FIG. 23.-Map of Indiana Coal-field. them, it does not swell or run together when burning, but retains its shape until entirely consumed, when it leaves a small quantity of white ash without a trace of clinker. In most mines it is remarkably free from sulphur. The western zone comprises rather more than 6000 square miles, and contains three or more workable beds, besides a number too thin for working. They average from 4 to 10 feet in thickness, and have a total average thickness of 10 feet, with a maximum of 20 feet. The beds in this State are lettered from A to N, but C, D. TABLE XXIII.-Analyses of Indiana Coals by the State Geological Survey. and E have not been developed. F, 1, and K are the principal block coals; L is the "Mammoth" bed. In Vermilion county its thickness ranges from 5 to 7 feet, divided by shale or fire-clay partings into two or more seams, the lower of which contains from 30 to 36 inches of block coal, while the upper is coking coal. "K" is mined at Washington, Daviess county; it is a bright, clean-looking gas coal, which finds a ready market in St. Louis and at all accessible points. Its specific grav ity is 1294; weight, 80'87 pounds per cubic foot. Further data respecting the Indiana coal-beds will be found in the accompanying cross-sections: ILLINOIS.-The coal-field of Illinois occupies an area of 36,800 square miles. The coal-measures are not as thick as those of the Appalachian field, and the beds, of which there are six of workable size, are irregular, often wanting where they should be found, and containing an inferior quality of coal. The total thickness of coal is 24 feet. The field covers all that portion of Illinois south of an irregular line running south-east through Henry, Bureau, La Salle, Grundy, Kankakee, and Iroquois counties, with the exception of a narrow strip along the eastern edge of the Mississippi River. The Carboniferous system contains a thickness of 2500 feet of strata, but the coal-measures proper are but 500 feet thick. The lower coal-seams are found only in the central and southern portions of the State, while the northern portion contains only the upper seams. This distribution of the coal-measures is the result of a sinking of the northern portion during the coal era. The country generally is level prairie, but 42 miles above Cairo is an elevation and fault running nearly east and west across the southern portion of the State. Another axis of disturbance extends north-north-west and south-south-east from La Salle to the Wabash River, in Wabash county. This disturbance took place after the deposition of the coal-formation, and it is the only disturbance of a general character. There are ten seams of coal in a vertical thickness of 600 feet-six from 2 to 6 feet, and four from 2 feet to a few inches. (See fig. 24.) They are numbered and described from the bottom up, as follows: No. I., 2 to 3 feet of coal, quality fair, uncertain in the north; No. II., 2 to 5 feet of coal, excellent quality and much worked; No. III., 3 to 4 feet, somewhat local, found in Schuyler county; No. IV., 4 feet, only found at Cuba, Fulton county. No. V. is the most reliable coal; it is of good quality and free from sulphur, and is extensively worked near Springfield. No. VI., 3 to 7 feet. In the southern portion of the State it is quite thick, from 6 to 7 feet. In Peoria, Fulton, and La Salle counties it is 4 to 5 feet thick. The coal is not as good as No. V., and is generally lighter and softer. The seams above this are not thick enough to be workable. The coal is generally reached by shafts from 200 to 400 feet deep. The dip is very slight and mining is easy. In the Du Quoin district, Perry county, the fault brings the Lower coal-measures near the surface, and seams of 6 and 7 feet are within 50 or 75 feet of the surface, and easily accessible. Seams Nos. V. and VI. are worked. The coal is of excellent quality, and has a good clay-shale roof. The basin is subject to some irregularities. In the Big Muddy district, Jackson county, the coal occurs near the surface. The lower seams produce a good block coal, similar to that of Indiana, which, owing to the proximity of St. Louis, is valuable for iron manufactures. The coal, however, is not as good as the block coal of Indiana. From the Belleville district, St. Clair county, St. Louis obtains most of its bituminous coal. The county contains 450 square miles of coal, embracing five beds two of economic value. Coal-seam No. VI. is principally worked. Its general thickness is 5 to 7 feet, with lower coal-seams contain more sulphur and the quality limestone roof. The coal is regularly stratified. The varies. "MILLSTONE GRIT." Sub-conglomerate coal. Archimedes limestone. No. 1. FIG. 24.-From Prof. E. T. Cox's State Geological Report of Indiana for 1870. At Neelysville, Scott county, coal is extensively mined, The coal of La Salle is of importance from its prox but a still more productive region is at Danville. The imity to Chicago. coal is a fat, caking coal, 6 feet thick, lying nearly level. The anticlinal axis before mentioned occurs in this county. East of the axis the Lower coalIt contains sulphur, but in such a way that it can be measures are only found with one workable bed, inclined easily thrown out. Its main fault is friability and tendency to slack on exposure. It makes good, strong coals are found. Between the Illinois River on the West of the axis both lower and upper very slightly. team coal. south and the Vermilion River on the east there are There is but one workable seam of coal in Will county, though many persons still believe there is another bed below the one now being worked all over the field. The quality of Illinois coal is lowered by the presence of much sulphur and a large amount of moisture. The valuable feature is the quantity. The following table of analyses shows the character of the various Illinois coals in the principal regions: TABLE XXIV.