Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-04-04
A STRANGE STATEMENT.
The Process of the Formation of
Anthracite Coal Discovered
in the Indian Shaft.

We have before us now on our table
u specimen which is One-halt unthra-
Gil Z coal. and the other half sOlidIiicd
sediment four years ago was all soft
sediment For over four years there
had been in use in the Indian Ridge
shaft of the Philadelphia aud ReadinE
Coal aud Iron Company, this district,
wooden pipe, about six inches in di-
aLneter, made of inch boards nailed
together, which served to carry water
frCm one of the rings III the shaft to
lower level.
The rings are boxes around the sides
of the shalt which catch the water
coming out the rock, slate or coal, and
are put in to prevent the water from
falling down and making regular
shower bath Of the shaft. Al the ring
in question large spring in the slate,
about thirty feet below the primrose
vein, had been struck the water from
which is apparently as pure Hs crystal.
Some four months since il was found
that this wooded pipe had become go
clogged with tie redish-brOwn sedi-
ment that il deposited by all mine
water that the open space in it was
not more than two inches in diam eter,
and not large enough to carry Off the
water from the ring. Consequently
new pipe was put in, and the old one,
nearly closed with the sediment adj
herring to its sides, was left standing.
The water was then turned into the
new pipe and cut Off from the Old one,
which is some fifty feet or more in
length.
On Friday last, after remaining in
the shaft without any water passing
. 4, f,,,.
greater part of this old pipe was TIA
ken out, and when broken open the
wonderful phenomenon presented it,
self that TIE sediment was gradually
changing into what appears to he an
thracite coal. About halt inch of the
inside of the sediment lining the pipe
had changed into coal, and the re-
maInder was also gradually changing,
the only portions of the sediment re-
naming quite soft. being that part de
posted first and next the sides of the
pipe, A cross section IF the pipe now
shows, commencing at the centre, first
a circle of about half an inch in diam
eteT, surrounding the twO-inCh open
ing remaining in the pipe, then cir
Gle of sediment partly turned into
coal, and (hen the sediment in its nat
ural state and the sides OF the pipe
The surface of sediment which was eX-
posed to the action of the atmosphere
has changed first. and the same inhu.
ence or chemical combination which
had changed its nature were gradually
operating on the rest of the sediment.
The process of formation is plainly
seen in the sediment next that already
turned into coal.
Samples of coaI taken from the pipe
have been tried on the hiack~miths
fire cOlliery, and H. makes an exceed
ingly hot fire, but being nf "A softer ra-
ture than the natural anthracite II
clinkers badly. Fortunately there are
any Quauty of samples of this won
deriul formation and those who are
willing to believe without themselves
seeing aud touching can he accommo-
dated.
There is no Keely Motor business
about this discovery. A section of the
pipe about sixteen feet long has been
left standing in the shaft To see what
results will follow in the next six
months or wear. Samples have also
been sent to General Peasants, at
pnttsviIle, for examination, and we
suppose the public will soon have The
opinion of gentlemen qualified to
Judge on this surprising formation q:
hut if anthracite coal will form from
sediment depositpd 10y mime water
when exposed tn the artion of the at
m0sphere under certain conditions for
period az short AS four months, what
becomes OF all the pet theories of the
geolOgists and mining engireers on
the subject? How about the great
heat, the millions of years of time,
aud tremendous pressure which, ac-
cording 10 the vHr0us theories OF the
heretofore accepted authorities, were
necessary 10 account for our depo of
Shenandoah Herald.