The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-10-05
VOL. limo. 600
NORTH CAROLINA COAL.

Association Tor the advancement VI science
held ut New Haven, the following com.
munication was made BY Prof. Walter Il.
Johnson:
CoAL-FoRMAT1oN OF CENTRAL NORTH
CARoLINA.-The coal-field referred to lies
partly in the County Of Chatham and port
ly in that Of Moore, very nearly in the
Carolina. Geographically. it appears to
repose directly but inconformabIy upon
the upward dges Of the gold bearing rocks,
but Of the degree of conformity Between
the two formations. Prof. J. was unable
to speak with entire confidence. On
proceeding from Pittsboro'. in Chatham
County, toward the moth -easterly portion
Of the coal-6eld, we cross the edges Of
states, many Of which are highly indurat-
ed until within about half mile of the
openings, which expose the coal. The
underlying sandstone which reposes al
most horizontally upon the metamorphic
states. has slight southerly inclination Of
not more than degrees. The Coal is
here about three feet in thickness, and is
covered with friable bitumiuous slate. in
which but few distinct organic remains
could be detected, but many coprolites of
fishes or reptilia, and many minute shells,
are observed. In this slate are also OBJ
served thin lamine of cabonate Of lime.
The analysis Of this coal proved it to be
Of the highly bituminous kind. yielding
volatile matter SO, 8S fixed carbon &c, rs;
and earthly matter $40 per cent. The
fixed carbon consequently bears to the
volatile ingredients Of the coal the ratio of
l, ga to l, or in round numbers, 9 toll.
The color Of this coal is brownish black
Specimens occur on which are cavities Of
considerable depth, in which were once
contained cave-shaped fossils. The speci-
ic gravity Of the coat is /. 81.
-Four miles to the south west Of the first
point observed, and on a tributary OF the
Deep River, at place known as Horizons
Mills, the coal is again observed. and has
been many years worked to a limited ex-
tent for local use. The seam appears to
be four feet or more in thickness; to have
a somewhat higher angle Of inclination
than the preceding, and to be of an entirely
different composition. Its specific gravi-
ty is however the same, l. 81. 1t con-
tains, Of volatile matter only IS. 63 per
cent, fixed carbon y 81, and of carihy
matter S, 80; and consequently the fixed
IS to the volatile combustibie matter as 5
OF, or in whole numbers as to1 The
color OF the coal is jet black, lustre shining,
and some OF the surfaces striated in
luminous Goals of South Wales.
In third locality, which lies within the
borders OF Moore County, and about 81
and half miles southwest from Horizons
Mills, is found coal widely different from
both the preceding. In the first place, its
specific gravity is 55 instead Of 81. In
the second place its volatile matter is only
6 "a per cent. while its fixed carbon i.
80. 76. and n earthly matter is 9. 60 /;
consequently the relation Of the fixed
to the volatile ingredients is IL. 81
to /, or we may say liz to /. This cir
cumstance, as we'll as its shining lustre.
its hardness, its high specific gravity, and
its undergoing no proper intumesccnce
| when heated to redness in close vessels,
fixes its character as true anthracite.
1t stands in the range Of its class by the
side Of the anthracites Of Lyken's valley
and some OF those West Of Pine Grove in
the southern coal field of Pennsylvania.
On pursuing the range Of the Coal for
nation still further south-westward. we
find the states. it is true, but as yet without
the Goals and the states are plumbaginiz-
ed containing Of water ll,ls; Of fixed
carbon 10, 35 and Of earthly matter .8.49
per cent. Thus within the space of IA
miles are found materials differing even
more widely from each other than the semi
bituminous coal OF stony creek in Pennsvl-
vania differ from the hardest anthracite TO
or 20 miles distant on the Lehixh, the
north eastern termination OF the same coal
field. The northeastern proiongation Of
the Deep River coal field appears to be
the district which furnishes the piumba 90
and plumbag inous slates near Raleigh,
which has been extensively wrought iuv
the purposes Of the arts.
Prof. VIM. B Rogers made some obser-
vations on the coaltormations Of Virginia
and the Pennsylvania coaI-feld. aud felt
extreme reluctance to giving the name Of
coai-ield to the region described by
Prof. Johnson. as much as he would in an.
nouncing the presence of gold from the
accidental discovery Of few specimens Of
| auriferous quartz.
Mr. w. c. Redfeld made some rems, Ks
in continuation stating that the Coal bad
been known since l776.
Mr. J. II. Gibbon observed that Prof.
Tuomey, while at his house some fve years
ago. had mentioned the existence Of this
bed, but did not consider it Of great i'm.
portance for fuel.
HoRR1sLE:-At \ recent performance Of
Hamlet, in a neishboring city, we regret