-Analyses of Illinois Coal. COAL IN IOWA.-The Missouri coal-basin occupier nearly one-half of the State of Iowa. The measures are separable into upper, middle, and lower divisions. The whole field extends in a north-west and south-east direction through the State, from Van Buren county to Keokuk, Marshall, and Harden counties; then west to Fort Dodge, Webster co.; and on the south a line through Harrison to Madison and Lucas counties is the limit. The Lower coal-measures comprise the productive coals of the strata, the Upper formation containing but one bed of coal, with a maximum thickness of 20 inches. The thick FIG. 25.-Map of Illinois Coal-field. three workable beds. The upper seam, No. VI., is 4 to 5 feet thick; No. V., 3 to 9 feet, usually 6 feet; the lower, No. II., 4 feet. The middle bed, No. V., is the most popular. The upper bed is a light, dry, free-burning coal and a good steam coal, but is hard to mine. The middle bed is purer coal than No. VI. The lower coal is most highly bituminous, cakes in burning, and throws off heavy soot. Its drawback is too much sulphur. Taken in all its bearings, there is perhaps no more interesting coal-field than that locally known as the Wilmington district, on account of the superior qualities of its product as a household and steam fuel when compared with other Illinois coal, and its geological position. The territory underlaid with coal to which this name was originally given embraced a small area, including only the south half of sections 31 and 32 (township 33 north, range 9 east) in Wilmington township, and sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 30, and 31, with occasional outliers in sections 3, 4, and 9, and possibly in sections 20, 28, 29, 30, and 32 (township 32 north, range 9 east) of Reed township, in Will county, comprising 11 square miles of workable coal within the known basin. Borings indicate the presence of coal in sections 30 and 33 in Wilmington township, but of a soft, shelly nature, unprofitable for mining (Jasper John son, M. E.). FIG. 26.-Map of Iowa Coal-field. ness of the Lower coal-measures is 200 feet. They contain two beds of coal, irregular in thickness, swelling sometimes to 5 feet. (See section below.) On the Des Moines River such a thickness of workable coal is found. The coal north of this river is detached in patches and isolated basins, the great body being south of the river. In Webster county there are three beds of workable coal, the upper one, 5 feet thick, being the best. In Hamilton county one bed, 4 feet thick, is found. In Boone county the coal is very deep and not much mined. There are two distinct beds, the lower 4 feet and the upper 2 to 3 feet thick. At Des Moines the coal is mined from three The Middle coal-measures seams in close proximity. occupy only a small, narrow region. The Upper measures, as before said, are generally distributed, but contain little workable coal. The coals are all fat, adhesive, and close-burning bituminous, similar in structure to those of Illinois, but of inferior quality. The percentage of water is quite high and variable. An average of sixty-four analyses made by the State geologist gives-moisture, 8.57; volatile combustible TABLE XXV.-Cross-Section of the Coal-Measures of Missour matter, 39°24; mixed carbon, 45'42; ash, 6'77 per cent. Iowa Cross-Section [by C. A. White]. Lower Division. Workable beds, about..................................................................... 1-3. Shales, limestones, etc......... .................... 4. Coal, Lacona........ 5-7. Sandstones and shales.............................. 8. Coal, Panora.............................................................................. 9-15. Shales, etc....................................................................................... 16. Coal, Wheeler...... ......................................... 17-32. Shales, sandstones, limestones..... 33. Coal, Marshall. [by G. C. Broadhead]. 34-41. Shales, etc...... 55 0 9 Coal 8 in. Johnson. 10 Measures............. 18 ft. 11 Coal .............. 1 ft. 8 in. Johnson. Upper Division-Muterset Section. 14 Measures............. 52 ft. 6. Coal....... 7-16. Limestones, clays, carbonaceous shales, etc.. Total.. MISSOURI.-The geological survey of Missouri, by Mr. G. C. Broadhead, shows that the coal-measures comprise an area of 22,995 square miles, including 160 square miles in St. Louis county, 8 in St. Charles, and a few outliers in Lincoln and Warren; the remainder lying in North-west and Western Missouri. There are 5406 square miles of Upper or Barren measures; 2000 1 6 14 ft. (Warrensburg), Johnson, Henry, and Chariton. 21 Coal..... 22 Measures...... 23 Coal. 24 Measures.... 25 Coal. 26 Measures. Upper Division. 27 Coal Johnson, and Ray. Cass, Johnson, Lafayette, J Pleasant Hill, Missouri City, 1 Princeton, Mercer co. Platte county. 