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100 
 
 CARBONIFEROUS OF CAPE BRETON— OILPIN. 
 
 AuT. VI. — The Carboniferous of Cape Breton, with Intho- 
 DUCTORY Remarks. — Part III. — Bv E. Gimmn, Jr., 
 ¥. G. S., F. R. S. C, Inspector of Mines. 
 
 Head March 12, 1888. 
 
 As my paper to-niifl»t presents to the Institute little beyond 
 columns of figures which are uninterestinnr to the general puhlic, 
 although eloijuent to the chemist or mining engineer, I gladly 
 avail myself of Mr. McKay's suggestion that it should be pre- 
 faced by a few remarks on Cape Breton Coal, of a character 
 somewhat more popular. 
 
 I may remark that I have already in previous contributions 
 outlined the various carboniferous districts of Cape Breton, and 
 summarised their more valuable deposits of coal. In the accom- 
 panying paper, tabulated analyses of the seams worked at the 
 dilierent collieries, and of the typical scams of the western 
 districts, .serve as a ground of comparison with the coal products 
 of other countries. 
 
 The popular idea is that a coal mine is a hole in the ground, 
 and a coal field a section of country uninteresting from heaps of 
 coal refuse, and the unpolished manners of its inhabitants. A 
 closer survey, however, shows that the " holes in the ground" 
 exercise the highest engineering and technical skill of those who 
 conduct the operations connected wdth sinking them, and extract- 
 ing the coal with the minimum of cost. The n)anners of the 
 nuners, if marked with a certain reserve toward strangers, are 
 those of men whose occupations differ from the callings of 
 ordinary huisuinify ; and among themselves they are frien<lly 
 and charitable, and ever ready to dare the dangers of the mine 
 if a comrade calls for help. When the figures of the statistician 
 sliow that the power and wealth of a nation is directly measured 
 by the number of tons of coal it produces and consumes, the 
 subject acquires a general and vivid interest. Coal fields seem 
 to be a special gift of Providence to nations, and curiously 
 
 ••..,,, 
 
 
 
jm 
 
 CARBONIFKROUS OF CAPE BRETON— GILPIN. 
 
 101 
 
 f 
 
 enough the EngUsh-.speaking races have the lion's share of coal 
 fiekls, and have well availed themselves of their privileges. 
 
 The extraction and exportation only of coal liowever in not a 
 permanent source of wealth. The treasures of the n\ine resemble 
 more those of the forest, than the treasures pf the field and of 
 the .sea. Every ton of coal when it leaves the country represents, 
 in most cases it is presumed, a certain amount of profit, but its 
 removal increases the co.st of the extraction of the next ton, and 
 like a tree of the forest it cannot be replaced. It must be used 
 locally to smelt the ore, forge the metal, ply the loom, or to build 
 the multifarious machinery demanded to-day, before its true 
 value is seen. One man can dig a ton of coal, but two must toil 
 before it has yielded up its many items of power, or heat, or light. 
 Take the mother country, did she export all her coal, and close 
 the myriad factories supported by it, her po^iition would be vastly 
 ditterent. 
 
 The few introductory remarks I am permitted to make .should 
 however be directed rather to the geological than the economic 
 side of my paper. 
 
 Could the student carry himself backward, beyond the time of 
 Confederation, to the period of the formation of the Cape Breton 
 coal beds, and take his stand on the granitic hills of Cape Dau- 
 phin, at the entrance of the Bras d'Or lake, his eyes would 
 wander over a view widely different from that of the present 
 day. Instead of the rolling hills covered with spruce under- 
 growth, and occasional ridges of hardwood which now sti'etch 
 eastwardly from Sydney to the shores of the ever-encroaching 
 Atlantic, he would see, mile upon mile, a dead monotonous level, 
 with here and there dull sluggish reaches and swamps of dark 
 peaty waters, while overhead the rays of a sun warmer than that 
 now allotted to us, could scarce dissipate the clouds of vapor it 
 kept drawing from the heated water and steaming soil. 
 
