The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-09-03
BIG FIGHTS RACE AT CENTER AND
RIGHT OF ALLIES; LEFT RET|RES
Fossil Resins
In Coal

the world renders any new informa-
ton in regard to it of interest. Con-
corning the formation and source of
coal there have been many and di
vergent opinions. 1t is now gener-
ally conceded that Goals of various
ranks, from Ignite to bituminous
and anthracite, are derived from
peat. The vegetation going to make
up the peat ranges from minute
plants floating about upon the sur
face of bog to large trees. These
plants, on dying, settle to the bottom
of the bog, where, mainly through the
agency Of bacteria, they decay. The
partial decay of the vegetable mat
ter and its consolidation forms peat,
Through still further consolidation
the peat forms Ignite, and this in
turn, rs the result of various pro-
cesses, forms Goals Of higher rank.
Many plants are known to exude
gums and resins, especially when In.
jured. A well known fossil form OF
such resin is amber, in which insects
are frequently found embedded, hav.
ing been caught and imprisoned by
the gum while it was still soft. In
the more recent Goals of lower rank
fossil resin occurs in abundance, in
the form of small Jumps or flakes.
In the Goals of higher rank resins
are not readily seen, and their &C.
currence in such Goals has been
doubted. 1t has been supposed that
these Goals were formed from a diff
ferent type of vegetation in which
resin did not occur. In recent pub
LEGATION of the United States Geolog-
ical Survey, Professional Paper So
e, David White discusses at length
the occurrence of resin and gums
| in Goals and proves that they are
| present not only in the later Goals
( of the Western States of both high
| and low grade, but in the old Paleo-
zoc Goals of the Eastern States. MT.
Whites conclusions are of particu'
lar interest as showing that the high
| and low rank Goals were derived from
| similar types of plants and diner
only in the degree of alteration OF
the vegetable matter from which all
| Goals are derived.
In the paper the course OF the res
in is followed from the living plant
to its elimination in the high rank
GOALS. The amount of resin In pear
and in the coal subsequently formed
Is largely determined by the amount
of decay of the vegetable matter
The resin, being most resistant to de
cay, increases proportionately in vol
ume the greater the destruction OF
the woody tissue. A high percentage
of resinous matter gives FATTY
Goals. The volatile and high heating
camel Goals have large proportion
al amount of resinous matter. In
the formation Of Goals OF higher RANK
sort Of distillation takes place
about for the most part by move
ments within the earth's crust, sucf
for instance, as have formed tint
Appalachian mountain system AS
result of this natural distillation the
amount of volatile matter in the Goa
becomes less. The resins are re
duced, probably leaving a part o
their carbon within the coal. In TN
highest grade Goals the resins ap
: parently are obliterated rs such.
: To those interested in the matter
either scientifically or commerciali!
the paper will prove OF value as eN
plainlng the reason for certain qua
tiles and characteristics OF various
types of coal. A copy OF the pape
, NAV be obtained free of charge D.
writing to the Director OF the ohi'
ed States Geological Survey, WASH
/ ington, d. c.
|