 75 

Fork Ridge mines, coal at ....................... 70, 75,77,81 

section at.......................................... 70 

figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 

Fork Ridge sandstone, description of..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

elevations of. ................................. '.. 81-82,94 

occurrence of. ................. 33,56,63, 71,81-82,89,92-94 

Formations, <"escriptions of. .......................... 33-44 

See also individual formations. 
INDEX. 231 

Page. 

Forrester Creek, coals on ..................... 42,146,152,156 

sections on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 7 

figures showing .............................. 146,152 

Forrester Ridge, section on, figure showing........... 146 

Fossils, age of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

collection of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

evidence of. .................................. ·. . . . . . 65-66 

Fox Knob, coals in .................................. 150,157 

height of. ......... ,................................. 144 

section on, figure showing .................... :.... 146 

Frank Bmnch of Yocnm Creek, coal on ............. 168-169 

coal on, an11lysis of................................ 169 

section on, figure showing......................... 158 

Freight rates, schedule of. ........................... 222-223 

Frost place, coal on ............................... 42,106--,-197 

coal on, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 

sections on, figures showing ..................... 192,196 

G. 

Gabe Branch, section on, figure showing.... 160 

Gaps in Yellow Creek district, location of............. 109 

Gas, possibilities of tlevelopment of............ 223 

Gas wells, drilling of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 

Geography of Bennett Fork district................... 55 

of Cumberland Gap region ......................... 14-31 

of Ilance district .............. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 

of Harlan district ................................. . 

of Lower Puckett district ......................... . 

158 

131 

of Martins Fork district ......................... 172-173 

of Stony Fork-Clear Creek district................ 82 

of Upper Puckett district.......................... 189 

of Wallins Creek district...................... 144 

of Yell ow Creek district. .................... . 109-110 

Geology, general, account of. .... : ..................... 31-50 

Geology of coals, account of. ......................... 50-223 

George Branch of Yellow Creek, coal on............... 80 

Gilbert, Jesse, place of, coal on........................ 165 

place of, section on, figure showing ___ ........... _. 160 

Gildersleeve, W. H., on well data... . . .. ..... .. .. . 25 

Gladeville sandstone, correlation of. .. · .............. 208-209 

Glenn, L. C., office and field work of................... 11 

section by.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

Grapevine Hollow of Bobs Creek, coal in............. 179 

coal in, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 

Grays Branch of Martins Fork, coal on ............. 176,185 

coal on, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . .• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 

section on, figure showing......................... 174 

Grays Knob, coal on .......................... 42,172,184-187 

coal on, analysis of................................ 187 

height of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

rocks of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 

section of. ....................................... 174-175 

figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

Great Valley, description of.................... 14 

drainage of....................................... 16 

Green, D. H., place of, coal on.......................... 133 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 136 

Green, Elias, place of, coal on, analysis of._ .... _ .. _... 140 

Green, Gabe, place of, coal on ....................... 123-124 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 120 

Green, James L., place of, coal on ........... 123-124,128-130 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 128-129 

Green, Joseph, place of, coal on ...................... 127-129 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 128-129 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

Green, J. S., place of, coal on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 

Green1 Lum, place of, coal on._ ......... _._ ...... ______ 122 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

Green, Pink, place of, coal on ......................... . 

place of, section on, figure showing ............... . 

Grill, John, place of, coal on ...................... .-... . 

place of, section on figure showing ............... . 

Gross, B. F., place of, coal on ........................ . 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ..................... . 

H. 

Page. 

125 

120 

165 

160 

186 

186 

Hall, W. M., place of, coal on.......................... 186 

place of, coal on, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . 186 

section on, figure showing..................... 174 

Hance coals, analyses of. ................ 118,127,129,140,217 

correlations of ............................... 134-135,140 

descriptions of. ........................... 40,66,117-118, 

123-129,139-140, 151-i55, 163,175-178,194-195,221 

elevation of........................................ 130 

occurrence of. ..................... 33,87, 121,131,134,190 

sections of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 

figures showing .............................. 110,120 

summary of. ............................ c .... ' .. 129,143 

view of............................................. 126 

See also Lower Hance coal; Upper Hance coal. 

Hance ci·eek, coal on .... .-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122, 124-126 

coal on, analysis of. ......................... 123,128-129 

rocks on ......................................... 120,130 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

liance district, access to............................... 119 

conls of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 

analyses of. .............................. 122-123,129 

summary of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129-130 

geography of...................................... 119 

sections in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 

figure showing................................. 120 

stratigraphy <J,f ••••...•.••••....•••.....••••••••• 119-121 

structure of........................................ 130 

Hance forrnation, Coals of. ............ .: .. __ .......... 66-67, 

134-138,151-155,163,175-178,194-195 

coals of, amtlyses of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128-129, 178 

sections on, figures shpwing ....... f. . . . . . . . 17 4, 196 

correlations of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 

descriptions of. ......................... 33,37-38,119-121 

occurrence of. ...................... ·········- 30,110,119 

outcrop of, view of. .............. _ ... ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

sections of. .............. _ ........................ 56,121 

figures showing .............................. 146,190 

Hance Ridge, coal in ............................. 123,125-128 

rocks in .............................. ·. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

sections on1 figures showing ........ ____ ........... 120 

struct urc of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 

Hanging Rock, location o!. ....................... :.... 43 

Harlan, section near . .................. __ ....... _ . _ . . . . 162 

Harlan coal, analyses ol. ............ 167,181,197-198,216-217 

character o I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

correlations of. ....................... : ...... 134,140,209 

description of...................................... 40, 

151-152,163-168,178-181,193,195-198,221 

mnp of. ............ ~............................... 164 

measurements of. ........... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

occurrence of. ...... _ ...... _ .. :................... 30, 40~ 

47, 149-152' 159-161' 163, 172-175, 190, 194 

openings on, views of.............................. 162 

sections of, figures showing ...... 146,160,174,190,194,196 

summary of. .................... , ........... 171,188,205 

Harlan district, coals of. ............................ 162-171 

coals of, analyses of. ............ : ............... 167-171 

summary of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 

geography of...................................... 158 

location of......................................... 158 
232 INDEX. 

Page. 

Harlan district, sections in ......................... 159-162 

sections in, plates showing ...................... 158,160 

stratigraphy of. ................................. 158-162 

structure of..................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

Harlan sandstone, correlation of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 

Harris place, coal on.................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 

section on, figure showing ..... · ........ _........... 160 

Harter Branch of Cubage Creek, coal on.............. 126 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

Hinvls, Frank, place of, coal on ............. _. . . . . . . . . . 168 

place of, section on, figure showing ...... _ . _ . . . . . . . 158 

Hayes, C. W., reference to............................. 15 

Hensley, Bert, place of, coal on, analysis of._......... 197 

place of, section on, figure showing ... ____ ... ~.. . .. 196 

Hensley, F. S., place of coal on .................. 186-181,183 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ............. __ ....... 181 

section on, figure showing ........ ____ ._....... 172 

Hensley, G. W., place of, coal on, analyses of. ....... 197-198 

Hensley, Hiram, place of, coal on ............ ___ ..... 198,200 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .. .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . 200 

section on, figure showing ................... 174,192 

Hensley, Milton, place of, coal on ..... _ ...... _._....... 156 

Hensley, Samuel, place of, coal on, analysis of......... 197 

place of, section on, figure showing ................ · 196 

Hensley, Washington, place of, coal on ...... _._ ..... 196-198. 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 197 

section on, figure showing..................... l!i6 

Hensley, W. S., place of, cm1l on ................. 179,181-182 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .... _. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. .. 181 

sections on, figures showing ................. 172,17 4 

Hignite coals, analyses of.._ ............... ____ ...... 104,105 

correlation of. ......... _ ......... _._ ... _._......... 211 

desCI'iption of. .......................... 43,76-77,103-106 

occurrence of. ......... _ ............. <56,59-60,87,144-146 

sections of, figures showing ........................ 82,84 

summary of. ..................................... 79,108 

See also Lower Hignite coal; Upper IIignite coal. 

Hignite Creek, coal on ...................... 43,96-98,103-107 

coal on, ana'fsis of. ............. __ .......... 104,106,107 

rocks on .................................... ____ 41,43,94 

sectiol1 on .................... _....... . . . . .. . . . .. .. . 90-92 

figures sho~ing ............................. 82,84,96 

Hignite formation, coals of............................ 33, 

76-78,102-108,143,157' 194 

description of. .................................. 33,43-44 

section of.......................................... 56 

figures showing ....................... , ... 56,146,190 

Hislop, George H., analyses by ....... _ ........ __ ..... 218-220 

on various coals. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . 91>-96, 100, 104,216-217 

Hobbs Branch of Wallins Creek, coals on ........ 42,152-156 

coals on, analysis of. ...... ----.-----.............. 156 

sectwn on, figure showing.. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . 146 

sectionon ........................................ 148-149 

Robbs Mill section at ............................... _.. 133 

Hodge Elias, place of, coals Ol1.,....... . .. .. . . .. .. . .. . 139 

Hodge, J. N., on correlati9n of coals.................. 209 

Hoskins, E., place of, section on, figure showing...... 136 

Hoskins, Hiram, phtcc of, coal on ...... _ ..... _........ 111 

place of, section on, figure showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 110 

Hoskins Branch of Brownies Creek, coal 011..... .... . . 139 

section on, figure showing .................... ,.... 136 

Hoskins coal analysis of ............................ ; . 111 

correlation of. ............................ __ ....... 112 

Howard, Adrian, place of, coal on..................... 154 

Iloward F. B.,placc of, coal on....................... 168 

Howard, Green Bailey, place of, coal on............... 153 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 152 

Page. 