 - On a nearer approach, this uninteresting countiy, which wc 
 would compare to some of the tidal marshes of the bay of Fundy, 
 is found to be covered with the densest of vegetation. IS'o 
 modern forest, tropical or temperate, reproduces the cuiious scene. 
 A closer study, however, would detect some trees bearing a fan- 
 
102 
 
 OARBONTFKROUS OF TAI'E IIRKTON— CilLl'IN. 
 
 ciful resemblance to plants now growing,' in the earth. There 
 was one tree specially ])eautiful, its tovverinuf stem sometimes 
 nearly one hundred feet in height, was fluted like a temple 
 column, and crowned by magnificent fern- like fronds, a mysteri- 
 ously-developed tree fern. Its roots descending into the marshy 
 ground radiated, divided an<l suh-divided until they could suck 
 nourishment rapidly for the great tree above with its quick 
 growth and fre(iuent branch-making. 
 
 There is also another tree with peculiarities now characteristic 
 of the "club mosses," but its branches were flung wide in the air 
 and it appeared to the casual observer like a mighty pine. 
 
 Yet another curious plant lecalls our " mare's tail," but its 
 fluted bamboo-like stems were often forty feet high. 
 
 In those pre-historic forests of twenty millions of years ago, 
 there was scarce a temptation for the little children to wander 
 as IWjes in the W^oods, for nature, rioting in luxuriant growth, 
 did not <leign to captivate by the exhibition of the fleeting colors 
 and fragrances which poets have sung and nations admired. In 
 vain would search have been made for any plant now called 
 .national: the rose, the thistle, and even the humble emblem of 
 our Province, all were wanting, and perchance only the mosses 
 and fungi relieved the sombre colors of that " J)ismal Swamp." 
 
 In vain would the hunter, so far as the records of the rocks 
 inform us, have searched for his piey, in the air, or by land, or 
 by sea. Locusts, beetles, scorpions, nondescript frogs or newts, 
 all labored in their task of subduing, consumincr and consolidat- 
 ing the great masses of vegetation. However, it must be said 
 that these remarks are based on negative evidence only, the 
 plants and insects from which our imaginrtion has reconstructed 
 so curious a page in the history of mother earth, are few in 
 number, and owe their preservation as fossils to peculiar circum- 
 stances. There may have been many other organized helpers in 
 the great scheme on the hills and hiddands surrounding the 
 marshes, and imagination may depicture the graces and beauties 
 and the melodious .sounds of an untrodden land. 
 
 t!iuch were some of the curious forms that were crowded in the 
 battle of life which left victors and vanquished preserved for our 
 
 WfWfP 
 
CAR HON' IKE nous OF ("APE lUtETON — fJIMMV. lOH 
 
 sole benefit. The plants i^'rew and fell, and wore buried, tlio 
 water of the swatnps allowJ!);: but a tardy decomposition, until 
 a deep peaty mass accumulated. Tin; sub-soil, a clay oi- loam, 
 was tilled with rootlets until perliaps no further nnneral nourish- 
 ment of silica or of potash, etc., was available. Loni,' years this 
 swamp, devoid of living vegetation, lay gradually undergoing 
 changes consisting cliiefly of elimination of water from the 
 vegetable matter, until some oscillation of level, per- 
 chance a change in the current of some bygone liver 
 unnamed and unsung deposited on its paitly hardened sur- 
 face a layer of silt or mud. This went on until hundreds of feet 
 of .sandstone, .shale, coal, fireclay, etc., arc now presented. The 
 accumulating ma.ss in the slow course of time became firm. 
 Pressure, the internal heat of the earth, chemical laws of chan-re 
 all con)bined to make the peaty ma.ss a layer of carbon with a 
 small percentage of ash, and of bituuunous foindng matter; the 
 sand layers were cemented by silica into hard sandstone, the 
 mud into bituminous or caibonaceous shale ; and the ancient soil 
 well lobbed of its alkali ; and silica became fireclay. 
 
 Almost without exception every bed of coal the nuner explores 
 has immediately below it a bed of fireclay often filled with car- 
 bonized roots. The coal bears in its structure the evidence of its 
 vegetable origin, for under the microscope can be seen in it, fruits, 
 flowers, and particles of wood til)re, etc. Above the coal comes 
 the roof usually of .shale or .sandstone, often bearing in it at the 
 junction with the coal bed, layers of ferns, pressed and preserved 
 as in a herbarium ; or a full length tree of that ancient forest 
 showing in its flattened stem clearly and di.stinctly its species, 
 etc., and recalling with its daikened color the logs found in our 
 peat swamps. 
 
