Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-02-02
The Formation of Coal.

All attempts TO explain satisfactorily
the formation of coal have thus far proved
unsuccessful, though it Is generally un-
derstood that II III the product of the de-
composition Of vegetable matter. Just
how that decomposition has been brought
about chemically is a matter which chem.
lists nave not as yet been able TO solve.
The principles difficulty has been that it
has been impossible to obtBin clear in
ght into the chemical constitution of
coal It has been thought hitherto, and
this is the popular belief, that coal is in
the main pure carbon. mixed with vary
ing quantities Of bItumlnous substances.
1t has been generally believed that, as the
product of the dlstillatiou OF coal is prin-
cipally carbon, 1t would he safe to con-
clude that free carbon actually does exist
In coGl. The fact that sugar, starch, etc,
under similar circumstances, leaves a re-
siduum consisting Of carbon has never
been considered proof that that element
existed IN these bodies in free state. It
is well known that Goals which may have
the same percentage of carton. hydrogen,
and oxygen do not hy any means, In cox
ing yield the 81 me products of distilIaton,
and we have complete analogy for this
ia the behavior of 'cellulose and starch
when subjected TO distillation. Evidence
points TO the conclusion that coal Is a mix
ture OF many and complex compounds;
and the difficulty, amounting almost TO
an impossibilIty, of separating these COM
pounds has much 10 do IN rendering
chemical solution Of the questions involved
in the formation Of coal very arduous
task.
The production of coal by artificial
means Is met with great obstacles, ameng
which the absence CT all knowledge con-
corning the conditions under which that
process actually took place ia the princi-
pal one. The question whether the vege-
table matter 10 which our coal veins owe
their origin was amasscd by drifting or
was cqrboniZed IN stu, has been much
debated, and there has been much discus
sion on the point whether It was obtained
from water or from land plants. DIR.
Muck, of Bochum, in recent work takes
up the theory that alge have mainly con-
tributed 10 the formation of coal. 1t is
urged that the remains of marine plants
are rarely found in coal veins, and that
shells, etc are not often met with. DIR.
Muck calls attention to the fact that mar
inc plants decompose easily and complete
ly, losing their form entirely; and that tie
disappearance of the calcareous remains of
mollusks is readily explained by the for
nation of large quantities OF carbonic acid
gas during the process of carbonization.
In accepting the marine origin of coal IL is
not necessary to resort to lhe assumption
Cf immense pressure and high tempera-
lures TO explain decomposition and the tc-
tai destruction of the structure Of the ORR
gInal substance. DR.. Muck combsts Fre-
my's bog theory at length. HIS views are
well supported by recent investigations
made by Herr p. K. Reinsch, who has ex-
amined l, 200 sections of coal, com ny 10
the conclusion that that mineral substance
has not been formed by the alteration OF
accumulated land plants. Herr Reinsch
claims to have discovered that coal con-
sists of miscropical organic forms of low
order of pro'oplasm; and though he care
tullp examined the cells and other re-
N aims of plants of higher order he o1m-
puted that they have contributed only a
fraction of the matter of the coal veins,
howe er numerous they may be in some
instances.