Howard, James, place of, coal on ................... 187-188 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 188 

Howard, Jesse, place of, coal on....................... 146 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 152 

Howard, J. B., place of, coal on, analysis of. ........ 167-168 

place of, section on, figure showing .............. 158,160 

Howard, J. C., place of, section on, figure showing ... 167-168 

Howard, Mrs. L., place of, coal on ................... 154-155 

place of, section on, figure showing ........... _.... 152 

Howard, Palestine, place of, coal on................... 135 

place of, section on figure showing ........... __ ... 136 

Howard, Robert, place of, coal on, section of.......... 137 

Huff, James, place of, coal on ....................... 165-168 

place of, coi11 on, analysis of ............ :.......... 168 

sections on, figures showing ..... __ .......... 136,160 

Hurricane Branch of Clear Fork Branch, coal on...... 76 

Hurricane Fork, coal of, analysis of................... 72 

Hurst,coalsnear .................................... 177,180 

folding near ................... _ ................... _ 47. 

sections on, figures showing ..... __ .......... _._ .. 172,196 

I. 

Illinois field, coal in, thickness of...................... 220 

Imboden coal, correlations of. ...................... 209,211 

Iron ore, reduction of._ ................................ 10,31 

Irving, Fral1k, place of, coal on ....... _ .............. 178-181 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 18!" 

section on, figure showing..................... 172 

Irving, Mahlan, place of, coal on .................... 184,186 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ..... ___ ...... _._..... 186 

Irving Branch of Ewing Creek, coal 011. .....• _ ...... 151-152 

section on, figure showing ....................... 146,152 

J. 

Jackson Mill Branch of Puckett Creek, coal on .. 141,196,199 

coal on, analysis of................................ 142 

sections on, figures showing ..................... 192,196 

Jackson Mountain, coals in .................... 40,87,139-142 

coals in, analyses of. ............... __ ........... 140,142 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 

Jellico, mining at...................................... 209 

Jellico coal, correlations of. ......................... 209-210 

thickness of........................................ 220 

Jerry Gap, coal near................................... 111 

JesseCreek,coalson ................................. 151,155 

rocks Ol1 ...................................... 41,145-146 

section 011.......................................... 147 

figures showing .............................. 146,152 

Jesse sandstone, description of ......... _ .......... 41-43,145 

occurrence of.._ ........... _........................ 33, 

87,131,145,159-160,162,173-174,192-193,202 

sections of, figures showing......... . .. .. .. .. .. . . 146, 190 

·Jim Meyers coal, section of............................ 67 

figure showing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. . 58 

John Ball Branch, coal on, analysis of................ 197 

John Branch of Catron Creek coal on ............... 196-200 

coal on, analysis of . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 200 

sections on, figures showing ................. 192, 196 

Johnson, Mack, place of, coal on ..................... 141-142 

place of, coal on, analysis of....................... 142 

Johnson, Robert, place of ,coal on ................... 139,141 

place of, sections on figures showing.. . . . . . . . . . . 130, 136 

Jones, Green mine of. ........................... 163,167-168 

Jones Branch of Catron Creek section on............. 192 

sections on figures showing ..................... 190,192 

Jones Creek coal 011. ................................ 166,168 

sections on, figures showing ..................... 158,160 
' 

INDEX. 233 

Page. 

Jordan coal, correlation of. ........... ."................ 211 

occurrence of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 

Justice, J. R., on Catron formation................... 41 

work of. .. -------- ....... ------------·- ... ------ ... 52,91 

K. 

Kanawha formation, correlation of. ... :..... 207-208 

Keith, Arthur, reference to ............................ 32-33 

Kellioka, coal near ..... -"-............................. 164 

sections nt, figures showing ......... _ ...... _._ .. 130,158 

Kellioka coal, analyses of. ........... 169,182,200-201,216-217 

correlation of. ................ :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 

descriptions of. ........... 40,140,168-169,181-183,198-201 

rneasurements of ............ _ ..... _ .... _ ... :...... 30 

occurrence of ....... 33, 40,132,160,162,173-175,190-191,194 

sections of, figures showing .......... 158,174,190,192,194 

summary of .................................. 171,188,205 

Kelly, G. A. 8., mine of, coal of..· ................ 163,167-168 

mine of, coal of, analysis of. ..................... 167-168 

section at, figure showing..................... 160 

Kelly, Wright, place of, coal on ..................... 166-168 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 167-168 

section on, figure showing..................... 160 

Kelly coal, correlation of. ...... ------------------ .... _ 209 

Kent coal, correlation of. ............................ 210-211 

Kentucky, Bell County, coal field in................... 11 

cooperation of ..... _ ... _........................... 13 

Harlan County, coal field in ..... ------------------ 11 

Kitts Bmnch of Clover Fork, coal on ........ 166-168,170-171 

00111 on, analysis of. ...... __ ..................... 170-171 

sections on, figures showing .................. ~ .. 158,160 

Klondike coal, analyses of............................. 76 

correlations of._ ................... 42, 93,102,205,210-211 

descriptions of. ..................... 41,74--76,101-102,221 

elevation of........................................ 81 

occurrence of ...... .- .......... 33, 56,58-60,62,83,88-89,93 

section of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 

figures showing ............................. 56,82,84 

summary of. ....... : .......... -------------------- 79 

Klondike mine, coal at ................ -------------- 74,102 

section at, figure showing......................... 56 

L. 

Laurel Branch of Martins Fork, coal on .............. 87,195 

coal on, analyses of. ......................... 195,197,200 

section on, figure showing ................... _ .... 9G, 196 

Laurel IIill, coal in. .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 119 

section on, figure showing_ .. ;_. ··y .... _. ... . .. . .. 110 

Lawson, William, place of, coal on.................... 195 

Lebanon Valley, location of........................... 14 

Lee, William, place of, coal on, analysis of. . .. .. .. . .. . 200 

Lee & Saylor's store, coal near ...................... 135,138 

section at, figure showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 136, 196 

Lee Branch of Martins Fork, coal on.................. 199 

section on, figure showing. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 192 

Lee Branch of Puckett Creek, coals on .. 194,196-197,202-204 

coals on, analyses ·of. __ ...................... 197,200,204 

section on ..... _...................................... 190 

figures showing ...... __ .. __ .............. 190, 192, 196 

Lee formation, coals in ....................... , .... 35, 94,115 

description of. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 33-37, 119 

equivalents of. ................................. 9,32,207 

occurrence of. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 86, 110, 119 

sections ·of. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 34, 36-37 

figures showing .......................... · ..... 35,110 

See also Lee sandstone. 

Lee sandstone, coals in .......................... 133-134,194 

correlation and description of. ............. _ . . . . . . 32 

Lee sandstone, occurrence of. ..... _ ........... _._ .... _ 

position of, views showing ... _ .......... _ ......... _ 

See also Lee formation. 

Page. 

87 

46 

Leshmahago coal, character of ...................... 219-220 

Lexington peneplain, mention of. .............. :. __ .. . 1.1-16 

Lick Branch of Path Fork, coal OIL ... _ ............. 19.'>, 201 

section of. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 201 

figure showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 196 

Lick Fork of Bean Fork .Branch, coal on ............. 98,103 

section on, figure showing . ........ _ ....... _. . . . . . . 84 

Limestones, presence oL ....................... _ .. _ .. 31, 146 

Limonite, occurrence of ........ ------------------------ 224 

Literature of region, Jist of. ........................... 13-14 

Little, J. N., place of, coal on.......................... 168 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iss 

Little Black Mountain, rocks on...................... 43 

Little Branch of Crummies Creek, coal on, analysis of. 181-182 

Little Branch of Martins Fork, coal on .............. 179,185 

section on, figure showing ..................... _... 172 

Little Cannon Creek, coal on ........................ __ 111 

Little Clear Creek, coal on. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 87-88,95-111 

coal on, analysis of.------------------ .. ------ .. - 100, 107 

rocks on ..................................... 38, 41, 43,94 

sectiOII 011. __ ................................... _... 88 

figures showing. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . 82, 84, 96, 110 

Little Coal Gap, c011l at ...... _ .............. __ .. __ .. __ 75, 77 

coal at, section of, figure showing . .............. _ . 56 

Little Creek of Catron Creek, coal on ......... __ . __ .. 151,155 

eections on, figure~ showing ................. 146,152,172 

Little Creek of Crummies Creek, coal on ......... 179,182-183 

Little Lick Branch of English Creek, sections on, figures showing.... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 158, 160 

Little Yellow Creek, rocks on .............. __ .. ________ 80 

section on, figure showing ..... _ ... ___ ........ __ .__ 58 

Location of field .......... ____ ......... ____________ .___ 9,11 

Log Mountain Cou.l, Coke, and Timber Company. See 

Louisville Property Company. 

Log Mountains, character of. __ ................... ____ 19 

coals in ........ _____ ... ________ ....... _____ ..... 32,77,97 

analysis of. .................................. __ 218 

developments in .............................. ____ . 52-53 

rocks in ............................. · .. __ , __ ......... 41, 44 

section of ............... __ ................ ________ . .19 

figure showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 31 

Log Mountains district, mo.p of ............... _"_ ...... 11,12 

mining meihods in, view showing ......... _._..... 220 

Long Branch of Brownies Creek, coal on, analysis of. 128,129 

Long Branch of Crnminics Creek, coal on ..... __ 176,180,182 

sections on, figures sho\ving _ .................... 172, 174 

Long Branch of Toms Creek, coal OIL ..•........ , ... ___ 139 

Long Hollow of Poor Fork, coal on ........ ____ .. __ .. _ 168 

section in, figure showing._ .... . __ ......... __ . _ _ _ _ _ 158 

Louisvilleand.NashvilleRailroad, access by _________ 9,31,55 

Louisville Property Company, acknowledgment to .. __ 12, 

13, 52,109 

map of. ........................................ 87-88,90 

reference to .. _ ............... .. _. _ .. _. _ ... _ ..... _ .. 85,87 

Low, Taylor W., place of, coal on ........... 170-171,185-186 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ....... __ ..... _ .... _.. 186 

section on, figure showing . .... _ ~ ............. _ 158 

Lower Double Branch of Catron Creek, coal on .. _____ 178 

coal on, analysis of. ......................... __ __ __ 186 

sections on, figures showing .............. ______ . 172, 174 

Lower Hance coal, correlation of. ........ · .. ________ ... 40 

sections on, figures showing....................... 136 

See also Hance coals. 