 We have now briefly traced the coal seam to its full growth, 
 l)ut had nature gone on adding the coral, the chalk, antl all the 
 varied and immense layers of subsequent formations this pre- 
 cious heritage wouM have been like an estate in chancer}', pleasant 
 to think about, but a thing unattainable, for we could not have 
 sunk shafts some four or five thou.sand feet to provide our fuel. 
 
 The process of nature which has laid these stores of fossil fuel 
 
104 
 
 CAlUlONIKKUors OF t'AI'E nUKToN— rilLPIN. 
 
 close to tlic surface in Capo Bieton is one as yet little under- 
 stood by ^'eol()i,'ists, hut it is a Hubject fascinatin;r tVom its 
 L^i'andeur, and t) its operations do we owe all our mines, 'riiero 
 have been elevations and depressions in tlio earth's surface ever 
 since its creation, caused by internal forces, contraction of its 
 crust, accumulation of sedimerits, or what not, wc see the effect, 
 ami bless the hand that ^'uided the cause. In the Sydney dis- 
 trict it appears that the old, old rocks, the ^jranites and <fnicsses 
 of CoxheaLh, Boisdal'^ and St. Ann's were forced slowly and 
 gradually upwards. This motion enforced a tilting of the strata 
 holding; the coal so that they inclined to the eastward. This was 
 continued until tlu; "Atlantic" of that date came in upon the 
 land, and hatl b(;undaries approximating those of the present day. 
 Hud the uplifted edf^es of the older rocks been straight, like a 
 ruler, the coal-bearing strata would have dipped uniformly away 
 from th«'m, and remained parallel throughout the district. l>ut 
 nature abhors a straight line, devoid of beauty save to the 
 mathematician. Owing to underlying spurs of the older strata 
 projecting beneath the coal measures the uplifting of the former 
 produced transveisc subordinate tilting in addition to the general 
 or contincMital inclination to the east. 'J'he effect of this has 
 been to throw the seams into a series of curves, having the ocean 
 as a secant. Taking the coal seams of the S3Mlne3' disttict as 
 they are met at Cape Dauphin they are seen ridged up against 
 the Syenite of the Cape, then lessening in the steepness of their 
 dip they range across the Big and Little Bras d'Or to Sydney 
 Harbor, where their inclination is about four degrees. As they 
 cross the harbor they turn more to the north-east, and dip 
 steeply until they turn again with the regular dip and inn into 
 the sea at Lingfin. Emei-ging again they stietch in a regular 
 curve for miles across Glace Bay Biook and Basin, and turning 
 again toward the north-east with increasing dips enter the sea 
 at the north head of Cow Bay. Hitherto the transveise subor- 
 dinate foldings have not been marked enough to interrupt the 
 continuity of the strata enclosing the coal beds, but here the 
 upwaid movement has brought lower rocks to the surface, and 
 there is an interval of rocks which do not hold coal seams. 
 
f'Akl'.ONIFLUOl'S OF CAI'K UllKToN— (MM'IN. 
 
 10.-) 
 
 In Cow Pmy the saiiin forces have forinel another hasln, culItMl 
 a synclinal, the searns dippin;,'! down on the I-onii; lleaeh sith' 
 ami up a;,'ain on the (Juwrie si te. IJut the axis (ji -^'eneral ineli- 
 nation of the troui^h is siill to the eastward. 
 
 Finally, the seams of the Cow Bay district, after crossing' the 
 narrow strip of lantl foruiinjjf the north side of Mira Hay, pass 
 undei* the Atlantic and are lost hevond the three niilti limit. 
 
 Speculation as to the orin;inal extent of this coal held is profit- 
 le.s.s, if inteiesting. iJut we do know that, reasoning from a fair 
 basis of facts, we have now hut a remnant of the great coal field 
 of the (Jiilf of St. Lawrence. When we consider the fringes of 
 coal fields, and of carbor.iferous strata which occur around Cape 
 Breton, on tl»e west side of Newfoundland, in the Magdalen 
 Island.s, and along the northejn shores of Nova Scotia and New 
 Brunswick, we can .scarcely leali/e that over that great Culf the 
 forests of the Carboniferous once spread, amid the voiceless and 
 sullen lagoons of the mysterious counti'y. 
 
