The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-05-25

the same analyst, as is known to be
the custom of Prof. McCrcathc.
In appearance the Imboden coke
gives no indication Of inferiority to
any of the others, and only the test of
use remains to be applied 20 establish
its reputation.
In a group of Goals lying close
above the lower conglomcratc, occurs
another coking coal almost identi-
cal in character with that just de-
scribed.
It is above drainage in the field
for only very short distance north
from the base of Stone mountain, cx-
ccpting at it's eastern extremity,
where a crossfold has brought the
bed to the surface for some miles
northward. At points except this
latter, where the bed is exposed, it is
broken up into several thin scames
too thin for working But at AMI
near Norton they are combined in
one bed, varying from s to 10 feet
in thickness, and having one to three
partings, usually small.
In this condition it has a frontage
against Stone mountain of only Que
mile, extending from Powell to Guest
river Two miles northward it has
s feet of coal, with parting of 10
inches, and a mile beyond, where it
disappears below drainage, it still
shows thick coal. Apparently it
lies in narrow band, cutting tliago-
nally across rather sharp local north
east and southwest hcxure. On Ell
Their side Of the strip two seams Of
the bed rapidly seperate, to form two
distinct beds, which, for an undeter-
mined! distance, but on the west for
several miles, contain each from 3 to
feet of coal.
The coal is so like the "lmJo!cn"
without the central bench of soft
mixed coal and shale) that Il dcscrip-
ton of one will answer for the other.
The coke, from the open riclls, gave
little less fixed carbon on analysis
than the "Imboden," but that is
probable due to an accident of manip-
ulation. The amount of ash is re-
markably small.
The last beds to be mentioned lie
within the lower conglomerate series
No attempt has been made within
this field to investigate any of the
conglomcratc beds; but two Of them
have been exposed in driving rail
way tunnel in Big Stone Gap. Thc
larger one of these are hidden by ths
tunncltimbcring. 1t contains & feet
of handsome coking gass-coaI, which
was highly appreciated as a CRATE ant
blacksmith's fuel by those who had
an opportunity to try it. No sui phul
was detected in it..
The bed outcrops all along the
crest of Stone mountain dropping
down to cross the streams in Big
Stone and Pennington Gaps, but the
steep inclination of the strata form
ing that mountain will 'lcbar early
attack upon the bed there, while
throughout the rest of the field, its
depth below drainage Of 500 (?) feet
minimum, will cause like delay.
But the bed situatcs an important
reserve supply, to be drawn upon as
the more convenient higher beds APP
proach exhaustion.
1t is hardly necessary to enter into a
computation of the total amount Of
coal which may be produced from this
field. According to the last United
States Census, the Pocahontas field
has yielded !, 400 tons per foot thick
ness per acre; at Conncllsville it is
claimed that 80 per cent. Of the tota
coal per acre is obtained, which
amounts to rather more than 1,40l
tons per foot of coal. Assuming that
the '.Imbodcn" bed will yield al aver
age of but 5 feet Of coal, or 900 tons
per acre over it's 90 square miles, 4
total amount of over 400 900, 600 tons
is reconed to be available in this bed
alone This is regarded as con
servative estimate. And this bee
contains only a minor part Of tho
workable coal in the field, of the area
of which it covers but 60 per cent. II
will hardly admit of doubt that there
need be no delay on the score of guam
tity and quality OF coal and coke il
constructing such mining plants an(
systems Of transportation as practi
cally unlimited supply would justify
X X
The activity now displayed in build
ing new ovens at the older Pocahonta'
mines, and in the long line Of those
newly opened on Elkhorn creek, a few
miles farther north, is conclusive proc
of satisfactory profits.
Under like methods of mining the
cost of production at Big Stone Gal
will not vary materially from that a
Pocahontas. Both fields present larY,
areas which have as nearly perfec
conditions in the chief elements o