Lower Hignfte coal, analyses of ..................... 104,218 

correlations of. ................................... 93, 208 
234 INDEX. 

Page. 

Lower Hignite coal, description of ........ 7&--77, 103-104,219 

elevation oL. .... ... ........ ........... .... .. .. .... . 82 

occurrence oL ...................... 81,83-85,87-89,91-93 

sections of, figures showing ........................ 56,84 

See also Hignite coals. 

Lower Puckett district, coals of.. . ................ 133-143 

coals of, summary of ... __ .. __ 

geography of. ............... .. 

location of. ............................... . 

name of ....... __________ ._ .......... __ .. . 

143 

131 

131 

131 

sections in ............................... 131-133, 13&--138 

plates showing ........................... 130,134,136 

stmtigmphy of. ................................. 131-133 

structure of............. .. ..... ·.' ....... 143-144 

Luke and Drummond mine, coal at. . ...... ' .. :· .... 99, 102 

sections at, figures showing ___ ... _ ...... -·~·-_:_ ..... 84,96 

Lumbering, vie.w showing .................... :........ 218 

M. 

McCreath, A. S.,.analyses by ..... 76,116, 118,128-129,140-141, 

154,156,167,180-182,186,197,200,202-204,212-215 

McCreath and d'Invilliers, measurements by.......... 114, 

128, 151-153,155,166,200 

on coal correlation .... _______ ....... _________ . __ ,._ 208 

report of. .......................... 42, .12, 112, 186, 212-214 

sections by. ___ . __ . _ ........... __ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 67, 

68, 71, 73-7.1,90-01,97, Ill' 113, 11 &--118, 170, 185-187 

figures showing...... 56, 58, 84, 110, 1.52, 158,160 

McGuire coal, correlation of __ ._ .... _ c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 210 

Mahlan Branch. Bee Lower Douhle Branch. 

Major Branch of Clef1r Creek, coal on .................. 97-98 

sections on, figure~ showing. ____ .................. 96 

Map of Harlan coaL................................... 164 

of Log Mountains mining district................. 11 

showing location of markets and railroads ... ___ .. 222 

Map, economic, of Cumberland Gap coal field ....... Pocket. 

Map, index, of Cmnberland Gap coal field .... __ .. 12 

Maps, prepuation of...................... 11-12,53-55 

Markets for Curnberland Gap coal, location of_....... 222 

· location of, nutp showing ....... _. _. _. _____ .. 222 

Marlar, R., place, coal near. 117 

Marsh, G. C., work of. .... __ ................ 11 

Mart Heads, coal near. . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. .. . 98 

section at, figure showing ................... ______ 96 

Martin, F. W., place of, coal on....................... 101 

Martin Branch of Stony .Fork, coal OIL ...... 74-75,77-78,102 

rocks OIL .......................................... 41, 43 

section of. ... ... _ _ ....... _ .. _ ...... _ .. 01-02 

figures showing ............................ 56, 82,174 

Martins Fork, coals on ......... __ ...... __ .. __ ... 176,194-195 

coals on, analysis of. ___ ............. _ ............ _ 181 

fall of. ........... : . .................... 20-21, 162, 193,225 

location and character of............ . ... __ ...... 172 

rocks OIL .. . . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 38, 158 

sections on, figures showing ......... lfi8, 160,172,174,196 

Martins Fork district, access to . .... __ ....... _. _. . . . . . 173 

coals oL............ .. ....................... 175-188 

analyses of. .................. 176, 178,181-182, 18&--188 

summary of. . . . . . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 188 

views of. . . .. .. .. . . . .. .. . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . .. .. .. . 176, 17R 

geography of. ................................... 172-173 

location of.......... .... .. .. ... ... ... .. .. .. . 172 

sections in................................. 174-175 

figures showing ........................ _. 172,174,190 

stmtigraphyoL ........................... __ .... 173-175 

structure of. ..................................... 188-189 

Mary }lull mine, data concerning. ___ .... _ ..... _-_ ... _. 94J221 

Mason coal, analysis of. ....................... _ . __ ... _ 218 

Page. 

Mason coal, correlations of ........................ 85-88,94 

description of. .................................. 95-96,219 

occurrence of...... . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. .. .. . . .. . .. .. . . 85-87,94 

section of, figure showing....................... 84 

See al.o:::o Mingo coal. 

Mendenhall, \Yaltcr C., on 'Vest Virginia geology_ .. _. 207 1 

Metallic Jninera.ls, occurrence of .. ..... _. __ . ___ .. _. _ 

Meyers, Jim, coals of, section of.. ___ . ____________ .... _ 

Middle Fork of Hignite Creek, rocks on ............... . 

Middlesboro, coal near, character and development of. 

224 

67 

43 

10 

coal near, view of.................................. 224 

iron near, view of.._~ .. _._ .. __ .... __ .. _ .. __ ... _.... 224 

water supply of.................................... 25 

Middlesboro plain, description oL ..................... 23-29 

origin of. .................. _ ...................... _ 2&--28 

sections on, figures showing._ .. ___ . __ ._._.__ 24,25 

topography of.................. . .......... 23-29 · 

Middleton, Samuel, place of, coal on................... 165 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 160 

Mill Branch of Martins Fork, coal on, analysis of..... 186 

rocks on... . .. .. . .. . .. . . .. .. . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. 173, 185 

sections on, figures showing . . ____ . _ .. _ ....... _ _ _ 172, 17 4 

Mill Creek of Puckett, coal OIL......................... 135 

sections on, figures showing. . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . 130, 136 

Mineral resources, acconnt of. ....................... 223-224 

Mines, method of operation of ..................... __ 221-222 

opening of, dates of......................... 221 

position of......................................... 55 

Mingo coal, analyses of... . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. . 7~, 96, 218 

correlations of. ...................... 8&--88, 90,94,209-211 

description of. ............. 38-39,69-72,95-96,114,219,221 

elevation of........................................ 81 

extension of. .................. , . .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . 71 

occurrence of. ...... 33,56, 60,62-63,81, R7-88, 91-92,114,211 

sections of............................... . .... 69-71 

figures showing........ . ............ 58,110 

surnrnary of .. _ .. _ ..... __ ..... _ ......... _ . . . . . . . 79 

Mingo forrnntion, coals of. ....... _ ..... _. 33,68-73,94-97,121, 

138-142,1.51-155,163-170, 178-184, 195-202 

coal at top of. ............................... 183-184,201 

description of. .. · ...................... .'. 33,38-40,94,121 

occurrence of.......... . ...................... 110,119 

section of. ................... , .. .. . . . . . . .. . . .. .. .. . 56 

figures showing ....................... 84,120,146,190 

Mingo mine, coal at ........................... 39, 70,73-76,81 

sections at. ................................ : ..... 62-63,70 

figures showing .............................. __ 56,58 

Mingo Muunlain, coaLs or. ........ _ ......... ____ ------- 41,77 

coals of, analysis of. .. . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. 72 

rocks at............................................ 80 

sections of. ........................................ 62,67 

Miracle, Andy, place of, coal on .............. 123,125-126,130 

place of, sections on, figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

Mimclc, Elijah, pla~e of, coal on ..................... 128,130 

place of, section on, figure showing __ ······-·------ 130 

Miracle, Harvey, place of, coal orL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 

place of, coal on, analysis of.. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 142 

section on, figure showing..................... 130 

Miracle, Julia, place of, coal on.. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 126, 130 

place of, section on, figure showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 120 

Miracle, J. M., place of, section on, figure showing..... 130 

Miracle, Levi, place of, coal OIL........................ 140 

place of, section on, figure showing .. _ ........ _._.. 130 

Miracle, W. 0., place of, coal on ..................... 128,130 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . 120 

Miracle coal, occurrence of. ............................ -88,96 

Mississippian rocks, thickness of. .. :.................. 37 

Moore Knob, gap near, elevation of................... 27 
INDEX. 235 

Page. 

Moore Knob Ridge, coal on............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 

Morse, Judge, place of, coal on ....................... 139,140 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ..... ·................. 140 

Moses Lake Hollow, coal in.:.......................... 98 

Myer, James, place of, section at, figure showing...... 58 

N. 

Naese cliff, location and character of. .. _________ ... _._ 33,35 

view of............................................. 36 

Naese sandstone, description of._._ .............. 35,119,146 

elevation of........................................ 130 

occurrence and character of. ............ 33,35,86,119,146 

section of, figure showin·g.......................... 146 

views of_ ... _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Napier, E. V., place of, coal on........................ 177 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 4 

Napier, John, place of, coal 011. ......•..•. : .•........ 18(}-182 

place of, coal on, analysis of. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 

section on, figure showing ................... 172-174 

Napier, Morris, place of, coal on.· __ ... _ ...... _._ ..... 196-197 

place of, coal on, analysis of._ .. _ ......... _ .... _... 197 

section on, figure showing..................... 196 

Neal, Henry, place of, coal on ........................ 1RS-186 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ...................... · 186 

section on, figure showing..................... 174 

New Cabin Creek. See Puncheon Camp Creek. 