 Owing to sudden pre.ssuie or other crai.ses, tlie Juovements of 
 the coal-bearing strata are sometimes accompanieil by bieaks or 
 faults. Often great blocks of strata, miles in extent, thousands 
 of feet in depth, and weighing myriads of tons, have been raised 
 out of the continuity of the coal held, so that the miner suddenly 
 finds in front of him a wall of stone. His coal bed has vanislied, 
 cut otr by the irresistible foi'ce of the great le\er which is con- 
 tinually raising and depressing continents. Much trouble is often 
 experienced in finding the lost bed of coal, wliich is .son»etimes 
 moved many feet away. In the Cape Breton coal field the 
 faults are few and of little moment, — a fact which not only 
 reduces the risk and expense of mining, but encourages the cap- 
 italist and engineer in starting new pit.s. There are few coal 
 fields of vvhich it can be said, as in Cape Breton, that any seam 
 can be located at any point inside the boundaries of the coal 
 distiict with a nuirgin of error not exceeding a few feet. 
 
 The question has often been asked me, "are the seams of the 
 Cow Bay, Sydney, and CJlace Bay districts distinct, or are tliey 
 the same seams interrupted by the sea as the flexures of the 
 strata approach and leave the shore. The answer is that they 
 
lOG 
 
 CAunoNirKnous of cavk iiurrox — (jiumn. 
 
 aro tlie .sanu! seams althou<^li soiMovvlmt clmngcd in character and 
 size as tliey ran''t» over some twontv-fivu niilt-s of countiy. The 
 scams are itleiitilii'"! \>y llu' tliieknt'ss of tlie masses of intcrven- 
 iri<^ strata, s(jmo peciiliai ity of roof or Hoor, etc., etc. The (JevO- 
 h>^icai Surve)' have tabulated the stmms of the ilillerent districts, 
 and as tlieir conchisions <h) not ap])ear to coincide with tlie 
 opinions of any of the critics, it may be assumed tliat thijy are 
 pretty near tlie luark. Tiie question, however, is one of ^eoh)^'ical 
 rather than of econouiic interest, as the coal seams all vary 
 slightly in tlieir (piality at inteivals of a few miles. 
 
 Coal. 
 
 HaviiiL^ outlined the distribution of the Carboniferous of Cape 
 Breton as laid down on the excellent maps of Mr. Fletcher's 
 icports to the Geological Survey, the next task is the considera- 
 tion of the nnnerals charaeteri/iiig it. The principal minerals 
 are coal, gyp><nm, limestone, and iron ore. As the first named is 
 the most impoitant, I venture to dedicate this paper to its con- 
 sideration, and propose to describe the remaining mineials, 
 toi'-ether with tliose found in tlie otlier geolo'dcal horizons, at a 
 future time. This will prove more convenient for reference, as 
 several of them, notably the iron ores, are common to several 
 ages. In this island coal beds are found most abundantly in the 
 productive measures, but there are important deposits in the 
 millstone fnit. Thei-e are also beds of coal in measures referable 
 possibly to the upper coal measures, and in the Richmond district 
 coal occurs apparently in conjunction with the marine limestone 
 measures. Examples are not wanting in other countries of 
 valuable deposits of coal in these divisions of the Carboniferous, 
 but so far as our information goes we are not w^arranted in look- 
 ing to them as important sources of this mineral in Ca[^e Breton. 
 
 I have already alluded to the fact that it is ditHcult to draw 
 with distinctness the line separating the productive from the 
 millstone ixrit measures, and will therefore consider the coals 
 without regard to their geological position, a factor little affect- 
 ing their composition. 
 
 Speaking in general terms, the Cape Breton coals are bitumi- 
 
 X 
 
 wfmm 
 
CAIinoNIKKUnUS ol' (A I'M I'.ltKTON — <JILI'1N. 
 
 107 
 
 X 
 
 nous and cokiiiL,'. Many of tlio scams yield \ar<fe voluim's of jras 
 of ;,'ood (|uality, piovidcd tliat a rcasotiahli' care be fxercisi'd in 
 Hcreonin^j and jiickiuLC. K'»i- donu'stif innposcs tlir-y have pri»vi'd 
 acc<'i>taMe wlierevor otlticd, us tlity kindle rcadii}' and leave 
 little asli. For house use piiWlic opinion has seh^cted the S^'dney 
 mines' main seam as the typieal coal of the Kaste»n tlistriet. 
 