12 in. Andrew Buchanan, De Kalb, Gentry, Platte. Holt, W. part of Nodaway, and northwardly. erally sold at ten cents per bushel. The product of a thin seam, 10 to 14 inches thick, on the Nodaway River, is sold at twenty cents per bushel. The miners, it is said, prefer to work a bed from 2 to 24 feet thick to one of greater thickness, and consider all beds over 18 inches thick as workable coal; but if so, they differ from those of other States. The estimated area within which workable coal may be reached within 200 feet of the surface is about 7000 square miles. TABLE XXVI.-Analyses of Missouri Coal [by G. C. Broad 2 ft. (Lexington), Lafayette, 70 ft. 1 ft. 164 ft. 3 in. 379 ft. 10 in. 207 ft. 392 ft. 12 in. 339 ft. FIG. 27.-Map of Missouri Coal-field. square miles exposed Middle measures; 12,420 square miles of exposed Lower measures. The aggregate thick. ness of the Upper measures is 1317 feet, but they contain only 4 feet of coal in their beds, the two largest beds being each 1 foot thick. The Middle coal-measures are 324 feet, and contain 7 feet of coal, with two workable seams, respectively 21 and 24 inches thick; one other, of 1 foot, is worked under favorable circumstances. There are six seams too thin to work. The Lower measures are from 250 to 300 feet thick, and have five workable seams of coal, varying from 1 to 4 feet thick. There are also thin seams varying from 6 to 11 inches thick: in all, 13 feet 6 inches of coal-total, 1900 feet of coal-measures, 24 feet 6 inches of coal. (See Table XXV.) That from the thicker seams is gen 33.20 55.75 Chariton................. 5.82 38-01 54-53 Macon.............................. 12.05 40.75 43-50 ARKANSAS.-The coal-measures of Arkansas cover an area of 9043 square miles along the course of the Arkansas River in the western portion of the State. The measures lie horizontally, consequently the coal is easy of access. Two beds of coal have been opened, but FIG. 29.-Map of Nebraska Coal-field. beds are found in this, but the coal, though sometimes of good quality, is only from 5 to 22 inches in thickness, only the lower is of workable thickness. The best coal and will not pay for mining. Prof. Hayden, after an yet found in Arkansas is the Spadra coal, in Johnson exhaustive examination of the field, declares that the county, a semi-anthracite, which in some places is 34 rocks of the Nebraska coal-field belong to the Upper feet thick. The seams of coal on both sides of the Barren measures and contain no workable beds. In river are from 10 inches to 1 foot in thickness. In favorable locations the thin seams are mined for local Sebastian county the coal is 4 feet thick, with two use, but are scarcely able to supply even this demand. clay partings of 1 inch each: 1 foot of the top coal is shaly. In the southern part of Franklin and Johnson counties the coal is 2 feet thick. The accompanying analyses (Macfarlane, p. 499) show the character of the coal: Sebastian co...............1'40 Long's.. Yell co.......... Johnson co. (11 in.).....200 Crawford co. (1 ft.)......100 "These analyses," Dr. Owen says, "prove the coal to be semi-bituminous, like some of the coal in George's Creek Valley, Md.; but, in fact, these coals contain more carbon, and are anthracite or semi-anthracite. Being far richer in fixed carbon than most of the coals FIG. 30.-Map of Kansas Coal-field. in the Western States, they are therefore almost twice as KANSAS.-The coal-fields of this State are a contindurable in the fire, with proper access of air. The ex- uation of the measures of Iowa and Missouri. They istence of a semi-anthracite or semi-bituminous coal in occupy the whole of the eastern portion of the State, the West is the more surprising as the formation is level bounded on the west by an irregular north-west and and undisturbed, bearing but little evidence of meta- south-westerly line through Marshall, Lynn, Wilson, and morphism or change by internal heat. There is, how- Montgomery counties, and covering an area of 17,000 ever, rock of undoubted igneous origin 60 miles south square miles. The coal-measures are nearly horizontal, of Johnson county, in Hot Springs county. The igne- with a slight dip to the north-west. No faults are found ous rocks are no doubt near enough to the surface to in the beds. The upper portion of the measures conhave excited an igneous action, and to have expelled tains only traces of coal. Most of the coal crops out the greater portion of the gaseous matter. The pecu- in Upper Kansas, and is not very thick, but furnishes liar fissured structure of the Spadra coal favors the idea a supply for domestic uses. The coal is not pure, owthat the volatile matter was expelled not only by pro- ing to its being so near the top of the measures. The longed chemical action, but by heat, which causes an seams are thin in the northern portion of the State; in expansion of the particles, and that severing the coal the lower portion there are two beds of uniform qualgives it a friable tendency and a peculiar subdivision ity and thickness. The first, the Osage seam, found in into cuboidal lumps." Linn and Bourbon counties, is 2 feet thick; and the second, or Cherokee, the most important bed in the State, crops out in the centre of Cherokee county, extending thence into the Indian Territory. It is 6 feet thick on the average, and of good quality. These beds are the productive ones of the State. The coal NEBRASKA. The vast treeless prairies of Nebraska would make its coal-deposits peculiarly valuable, but most of the State is beyond the western rim of the MisBouri field, and the coal of the rest is in beds too thin to be worked profitably. The coal-bearing area of the State VOL. II.-22 |