New River coal field, coal of, thickness of............. 220 

Newbattle coal, analysis of............................ 219 

Newn1an limestone, occurrence of. ............. _ ....... 33, 4G 

Nicholson mine, coal at ........................ 39,69-70, 72-75 

sections at ......................................... 69-70 

figures showing ................................ 46,58 

Noe, D. F., place of, coal on ......................... 152-153 

place of, sections on, figures showing.............. 136 

Noe, Thomas, place of, coal on........................ 152 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 

Noland, place of, coal on................................ 164 

Norwood, C. J., cooperation with...................... 13 

Nowell, H., work of. ................................... 11,12 

Numbers of coal mines, prospects, and outcrops....... M 

0. 

Oil, occurrence of. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 223 

Oil wells, drilling of.................................... 85 

Oldhouse Branch of Martins Fork, coal on .......... 197, 1P9 

coal on, analysis of................................ 197 

section on, figure showing.......................... 192 

Orogenic tnovmncnts, occurrence of_._._ ... _.......... 28 

Osburn, Myra, place of, coal on ......... ,............. 196 

place of, coal on, analysis of.. . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. 197 

sections on, figures showing ................. 192,196 

Osburn, Stephen, place of, coal on .. , ................ 167-168 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ...... _"_ ............ 167-168 

section on, figure showing. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 160 

Osburn Branch, coal on............................... 1G6 

section on, figure showing. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 150 

P. 

Pace, Stephen, mine of, c<.>al of. ...................... 18(}-181 

mine of, coal of, analysis of........................ 181 

section on, figure showillj!' ........... .'..... . . . . 172 

Pansy, sections near, figures showing ............... i72, 174 

Pansy coal, sections of, figures showing............... 158 

Path Fork of Puckett Creek, coal on ........ 138,141,19.'>,201 

coal on, analysis of................................ 142 

section un.......................................... 133 

figure showing ........................... 130,190,196 

Peneplains, occurrence and character of. ........... 16-17,23 

Pennington place, coal on ............................ 167-168 

41-No. 49-06-18 

Page. 

Pemrlngton place, coal on, analysis of ............... 167-168 

Pennington shale, thickness of ......................... 33-34 

Pennsylvania gas coal, analysis of ................... 215,217 

Peter, Robert, analyses by .......... 76,100,112-113,116,129, 

140,154,156,167,177-178,182,200,203-204,212 

Physiogmphic relatioQ.s of Cumberland Gap field...... 14 

Physiography, factors controlling.................. 14-15 

Physiogmpby, general, discussion of. ................. 14-18 

Physiography, local, discussion of. .................... 18-30 

Pierce, C. E., work of.:................................ 12 

Pigeon Roost Fork, coa.l of, analysis of... . . . . .. . . . . .. . 72 

Pilot Rock, location of.. .............................. 43,173 

Pine Hill opening, coal at......... . .. .. .. . . . . 141 

section at, figure showing.......................... 130 

Pine Mountain, coals in............................. 133 

coals in, views of.. . . .. .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 

erosion on ......................................... 1&-19 

fault on. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . 49-50 

location of......................................... 9,18 

rocks of ........................................... 32,119 

sections on, figures showing ............. :.. . .. .. .. 136 

structure of ... : .................................. 9,18,45 

topography of..................................... 19 

Pineville Gap, elevation of............................. 9 

Pineville-Willaford coal, character of. ............... 219-220 

Piney Spur, coal on .................................. 104,133 

Pineville, mining ncar ................................. · 209 

Pinnacle, section at.................................... 34 

Pitmans Creek, coal on .......................... 122,126,127 

coal on, analysis of. ......................... 122, 12&-129 

rocks-on·.-=-=-~:=-:-.~-=-:-::-.~:.-........... ~:::: .. : .. ::- -120-

section on.......................................... 127 

figure showing................................. 120 

Pittsburg coal, thickness of............................ 220 

Platt Fork of Terry· Fork, coal 011.................... 152 

rocks on ..................................... : . .. .. 145 

-section on, figure showing ....................... 152-146 

Polk Branch of Little Clear Creek, coal on............. . 96, 

98,101,103,107-108 

sections on, figures showing ....................... 84,96 

Polk Hollow. Se-. Polk Branch. · 

Poor Fork, coals on .......................... 164,168,169,208 

rocks 011 •.••••..•......... _ .................•.. __ .. 38 

section on ........................................ 159-160 

figures showing .............................. 158,160 

Poplar Lick coal, analysis of.. ....................... 100,218 

correlations of. ........................... 42,205,21(}-211 

description of. ......................... 7.4,9.7-100,21&-219 

::~a~~~~-~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~Jil~':.:~::: 81-~~ occurrence of. ........... 33,36,58,61-62,83,85,87-89,91-93 

sections of, figures showing ..................... 56,82,96 

summary of. ...................................... 79,108 

Pottsville group, character of. . . . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . . .. . 9 

occurrence of. ..................................... 32,206 

Powell Valley anticline, location of.................... 44 

Pounding Mill Branch of Puckett Creek, coal on . . . . . . 136 

Pounding Mill Branch of Slater J<'ork, coal on ....... 178,182 

rocks on........................................... 173 

section on, ftgure showing......................... 172 

Proctor, J obn R., measurements reported by. 177,180,182,185 

sections by, figures showing ..................... 172,174 

Production of field..................................... 10 

Puckett coal, analyses of .. .. . . .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 123 

character of .......................... .'. .. .. .. .. . . .. 37 

correlations of. .............. 11(}-112,121,134-136,151,195 

.descriptions of. ...................... 116-117,123,134-138 

measurements of.......... . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. . 30 

occurrence of. ......................... -.. . "37' 131-133' 144 
236 INDEX. 

Page. 

Puckett coal, position of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 134 

sections of. ...................................... 136,137 

figures showing .......................... 110,120,136 

Puckett Creek, coals on ............... 42,134,138,195-197,202 

rocks on .......................................... 42, 190 · 

section on.......................................... 133 

figures showing ...... · ............ "130, 136,190,192,196 

Puckett district. See Lower Puckett district; Upper 

Puckett district. 

Puckett sandstone, correlations of.., ............... 208-209 

description of ............................. 40,131,145,190 

occurrence of. .... 33,131,145,147-148,100,173-174,190-192 

section of, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 

Puncheon Camp Branch of Little Clear Creek, coal on. 81,101 

rocks on........................................... 81 

section on, figure showing ................. : . . . . . . . 84 

Puncheon Camp Creek, coal on ............... 70, 73, 75,77-78 

rocks on....................................... 43 

section on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 

figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

Pursifull, George, place of, coal on. . . . . . . . . . 124, 126, 128, 129 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 128-129 

sections on, figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 

Q. 

Quin~ont-Fire Creek coal, thickness of. ...... ·...... 220 

R. 

Railroads, access by ......................... 10,22,31,55,222 

freight rates of. ................................. 222-223 

location of, map showing.......................... 222 

Ralston coal, occurrence of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 

Ralston mines, coal at ............ 39, 69,71-72,73-74,81,98,99 

sections at, figures showing ....................... 58,96 

Ramsey coal, occurrence of. ........................... 84,95 

section of, figure showing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 

Recent earth movements, evidence of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

Red Oak Branch, coal on.............................. 75 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

Red Spring coal, analyses of... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 

coke from, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 

correla t!on of. ... : . . ·... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 

description of. ............................. 43, 78,106-108 

elevatip~~qf~ .. .............. _ .. .. .. .. ..... .......... 82 

occurreri_c~ of .......................... 33,56,61,83,88-90 

position of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 

section of, figure showing ....................... 56, 82, 84 

79 

Red description of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

....................... ········ .. 81 

eo·rreiR.tion of. ............................. 210-211 

occurrence of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Reynolds Mountain, coal on........................... 143 

cilll's on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40, 131 

rocks on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 43 

sections on, figures showing ..................... 130, 146 

Reynolds sandstone, description of ................... 43,145 

· occurrence of. ........... 131,145,147,159-160,162,173-175 

section of, figure showing.......................... 146 

Rich Mountain coal, correlation of .................. 210-211 

Richardson, J. C., aid of ............................. :. 12 

measurements by ............................ 43,52,56, 78 

sections by, figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

Risner, Phelan, plf!Ce of, coal on ..................... 126-130 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 128-129 

coal on, section of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 

Risner, Richard, place of, coal on ................... 128,129 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ................. , .. 128-129 

Page. 

Roads, character of.................................... 31· 

Robbins, J. C., place of, coal on ............. 115-117,118,125 

place of, coal on, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 

sections on, figures showing ................. 110,130 

Rockhouse Branch of Stony Fork, coals on .... 96, 98-\J9, 102 

rocks on........................................... 41 

section on ............................. '............. 92 

figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82,96 

Rocks, character of. ................................... 31-33 

effect of, on topography.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-20 

Rocky Branch of Slater Fork, coal on ............... 183, 184 

section on, figure showing......................... 114 

Rocky Face Mountain, character of................... 19 

coals on..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 

fault on ............................................ 47-50 

structure of, figure showing...................... 49 

Rogers, ,V, B., on Coal Measures...................... 206 

s. 