 These coals have been hujL^'ely nsed for marine and railway 
 steam raisini;, and compare favorably with any forei;,ni competi- 
 tors. They may be ranked between the best Welsh and the best 
 Newcastle steam coals, jiid^dntj^ fiom atialyses and the reports of 
 practical tests on Knjjflish ajid French men-of-war. The tests 
 lecorded a])pear to prove the contention that the tsvaporative 
 power of a coal is in proportion to the total amount of carbon 
 contained in it, and that the j^ieater the ^^'as value tlu; less the 
 amount of water it is capable of evaporntini^. It is to be icL^ret- 
 ted that a series of )if,d«l tests of the coals now workt'd could not 
 be ma<le by an impnitial authority, as they woidd undoubtedly 
 show that with proper handlinif their evaporative jiowers ate 
 surpassed by fevv coals now used for marine boilers. 
 
 For coke-makiiiL,^ these coals aie well adapted, as they yield, 
 from practical tests, a fuel excellently suited for iron and copper 
 smeltin",'. The adoption of any cheap form of washini; would 
 free the coal from the adnuxod stone and pyrites, and piesent a 
 coke superior to that of Durham and ('onnelsville. 
 
 In presentin*; the following set of analyses of Coals of the 
 eastern district I have followed the tabulation of the (JeoIoLfical 
 Survey, altho' it ditlers fiom that of several wi'iteis, and have not 
 attempted the correllation of the (Jardner, Carrol, and other seams 
 found undeilying those at present bein<^' worked. 
 
 Pursuant to this arrangement the Hub and Crandal seaius are 
 grouped together. Next in descending onler comes the seam 
 known locally as the Block House, Harbor, Victoria and the 
 Sydney Mines worked by the Klock House, (ilace IJay, Victoria, 
 and Sydney Colleries, Below this comes the most extensiv<dy 
 worked scam of the district known as the McAuley, Phel.-ui, and 
 Lingan and worked by the Govvrie, Ontario, Caledonia, lle.>4Live, 
 Bridgeport and Lingan mines. The next seam to be noticed is 
 
KM 
 
 CAKhONIKKIlOlIS Ol' CAI'K lUSKToN -CI 1,1'FN. 
 
 timt known as tlir Soutli Hint), Ross aiid ('i)Ilins. Ilelow tliis 
 comes tliu (Jurdncr, Traci'V, Cm rol and oilier seams to be a-rain 
 ref(!no<l to. 
 
 The flub seam is not now woikecl. Altbo' its land aiea is limit- 
 ed, it lias an extensive sub-marine development, it was well 
 adapted for i^as makiiiL,', and yielded !),;j()() cubic t'eetof 1') candle 
 ;jas per ton. The followini; analysis will serve to show its char- 
 acter.* 
 
 Volatile matter .S.S.21 
 
 Fi\e<l Carbon (;;{.!>4 
 
 Ash 2.8.') 
 
 1 ()().()() 
 The followin;^ tabhi show's the composition of the secon<l 
 seam : 
 
 C. 
 
 niock 
 
 House. 
 
 Ilarbur. 
 
 Moisture fiO 
 
 Vol. Ciiinli. itiutttT, slow cokiiij;.. 2'.I.IS 
 flUHt " .. .^l.-'iS 
 
 Fixod Carbon, slow coking, 
 fast 
 
 Ash 
 
 Siilplmr 
 
 .Spt'citic trriivity 
 
 ()H.4() 
 
 4.;{r) 
 I .'-".» 
 
 .80 
 I'T.s-, 
 2'.».4lt 
 ()7.(l'» 
 (J.')..'i0 
 4.H0 
 
 -'.;{•_> 
 I .•-'<» 
 
 tlnt»'r- 
 national 
 
 .87 
 
 5 .';.-).4i 
 
 )--■ 
 
 ,')S..'i(') 
 
 r..i() 
 
 trace. 
 
 Syilnyy, 
 
 l.'.'f! 
 .S.'...-.l 
 
 (;o.7s 
 .'««>. II 
 
 4.11 
 1,7() 
 l.'ll 
 
 The coals I'efei'red to above aie ifcneiallv laminated with a 
 pitchy lustre, and carry a j^'ood deal of mineral chaicoal on the 
 deposition planes. The primaiy planes cut those of deposition 
 at high ans^Ies, but the secondary planes are not so regular. The 
 primary planes usually hold films of carbonate of lime and iron, 
 which is less fi-e(|ucntly present in the secondary planes. 
 
 The gas values vary from 8,200 feet of <S-candle power at the 
 Sydney Mines to 10,000 feet of IG.o-candle power at the Block 
 House workings. The gas values of the .seam apparently in- 
 creasing toward the south, while the northern openings produce, 
 as at the Victoria and Sydney mines, an article better adapted 
 for steam and domestic purpo.ses. 
 
 ' Aiia'ytit unknown. 
 
 I'nlciss otlienvise specilk'd. tlie analyses in this paper are by tlie writer. 
 
 tAnalyst I'tufessor Cliapnian. 
 
""fCfllBLk^. 
 
 CAIMSONIFKIKU'S OF CAI'i; IIIJKTON — (JIMMN. 
 
 101) 
 
 , 
 
 As few ultimato analyst's liavc been nuulo of (Jape I'.rcton 
 coals, till! following,' of the Hlock- IIon;c scam mH<lt' for tin; 
 Ailiiiiiahy (analyst unknown j is of intcirst : 
 
 ( 'ail)on 82.no 
 
 Hytlro<,'en 4 7!) 
 
 N itroj^'en 1 .20 
 
 Oxvifon 4.10 
 
 iSuIpliur 2..') I 
 
 Ash 4..S0 
 
 100.00 
 
 The foHowini,' is the result of a tiial of the Sydney coul nuule 
 Ity the American Government in 1.S44, and, so far as the writi-r 
 is aware, it is the only practical test ever made of the evapora- 
 tive power of 'any (Jape IJreton coal : 
 
 M oisture :{. 1 ;} 
 
 Volatile coiuhustihle matter 2:{..SI 
 
 Fixed carl ton (17. .')7 
 
 Ash ').4(> 
 
 lilts, of steam to one of coal from 21:^'' 7.1)0 
 
 Ash and clinker — per cent (i.OO 
 
 •Theoretical evaporative power !).2') 
 
 The following table shows the composition of the ashes of the 
 above coals : 
 
 Iron pero.xide 45.021 
 
 Alumina 8.250 
 
 Insoluble silicious residue. . .35.110 
 
 Manganese 
 
 Mao-nesia 1. 100 
 
 Lime ,-,,425 
 
 Sulphate of lime 
 
 Sulphuric acid 0.750 
 
 Phosphoric acid 1.1)00 
 
 +AlkaJies trace. 
 
 Chlorine 
 
 Il<irl>i>r. 
 
 03.:i55 
 
 8.2.S0 
 
 21.872 
 
 4.040 
 
 2.120 
 
 .514 
 
 trace. 
 
 trace. 
 
 \'ict'ici:i. 
 
 5(;.54:} 
 
 (1.450 
 
 27.500 
 
 1.1):{() 
 
 .o;{5 
 
 2 598 
 
 .S.700 
 .01)1 
 .150 
 
 SmIiicv. t 
 
 5l..s:{ 
 
 4.84 
 21). 57 
 
 • • • • 
 
 .23 
 
 3.05 
 
 10.08 
 
 trac(!. 
 trace, 
 trace. 
 
 9D.15G 100.787 1)9.01)3 100.00 
 
 "From Rf jfriiiult's forii ula. 
 
 t Analyst, H. How. 
 
 }In this and following analyses alkalies are estimated only when in <inantity. 
 
■■^ 
 
 no ("AUIiONIFEllOUS OF CAl'E J5UET0N — GIF.PLV. 
 
 The coal of the tliinl se<ain to he noticed as vvoiked at the 
 Gowrie Colliery is black with a f,Mayish tinge. On fresh sur- 
 faces the lustre is hrii^ht and pitchy, with very tine laminae 
 ot jet-like coal, and a f^ood deal of mineral charcoal on the depo- 
 sition planes. This coal sometimes exhibits fouj- cleavage planes, 
 sometiujcs hoMing films of calc spar. Coal tolerably compact, 
 with nearly black powder and little visible pyrites. This 
 descripHon answers for it throughout the district, except that 
 at the lleserve and Ihidgeport mines it is more pitchy and 
 lustrous. 
 