Sag11rnorc Coal Company, mine of. ........ ·.. . . . . .. . . .. 99 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 

Saltlog Hollow of Lick Branch, section on, figure 

showing. . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . 192 

Sam Low Branch, coal on............................. 127 

coal on, analysis of. ............................. 128-129 

Sam Low Branch road, sections on, figures showing.. 120 

Sandstone Parting coal, analysis of................... 73 

correlation of...................................... 211 

description of. ......................... 3S, 39,72-73,96-97 

elevation of. ....................................... 81-82 

occurrence of. .......... 33,56,58,60,62,81,84,87-90, 92,94 

sections of, figures showing .... _ ................ 58, 82,84 

summary of. . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 

Sang Branch of Wallins Creek, coal on................ 42, 

151-153,155, 156,202,204 

section on..... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 

figures showing .......................... 152,190,192 

Sargent, John, place of, coal on........................ 164 

Sawmill Ridge, coal in ................... , .. ·.. . . . . . . .. . 112 

Saylors, Jerry, place of, coal on....................... 195 

place of, section on, figure showing ............. ,.. 196 

Saylors Creek, rocks on... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 145 

Schooley peneplain, description of. ........ ~... . . . . .. . .. 16 

Sections of coals, method of representing.............. 54 

See also particular coals. " 

Seven Sisters, formation of. .......................... 35,119 

view of............................................. 36 

Sewell coal, thickness of......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 

Sewell formation, correlations of...................... 207 

Shackleford, James, place of, coal on.................. 196 

Shade Branch of Bennett Fork, coal on ............... 75,76 

coal on, analysis of... .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . 76 

Shaler, N. S., on faults................................ 49 

Shillaly Fork, coal on.................................. 121 

fall of. ............................................ 20, 225 

fault on............................................ 47 

section on, figure showing......................... 120 

Skidmore bank, coal at .............................. 166-168 

Slater Fork, coal on ......................... 175,178,181,183 

coal on, analysis of................................ 181 

sections on, figures showing ................. 146,172,174 

Slater sandstone, correlation of....................... 209 

description of. . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

occurrence of. ..................... 33, 40, 1.10, 160,173-174 

sections-of, figures showing ...................... 146,190 

Slemp, C., place of, coal on............................ 169 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 158 

Slickrock Branch of Stony Fork, coals on ....... 73-75,77,87 
INDEX. 237 

Page. 

Slickrock Branch of Stony Fork, rocks on............ 41 

section on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . 60 

figures showing ............................. 56, 58, 82 

Slope topography, character of. ....................... 29-30 

Slusher, Abraham, place of, coal on ... .-............. 136,139 

place of, scction"on, figure showing ... _ .. _._....... 136 

Slusher, Ransom, place of, sectiori on ...... __ .... _ .. _. 210 

Slusher heirs, place of, coal on ................... 139,140,141 

place of, coal on, analysis of. .................... 140,142 

section on, figure showing..................... 136 

Smith, coal near....................................... 177 

Smith, Granville, place of, coal on..................... 42, 

196, 197, 199,200,201, zm, 204 

place of, coal on, analysis of ............ _ .... _._.... 200 

Smith, G. W ., place of, coal on .............. 177,178,180,182 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ................ 177-178,182 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

Smith, M. B., place of, coal on......................... 166 

Smith, W. M., place of, coal on ...................... 165-168 

place of, coal on, analysis of. ...... .' ............. 167-168 

section on, figure showing..................... 160 

Smith 7-foot coal, analysis of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 

occurrence of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 

Smith 11-foot coal, analyses of ...................... 187,204 

correlations of. ................................... 42, 205 

description of. ..................... 42-43, 186-188, 203--204 

occurrence of. ................ 33,148,174-175,190-191,194 

sections of, figures showing .......... 146, 152,174,190, 192 

summary of....................................... 205 

Soils, character of..................................... 224 

Southern Railway, access by .... _ .................. 10,31,55 

Sowders, Ben, place of, coal near_............... 103 

Sowder Creek, coal on ................................. 99, 141 

section on, figure showing......................... 9u 

Spenopteris tenella Brongn., occurrence of............ 184 

Sprague, T. W ., work of. ....... ~ ...................... 11-13 

Standard bituminous coals, analyses of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 

Standingup .Fork of Hobbs Branch, section on, figure 

showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 

Steam Mill Branch of Catron Creek, coal on........... 196 

coal on, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 

section on,.figure showing......................... 196 

Steve Branch, section at, figure showing.............. 56 

Stevenson, J. J ., on Pottsvi!le group.................. 207 

Stockton coal, correlations of......................... 207 

Stone, building, occurrence of. ...................... 223,224 

Stone Coal Branch of Brownies Creek, coals on ..... 139,140 

coals on, analysis of............................... 140 

sections on, figures showing....................... 136 

Stony Fork, coals on ....................... 71,96,99,102-104 

profile of........................................... 21 

rocks on ........................................... 39, 41 

sections on, figures showing ................. 56,82,84,96 

Stony Fork-Clear Creek district, access to............ 82 

coals of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94-97 

analyses of. ............................ .".... . 104, 106 

summary of................................... 108 

correlations in ..................................... 86-89 

geography of...................................... 82 

location of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 

map of............................................. 109 

sections of. ........................................ 83-94 

figures showing ............................. 82, 84, 96 

stratigraphy of. ................................... 82-92 

structure of. .......................... : ·. . . . . . . . . . . . 109 

Stony Fork Ridge, sandstone on...................... 71 

profile of. ................................ ·.. . . . . . . . . 21 

section on..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 

Page. 

Stony Fork Valley, stereogram of..................... 21 

Straight Creek, section on............................. 210 

Straight Creek mines, fossils at........................ 209 

Stratigraphy, general statement of. ................... 31-44 

of Bennett Fork district ........................... 5.5-66 

of Cumberland Gap region ......................... 31-44 

of Hance district. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119-121 

of Harlan district ................................ 158-162 

of Lower Puckett district ....................... 131-133 

of Martins Fork district ......................... ·173--175 

of Stony Fork-Clear Creek district ................ 82-94 

of Upper Puckett district ....................... 190-193 

of Wallins Creek district.................. . .... 145-151 

of Yellow Creek district. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !10 

outline of. .............................. . 

Streams, erosion of ... --- .. _ ............. _._ ..... ___ .. ·. 20 

fall of. ............................................ 20, 225 

future adjustment of. ................... ~ ......... 18-19 

Structure of Appalachian Province.................... 44 

of Bennett Fork district .......................... 80-82 

of Cumberland Gap coal field ...................... 44--.50 

of Cumberland Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-47 

of Hance district ................. •................. 130 

of Harlan district. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

of Lower Puckett district...................... 143-144 

of Martins Fork district.................... 188-189 

. of Stony Fork-Clear Creek district.............. 109 

of Upper Puckett district ....................... 205-206 

of Wallins Creek district. ........................ 157-158 

of Yellow Creek district............................ 118 

Sugan llranch, section on .............................. 71,75 

section on, figure showing......................... 56 

Sugar Creek Branch of Bear Creek, coal on............ 104 

coal on, analysis of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 

Sugar Hollow Branch of Cranes Creek, coal on......... 115 

Sugar Run, topography north of. ..... ,............... 109 

Sullivan, G. M., reference to........................... 41 

Summit topography, discussi"on of. .. : ................ 18-20 

Sulphur, occurrence of. ........ :................ 76 

'!'. 

Table of formations................................... 33 

Tanyard Hill, coal in.................................. 140 

section on, figure showing ............... , . . . . . . . . . 136 

Tennessee, Campbell County, coal field in............. 11 

Claiborne County, coal field in..................... 11 

Terrys Fork of Wallins Creek, coals on .............. 149-156 

coals on, analysis of............................... 156 

sections on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149-150 

figures showing .............................. 146, 152 

Terrys Fork coals, analyses of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 

descriptions of. .................................. 153,154 

occurrence of. ........................... 14u, 150, 153--154 

position of......................................... 37 

sections of, figures showing........................ 152 

Thickness of coal, effect of, on workability............ 220 

Thomas, George; place of, coal on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 

'l'homas place, coal on................................. 139 

'l'hompson, Sampson, place of, coal on ............. _.. 122 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 

Thruston, R. C. Ballard, samples collected by........ 113, 

129, 154, 155,156, 177, 182,188,200,203,204 

sections by, figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110, 152 

Timber, occurrence and character of.................. 225 

views of. .................................... .' ..... 216, 218 

Timber Ridge Branch of Martins Fork, coal on....... 197 

coal on, analysis of................................ 197 
238 INDEX. 

Page. 

Timber Ridge Branch of Martins··Fork section on, 

figure showing ............... , . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 

'l'oms Branch of Puckct t Creek, section on. . . . . . . . . . . . 191 

section o.n, figure showing ....................... 190,196 

Toms Creek, coals on ........................ 136, 1~8-141, 195 

coals on, analysis of. ............................ 140,142 

section on ........................... :.............. 132 

figures showing .............................. 160, 136 

Topography, description of. ...................... 9,12, 14-60 

of benches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

of Middlesboro Plain .............................. 23-29 

of slopes ............................................. 29-30 

of summits ........................................ 18-20 

of valleys .......................................... 20-23 

outline of.......................................... 9 

Town Creek, sections on, figures showing............. 172 

Trace Fork of Wallins Creek, coal on ................. 42,204 

Tudor mine, coal at................................... 68 

section on, figure showing . ........ _. ~ .......... _. . 58 

Tunnel coal, correlation of............................. 134 

description of. ................................... 115, 134 

sections of, figures showing........................ 110 

Turner, Gabe, place of, coal on........................ 166 

Turner, William, place of, coal on ................... 168-169 

place of, section on, figure showing................ 158 

Turner Branch, coal on ............ :................... 67 

section on, figure showing ...... :.................. 58 

Turner coals, character of. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 37 

correlations of. ............................... 66,110-112 

description of. ..................................... 66-67 

ria me of. . .. . . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 37 

occurrence of. .................................. 37,56,80 

section of. . . . .. . . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 67 

figures showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58 

summary of. . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. .. . 79 

Turner mine, coal at. .................................. 66-67 

seAJtion on, figure showing. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58 

Turner place, coal on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 

section on, figure showing......................... 160 

Turrihole Branch, coal on............................. 117 

Turtle Creek, coals on ................... 166-171,179,185,186 

coals on, analyses of. ............................ 171,186 

rockson ..................... : ..................... 173 

section on.......................................... 162 

figures showing .......................... 158,160,172 

Tyler, Nathaniel, jr., work of......................... 12 

Tyne Boghead coal, character of...................... 220 

u. 

Upper Double Branch, coal on........................ 178 

sections on, figures showing ..................... 172,196 

Upper Hance coal, occurrence of....................... 132 

sections on, figures showing....................... 136 

See also Hance coals. ' 

Upper Hignite coal, analyses of....................... 106 

description of. ........................ : .. 104-106,155-156 

occurrence of. .................................. &'l-85, 91 

seAJtions of ..................... : .................... · 105 

figure showing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 84 

See also Hignite coals. 

Uuper Puckett dtstrict, access to: .. :.................. 189 

coals of. . . . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . 194-205 

analyses of. .............. 195,197-198,200-201,203-204 

summary of................................... 205 

geography of...................................... 189 

location of. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . 189 

sections m ....................................... 190-193 

Page. 

Upper Puckett district, sections in, plates showing.. 190, 

192,194,196 

stratigraphy of. ... , ............................. 190-193 

structurfl of. ..................................... 205-206 

v. 

Vnlley topography, character of. ...................... 20-23 

w. Wallins Creek, coals on ....................... 42,151-150,202 

coals on, analysis of. ............. __ ............... 156 

description of...................................... 22 

profile of. .. . . . . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. . . . . 21 

rocks on ................................. : . ....... 42, 145 

sections on ...................................... : 148, 192 

figures showing .......................... 152, 190, 192 

stereogram of... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 

valley of, physiography of, plates showing ........ 20,22 

Wallins Creek coal, analyses of. ..... 156,171,186,203,215,217 

correlations of. ....................... 42,150-151,207-210 

description of. 42, 143,155-157, 170-171,184-186,202-203,221 

occurrence of. ..................................... 33,87, 

131,143,145,147-148,159-160,162,173-175,190-194,205 

sections of, figures showing ...... 130,146,152,158,174,192 

sumrnnry of. ........................ 157,171,188,205-206 

Wallins Creek district, ncccss·to....................... 144 

coals of. ................ ::: ·.. .. .. . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . .. 151 

annlyses of .......... ::::....................... 156 

summary of. ................. :.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 157 

geography of...................................... 144 

location of......................................... 144 

sections in. . . . . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. .. 147-150 

plates showing ........................... · .... 146, 152 

stratigmphy of. ................................. 145-151 

structure of. ..................................... 157-158 

Wartburg folio, coals of............................... 211 

Water, depth to....................................... 25 

Water power, occurrence of. .............. ,........... 225 

Wcnthering, differential, view of...................... 28 

Webb Gnp, coal at..................................... 98 

sections near, figure showing...................... 96 

Wells, data concerning ............................. 25, 28, 39 

Westmoreland gas coni, nnalysis of. ................ 215,217 

White, David, correlations of coal by:................ 206 

section at Big Creek Gap by .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 36 

work of. ................................ 12,65-66,151,184 

White, Dnvid, and Ashley, George H., on correlation of 

coals ..................................... 206-212 

White, I. C., on West Virginia geology................ 206 

White Sow Branch of Hance, coal on ....... , .... 122, 123, 126 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. . .. 120 

Wilder Branch of Martins Fork, coal on ............ 180-182 

coal on, analysis of. . . . . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . 181 

section on, figure showing. . . . . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. 172, 17 4 

Williams Branch, coni on ........................ 116-117,125 

rocks on.·. . . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 120 

sections on, figures showing.. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 110, 120 

Williams Spur, coal in................................. 123 

Wilson, Robert, place of, section on, figure showing... 136 

Wllsonplacc, coal on.................................. 138 

Winona mine. See Bennett Fork mine. 

Wolfpen Branch of Hnnce, coal oi1 .................. 122-124 

section on, figure showing......................... 120 

Wright, C. C., place of, coal on........................ 117 

place of, section on, figure showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 

Y. 

Yellow Creek, average analyses of coals on............ 213 

changesin......................................... 26 
INDEX. 239 

Page. 

Yellow Creek, character of............................. 23 

conls on .......................................... 111-114 

full of. ............................................. 27-28 

rocks on ...................................... 38, 119-120 

section on .............. .'........................... 63 

figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 

Yellow Creek district, access to ...................... 109-110 

coals of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110-118 

nnalyses of. .............................. 111-114,116, 118 

coke from.......................................... 214 

geogrnphy of. •.................................. 109-110 

Pnge. 

Yellow Creek district, sections in, figure showing..... 110 

stratigmphy of.................................... 110 

structure of.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 

Yellow Creek mine, coni nt ...................... 69,72-73,81 

rocks at............................................ 81 

sections at. ..................................... 63-64,69 

figures showing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ·58 

well at..................................... 39 

Yellow Creek sandstone, description of. .......... 38,119-120 

occurrence of. .......... 33, 38, 86,110,130,147-148,150,160 

section of, figure showing .................... _... . . . 161 

CLASSIFICATION OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES GlWLOGICAL SURVEY. 

[Professional Paper No. 49.] 

The serial publications of the United States Geological Survey consist of (1) Annual Reports, 

(2) Monographs, (3) Professional Papers, (4) Bulletins, (5) Mineral Resources, (6) Water-Supply 

and Irrigation Papers, (7) Topographic Atlas of the United States-folios and separate sheets thereof, 

(8) Geologic Atlas of the United States-folios thereof. The classes numbered 2, 7, and 8 are sold 

at cost of publication; the others are distributed frEle. A circular giving co~plete lists may be had 

on application. 

Most of the above publications may be obtained or consulted in the following ways:· 

1. A limited number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they may be 

obtained, free of charge (except elasses 2, 7, and 8), on application. 

2. A certain number are delivered to Senators and Representatives in Congress, for distribution. 

3. Other copies are deposited with the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C., from 

whom they may be had at practically cost. · 

4. Copies of all Government publications are furnished to the principal public libraries in the 

large cities throughout the United States, where they may be consulted by those interested. 

The Professional Papers, Bulletins, and \Vater-Snpply Papers treat of a variety of subjects, and 

the total number issued is large. They have therefore been classified into the following series: A, 

Economic geology; B, Descriptive geology; C, Systematic geology and paleontology; D, Petrography 

and mineralogy; E, Chemistry and physics; F, Geography; G, Miscellaneous; H, Forestry; I, Irrigation; J, 'Vater storage; K, Pumping water; L, Quality of water; M, General hydrographic investigations; N, \Vater power; 0, Undergro~nd waters; P, Hydrographic progress reports. This paper 

is the sixty-fourth in Series A and the seventy-eighth in Series B, the complete lists of which follow. 

(PP=Professional Paper; B=Bulletin; WS= Water-Supplv Paper.) I . , -

SERIES A, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 

B 21. Lignites of Great Sioux Reservation: Keport on region b_etween Grand an(~ l\IoreH.U rivers, D.a;kota, by Bailey Willis. 

1885. 16 pp., 5 pis. (Out of stock.) 

B 46. Nature 1md origin of deposits of phosphate of lime, by R. A. F. Penrose, jr., with introduction by N. S. Shaler. 1888. 

143 pp. (Out of stock.) 

B 6fi. Stmtigraphy of the bituminous coal field of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, by I. C. White. 1891. 212 pp., 

11 pls. (Out of stock.) . 

B 111. Geology of Big Stone Gap coal field of Virginia and Kentucky, by 1\L R. Campbell. 1893. 106 pp., 6 pis. 

H 132. The disseminated lead ores of southeastern Missouri, by Arthur Winslow. 18~6. 31 pp. 

B 138. Artesian-wen prospects in Atlantic Coastal Plain region, by N. H. Darton. 1896. 228 pp, 19 pi~. (Out. of stock.) 

B 139. Geology of Castle Mountain mining district, Montana, by W. H. Weed l).nd L. V. Pirsson .. 1896. 164 pp., 17.pls. 

B 143. Hibliograph~; of ehLys and the ceramic arts, by J. C. Br!lnner. 1896. 114 pp. 

R 104. Reconnaissance on the Rio Grande coal fields of Texas, by T. W. Vaughan, including.a report,on igneous rocks from 

the San Carlos coal ficl<l, by E. C. E. Lord. 1900. 100 pp., 11 pis .• 

B 178. F.! P~tso tin deposits, by W. H. Weed. 1901. 15 pp., 1 pl.. · 

B 180. Occurrence ;.nd distribution of corundum in United States, by J. H. P~att .. 1901. 9.8 pp., J4 pis. (O.llt of stock; see 

Bu11ctin No. 269.) . 

B 182. A report on the economic geology of the Silvcrt9n.quadrangle, Colorado, by. F. L. Ransome. , 1901. ·266 pp., 16 pis. 

(Out of stock.) 

B 184. Oil and gas fields of the western interior and 1iorthern Texas Co!tll<leasures and oL the Upper Cre.taceous and T~r' 

tiary of the western Gulf coast, by G. l. Adams. 1901. 64 pp., 10 pis. (Out of stock.). 

B 19R. The geological relations and distribution of. platin\lm and associated metals, byJ. F. Kemp. 19Q2. _95.pp., 6.pls; 

(On t of stock.) 

I 
II SERIES LIST. 

B 198. The Berea grit oil sand in the Cadiz quadrangle, Ohio, by W. T. Griswold. 1902. 43 pp., 1 pl. 

pp 1. -Preliminary report on the Ketchiknn mining district, Alaska, with an introductory sketch of the geology of southeasterh Alaska, by Alfred Hulse Brooks. 1902. 120 pp., 2 pis. 

B 200. Reconnaissance of the borax deposits of Death Valley and Mohave Desert, by M. R. Campbell. 1902. 23 pp., 1 pl. 

(Out of stock.) 

B 202. Tests for gold and silver in shales from western Kansas, by WaJdcmar Lindgren. 1902. 21 pp. 

PP 2. Reconnaissance of the northwestern portion of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. 1902. 70 pp., 11 pis. 

PP 10. Reconnaissance from Fort Hamlin to Kotzebue 'Sound, Alaska, by way of Daii, Kanuti, Allen, and Kowak rivers, 

by W. C. Mendenhall. 1902. 68 pp., 10 pis. 

PP 11. Clays of the United States cast of the Mississippi River, by Heinrich Ries. 1903. 298 pp., 9 pis. 

PP 12. Geology of the .Globe copper district, Arizona, by F. L. Ransome. 1903. 168 pp., 27 pis. 

B ~12. Oil fields of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coastal Plain, by C. W. Hayes and William Kennedy. 1903. 174 pp., 11 pis. 

B 213. Contributions to economic geology, 1902; S. F. Emmons, C. W. Hayes, geologists in charge. 1903. 449 pp. 

'pp 15. The mineral resources of the Mount Wrangell district, Alaska, by W. C. Mendenhaii and F. C. Schrader. 1903. 

71 pp., 10 pis. ' 

B 218. Coal resources of the Yukon, Alaska, by Arthur J. Collier. 1903. 71 pp., 6 pis. 

B 219. The ore deposits of Tonopah, Nevnda (preliminary report), by J. E. Spurr. 1903. 31 pp., 1 pl. 

PP 20. A reconnaissance in northern Alnska in 1901, by F. C. Schrader. 1904. 139 pp., 16 pis. 

PP 21. Geology and ore deposits of the Bisbee quadrangle, Arizona, by F. L. Rnnsome. 1904. 168 pp., 29 pis. 

B 223. Gypsum deposits in the United States, by G. I. Adams and others. 1904. 129 pp., 21 pis. 

PP 24. Zinc and lead deposits of northern Arkansas, by G. I. Adams, assisted by A. H. Purdue and E. F. Burchard, with a 

section on the determination and correlation of formations, by E. 0. Ulrich. 1904. 118 pp., 27 pls. 

PP 25. The copper deposits of the Encampment district, Wyoming, by A. C. Spencer. 1904. 107 pp., 2 pis. 

B 225. Contributions to economic geology, 1903, by S. F. Emmons ancl C. W. Hayes, geologists in charge. 1904. 527pp., 1 pl. 

PP 26. Economic resources of the northern Black Hills, by J. D. Irving, with contributions by S. F. Emmons ancl T. A. 

Jaggar, jr. 1904. 222 pp., 20 pis. 

PP 27. A geological reconnaissance across the Bitterroot Range and Clearwater Mountains in Montana and Idaho, by 

Waldemar Lindgren. 1g04. 122 pp., 15 pis. 

B 229. Tin deposits of the York region, Alaska, by A. J. Collier .. 1904: 61 pp., 7 pis. 

B 236. The Porcupine placer district, Alaska, by C. W. Wright. 1904. 35 pp., 10 pis. 

B 238. Economic geology of the lola quadrangle, Kansas, by G. I. Adams, Erasmus Haworth, and W. R. Crane. 1904. 83 

pp., 11 pls. 

B 243. Cement materials and industry of the U~Jited States, by E. C. Eckel. 1905. 395 pp., 15 pis. 

B 246. Zinc and lead deposi.ts of northwestern Illinois, by H . .Foster Bain. 1904. 56 pp., .5 pis. 

B 247. The Fairhaven gold placers, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, by F. H. Moffit. 1905. 85 pp., 14 pis. 

B 249. Limestones of southeastern Pennsylvania, by F. G. Clapp. 1905. 52 pp., 7 pis. 

B 250. The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River coal deposits, by G. C. 

Martin. 1go5. 64 pp., 7 pis. 

B 251. The gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks regions, Alaska, by L. M. Prindle. 1905. 89 pp., 16 pis. 

WS ·117. The lignite of North Dakota and its relation to irrigation, by F. A.,Wilder. 1905. 59 pp., 8 pls. 

pp 36. Tlie lead, zinc, and fluorspar deposits of western Kentucky, byE. 0. Ulrich and W. S. T. Smith. 1905. 218 pp,, 15pls. 

pp 38. Economic geology of the Bingham mining district of Utah, by J. M. Boutwell, with a chapter on areal geology, by 

Arthur Keith, and an introduction on general geology, by S. F. Emmons. 1905. 413 pp., 49 pis. 

PP 41. The geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, by W. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 133 pp., 20 pis. 

B 254. Report of progress in the geological resurvey of the Cripple Creek district, .Colorado, by Waldemar Lindgren and 

F. L. Ransome. 1904. 36 pp. 

B 255. The fluorspar deposit.~ of southern Illinois, by H. Foster Bain. 1905. 75 pp., 6 pis. 

B 21i6. Mineral resources of the Elders Ridge quadrangle, Pennsylvania, by R. W. Stone. 1905. 86 pp., 12 pis. 

B 259. Report on progress of investigations of mineral resources of Alaska in 1904, by A. H. Brooks and others. 1905. 

196 pp., 3 pis. 

B 260. Contributions to economic geology, 1904; S. F. Emmons, C. W. Hayes, geologists in charge. 1905. 620 pp., 4 pis. 

B 261. Preliminary report on the operations of the coal-testing plant of the United States Geological Survey at the Louisiana 

Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo., 1904; E. W. Parker, J. A. Holmes, M. R. Campbell, committee in cbttrge. 1905. 

172 pp. 

B 263. Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska, by C. W. Purington. 1905. 273 pp., 42 pis. 

PP.42. Geology of the Tonopah mining district, Nevada, by J. E. Spurr. 1905. 295 pp., 24 pis. 

PP 43. The copper deposits of the Clifton-Morenci district, Arizona, by Waldemar Lindgren. 1905. 372 pp., 25 pis. 

B 264. Record of deep-well drilling for 1904, by M. L. Fuller, E. 1<'. Lines, and A. C. Veatch. 1905. 106 pp. 

B 265. Geology of the Boulder district, Colorado, by N. M. Fenneman. 1905. · 101 pp., 5 pis. 

B 267. The copper deposits of Missouri, by H. F. Bain and E. 0. Ulrich. 1905. 52 pp., 1 pl. 

B 269. Corundum and its occurrence and distribution in the United St1ttes (a revised and enlarged edition of Buiietin No. 

180), by J. H. Pratt. 1906. 175 pp., 18 pis. 

pp 48. Report on the operations of the coal· testing plant of the United States Geological Survey at the Louisiana Purchase 

· Exposition, St. Louis, Mo., 1904i E. W. Parker, J. A. Holmes, M. R. Campbell, committee in charge. 1906. (In 3 

parts.) 1492 pp., 13 pis. . 

B 275. Slate deposits and slate industry of the United States, by T. N. Dale, with sections by E. C. Eckel, W. F. Hillebmnd, 

and A. T. Coons. 1906. · 

pp 49. Geology and mineral ~esources of part of the Cumberland Gap coal field, Kentucky, by G. H. Ashley and L. C. 

Glenn, in cooperation with the State Geological Department of Kentucky, C. J. Norwood, cnrator. 1906. 239 pp., 

40pls. · 
:SERIES LIST. III 

SERIES B, DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY. 

B 23. Observations on the junction between the Eastern sandstone and the Keweenaw series on Keweenaw Point, Lake 

Superior, by R. D. Irving and T. C. Chamberlin. 1885. 124 pp., 17 pls. (Out of stock.) 

B 33. Notes on geology of northern California, by J. S. Diller. 1886. 23 pp. (Out of stock.) 

B 39. The upper beaches and deltas of Glacial L~tke Agassiz, by Warren Upham. 1887. 84 pp., 1 pl. (Out of •tock.) 

B 40. Changes in river courses in Washington Territory due to glaciation, by Bailey Willis. 1887. 10 pp., 4 pls. (Out of 

stock.) 

B 45. The present condition of knowledge of the geology of Texas, by R. T. Hill. 1887. 94 pp. (Out of stock.) 

B 53. The geology of N~tntucket, by N. 8. Shaler. 1889. 55 pp., 10 pls. (Out of stock.) 

B 57. A geological reconnaissance in southwestern Kansas, by Robert Hay. 1890. 49 pp., 2 pls. 

B 58. The glacial boundary in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, by G. F. Wright, with introduction by T. C. Chamberlin. 1890. 112 pp., 8 pls. (Out of stock.) 

B 67. The relations of the traps of the Newark system in the New Jersey region, by N.H. Darton. 1890. 82 pp. (Onto! 

stock.) 

B 104. Glaciation of the Yell~wstone Valley north of the Park, by W. H. Weed. 1893. 41 pp., 4 pis. 

B 108. A geological reconnaissance in central Washington, by I. C. Russell. 1893. 108 pp., 12 pls. (Out of stock.) 

B 119. A geological reconnaissance in northwest Wyoming, by G. H. Eldridge. 1894." 72 pp., 4 pls. 

B 137. The geology of the Fort Riley Military Reservation and vicinity, Kansas, by Robert Hay. 1896. 35 pp., 8 pls. 

B 144. The moraines of the Missouri Coteau and their attendant deposits, by J. E. Todd. 1896. 71 pp., 21 pls. 

B 158. The moraines of southeastern South Dakota and their attendant deposits, by J. E. 'l'odd. 1899. 171 pp., 27 pis. 

B 159. The geology of eastern Berkshire County, Massachusetts, hy B. K. Emerson. 1899. 139 pp., 9 pls. 

B 165. Contributions to the geology of Maine, by H. 8. Williams nnd H. E. Gregory. 1900. 212 pp., 14 pls. 

WS 70. Geology and water resources of the Patrick and Goshen Hole quadrangles in e{~tern Wyoming and western 

Nebrnska, by G. I. Adams. 1902. 50 pp., 11 pis. 

B 199. Geology and water resources of the Snake River Plains of Idaho, by I. C. Russell. 1902. 192 pp., 25 pls. 

PP 1. Preliminary report on the Ketchikan mining district, Alaska, with an introductory sketch of the geology of southeastern A lnska, by A. H. Brooks. 1902. 120 pp., 2 pis . 

. pp 2. Reconnaissance of the northwestern portion of Sewnrd Peninsula, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. 1902. 70 pp., 11 pis. 

PP 3. Geology and petrography of Crntcr Lake National Park, by J. S. Diller nnd H. B. Patton. 1902. 167 pp., 19 pls. 

PP 10. Reconnaissance from l<'ort Hamlin to Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, by way of Dall, Kanuti, Allen, and Kowak rivers, 

by W. C. Mendenhall. 1902. 68 pp., 10 pis. 

PP 11. Clays of the United States east of the Mississippi River, by Heinrich Ries. 1903. 298 pp., 9 pis. 

PP 12. Geology of the Globe copper district, Arizona, by F. L. Rnnsome. 1903. 168 pp., 27 pls. 

PP 13. Dminage modifications in southeastern Ohio and adjacent parts of West Virginia and Kenutcky, by W. G. Tight. 

1903. 111 pp., 17 pls. 

B 208. Descriptive geology of Nevada south of the fortieth parallel and adjacent portions of California, by J. E. Spurr. 

1903. 229 pp., 8 pis. 

B 209. Geology of Ascutney Mountain, Vermont, by R. A. Daly. 1903. 122 pp., 7 pls. 

WS 78. Preliminary report' on artesian basins in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon, by I. C. Russell. 1903. 

51 pp., 2 pis. 

PP 15. Mineral resources of the Mount Wrangell district, Alaska, by W. C. Mendenhall and F. C. Schrader. 1903. 71 pp., 

10 pis. 

PP 17. Preliminary report on the geology and water resources of Nebraska west. of the one hundred and third meriqian, 

by N. H. Darton. 1903. 69 pp., 43 pis. 

B 217. Notes on the geology of southwestern Idaho ana southeastern Oregon, by I. C. Russell. 1903. 83 pp., 18 pis. 

B 219. The ore deposits of Tonopah, Nevadtt (preliminary report), by J. E. Spurr_ 1903. 31 pp., 1 pl. 

·pp 20. A reconnaissance in northern Alaska in 1901, by F. C. Schrader. 1904. 13g pp., 16 pis. 

PP 21. The geology and ore deposits of the Bisbee quadrangle, Arizona, by F. L. Ransome. 1904. 168 pp., 29 pls. 

WS 90. Geology and water resources of part of the lower James River Valley, South Dakota, by J. jj:. Todd and C. M. Hall. 

1904. 47 pp., 23 pis. 

PP 2fi. The copper deposits of the Encampment district, Wyoming, by A. C. Spencer. 1904. 107 pp., 2 pis. 

PP 26. Economic resources of the northern Black Hills, by J. D. Irving, with contributions by S. F. Emmons and T. A. 

Jaggar, jr. 1904. 222 pp., 20 pis. 

PP 27. A geological reconnaissance across the Bitterroot Range and Clearwater Mountains in Montann and Idaho, by 

Waldemnr Lindgren. 1904. 122 pp.', 15 pis. 

PP 31. Preliminary report on the geology of the Arbuckle and Wichita mountains in Indian Territory and Oklnhoma, 

by J. A. Taff, with an appendix on reported ore deposits in the Wichita Mountains, by H. F. Bain. 1904. 97 pp., 

8 pis. 

H 235. A geological reconnaissance across the Cascade Runge near the forty-ninth parallel, by G. 0. Smith and F. C. 

Calkins. 1904. 103 pp., 4 pis. 

B 236. The Porcupine placer district, Alaska, by C. W. Wright. 1904. 35 pp., 10 pis. 

B 237. Igneous rocks of the Highwood Mountains, Montana, by L. V. Pirsson. 1904. 208 pp., 7 pis. 

B 238. Economic geology of the lola quadrangle, Kansas, by G. I. Adams, Erasmus Haworth, and W. R. Crane. 1904. 

83 pp., 1 pl. 

PP 32. ·Geology and underground water resources of the central Great Plains, by N. H. Darton. 1905. 433 pp., 72 pis. 

WS 110. Contributions to hydrology of eastern United States, 1904; M. L. Fuller, geologist in charge. 1905. 211 pp., 5 pis. 

B 242. Geology of the Hudson Valley between the Hoosic and the Kinderhook, by T. N. Dale. 1904. 63 pp., 3 pis. 
IV SERIES LIST. 

PP 34. The Delavan lobe of the Lake Michigan Glacier of the Wisconsin stage of glaciation and associated phenomena, by 

W. C. Alden. 1904. 106 pp., 15 pis. 

PP 35. Geology of the Perry Basin in southeastern Maine, by G. 0. Smith and David White. 1905. 107 pp., 6 pis. 

B 243. Cement materials and industry of the United States, by E. C. Eckel. 1905. 391) pp., 15 pis. 

B 246. Zinc and lead deposits of northeastern Illinois, by H. F. Baln. 1904. 56 pp., 5 pis. 

B 247. The Fairhaven gold placers of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, by F. H. Moffit. 1905. 85 pp., 14 pis. 

B 249. Limestones of southwestern Pennsylvania, by F. G. Clapp. 1905. 52 pp., 7 pis. 

B 250. The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River coal deposit, by G. C. 

Martin. 1905. 65 pp., 7 pis. 

B 251. The gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks regions, Alaska, by L. M. Prindle. 1905. 89 pp., 

16 pis. 

WS. 118. Geology and water resources of a portion of east-central Washington, by F. C. ·Calkins. 1905. 96 pp., 4 pis. 

B 252. Preliminary report on the geology and water resources of central Oregon, by I. C. Russell. 1905. 138 pp., 24 pis. 

PP 36. The lead, zinc, and fluorspar deposits of western Kentucky, by E. 0. Ulrich and W. S. Tangier Smith. 1905. 

218 pp., 15 pis. 

pp 38. Economic geology of the Bingham mining district of Utah, by J. l\L Boutwell, with a chapter on areal geology, by 

Arthur Keith, and an introduction on general geology, by S. F. Emmons. 1905. 413 pp., 49 pis. 

PP 41. The geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, by W. C. Mendenhall. 1905. 133 pp., 20 pis. 

B 254. Report of progress in the geological resurvey of the Cripple Creek district, Colorado, by Waldemar Lindgren and 

F. L. Ransome. 1904. 36 pp. 

B 255. The fluorspar deposits of southern Illinois, by H. Foster Bain. 1905. 75 pp., 6 pis. 

B 256. Mineral resources of the Elders Ridge qu~tdrangle, Pennsylvania, by R. W. Stone. 1905. 85 pp., 12 pis. 

B 257. Geology and paleontology of the Judith River beds, by T. W. Stanton and J. B. Hatcher, with a chapter on the 

fossil plants, by F. H. Knowlton. 1905. 174 pp., 19 pis. 

PP 42. Geology <>f the Tonopah mining district, Nevuda, l:>y J. E. Spurr. 1905. 295 pp., 24 pis. 

WS 123. Geology and underground water conditions of the Jornada del Muerto, New Mexico, by C. R. Keyes. 1905. 

42 pp., 9 pis. 

WS 136. Underground waters of Salt River Valley, Arizona, by W. T. Lee. 1905. 196 pp., 24 pis. 

PP 43. The copper deposits of the Clifton-Morenci district, Arizona, by Waldemar Lindgren. 1905. 372 pp., 25 pis. 

B 261\. Geology of the Boulder district, Colorado, by N. M. Fenneman. 1905. 101 pp., 5 pis. 

B 267. The copper deposits of Missouri, l:>y H. Foster Bain and E. 0. Ulrich. 1905. 52 pp., I pl. 

PP 44. Underground water resources of Long Island, New York, by A. C. Veatch, C. S. Slichter, Isaiah Bowman, W. 0. 

Crosby, and R. E. Horton. 1906. 394 pp., 34 pis. 

WS 148. Geology and water resourcr•s of Oklahoma, by C. N. Gould. 1905. 178 pp., 22 pis. 

B 270. The configuration of the rock floor of Greater New York, by W. H. Hobbs. 190ii. 96 pp., 5 pis. 

B 272. Tttconic physiography, by T. N. Dale. 1905. 52 pp., 14 pis. 

PP 45. The geography and geology of Alaska, a summary of existing knowledge, by A. H. Brooks, with a section on climate, 

by Clevelantl Abbe, jr., and a topographic map and description thereof, by R. U. Goode. 1906. 327 pp., 34 pis. 

B 273. The drumlins of southeastern Wisconsin (preliminary paper), by W. C. Alden. 1905. 46 pp., 9 pis. 

PP 46. Geology and underground water resources of northern Louisiana and southern Arkapsas, by A. C. Veatch .. 1906. 

PP 49. Geology and mineral resources of part of the Cumberland Gap coal field, Kentucky; by G. H. Ashley and L. C. Glenn, 

in cooperation with the State Geological Department of Kentucky, C. J. Norwood, curator. 1906. 239 pp., 40 pis. 

Correspondence should be addressed to 

THE DIREC'TOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 

WASHINGTON, D. C, 

MARCH, 1906. 

0