 The following analyses will serve to show the composition of 
 this coal at the Collieries opeiated on it from Cow Bay to Sydney 
 Harbor : 
 
 Gowrii'. Cak'iliinia. Kesci've. liiiii^aii. 
 
 Moisture 50 .1)2 .o2 .7') 
 
 Vol. Comb. Mattel-, slow Coking. 2.S.1.S 2S.G2 84.21 :]4.G1 
 
 fast " :U.41 'A0:M .S7.no 37.20 
 
 Fixed Carbon, slow Coking .... GG.Ol (14.02 50.7:^ iilMd 
 
 fast " .... ()2.7:J (;2.:5:} :)G..M4 58.74 
 
 Ash oM G.48 5.54- ,^.25 
 
 Sulphur 2.71 1.10 1.25 1.35 
 
 Specific Gravity l.:Jl \.:]:] 1.2S 1.21) 
 
 The ashes of this coal vary in color from light to deep red. 
 
 The gas values of thisseaui vary from S,900 to 9,500 cubic feet 
 of gas, of from 13 to 15 candle power, and a good Coke is left. 
 
 The following ultimate analysis of the coal from the Reserve 
 mine, made at the lloyal School of mines, will prove of interest : 
 
 Carbon 77.41 
 
 Hydrogen 5.47 
 
 ^'itrogen. ) ^ .,q 
 
 Oxygen. ) 
 
 Sulphur 2.47 
 
 Water 1.00 
 
 Ash 4.35 
 
 The following analysis of the coke from this mine is from a 
 repoi t of Mr. E. 1). Peters, on practical tests made by him in ex- 
 perimental snieltings of Coxheath copper ore, and it may be re- 
 
 J.'.H.^-Ji^, 
 
CAUnONMFEIlOUS OF CAPE HRETON — fJlLPIN'. 
 
 Ill 
 
 marked that a bctt(?r article would be produced if tlie inaiui- 
 facture were conducteri on a larL,^e and sj'steuiatic scale : 
 
 Moisture 1.03 
 
 Carbon !)0.04 
 
 Sulphur 70 
 
 Phosphoiic Acid trace 
 
 Ash 8.01 
 
 The ash of this seain [)resents the following composition : — 
 
 1 
 
 1 '" 
 
 iii^'aii* .Mill 
 
 e. 
 Bottom. 
 
 
 Caledonia Hcscrve 
 Mine. | Mine. 
 
 Top. 
 
 Middle. 
 
 I.int;aii 
 AvurajiCe. 
 
 Iron Pero.xi lie .11.853 
 
 Almiiiiia 4.20O 
 
 Silica 05.734 
 
 Jjinie 7.151 
 
 21.810 
 
 8.110 
 
 08.330 
 
 .•.»15 
 
 1 
 
 35.00 
 
 1».07 
 43.07 
 
 0.13 
 
 l..->7 
 
 (.-.OS 
 
 7iM)0 
 
 8.84 
 
 27.75 
 
 4.JU 
 
 48.(i2 
 
 11.83 
 
 21.00 
 
 O.C.O 
 
 57.05 
 
 93 
 
 Maiifj^iint'se il50 
 
 
 Sulplmric Acid 4. '-'83 
 
 AikulieH 2.1i"iO 
 
 .480 
 
 5.73 
 
 1 
 
 .34" 
 
 3.08 
 .07 
 
 0.52 
 .37 
 
 ; 5.11 
 
 Alagiitisia 1.200 
 
 I'iiosplioric Acid 2.725 
 
 Chlorine trace 
 
 .50 
 
 trace 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 100.. 300 
 
 <l'.t.('.4.') 
 
 i 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 The following is the composition of the lowest of the seams 
 
 worked to any extent. The coal is usually compact and lus- 
 trous, with tine lannnd'. Some specimens show^ mineral char- 
 coal, while otliers are free from it. 
 
 S. South Head. 
 
 Moisture 1.707 
 
 Vol. Comb, matter, slow coking. . . 2S.000 
 
 fast " ... 28..s:}3 
 
 Fixed Carbon, slow coking (52.203 
 
 fast " 01.430 
 
 Ash 7.970 
 
 Sulphur 2.041 
 
 Specific gravity 1.3N2 
 
 The ash of this seam, as worked at the Emery Colliery, hns 
 the following composition : — 
 
 * Analyst: II. How. 
 
 t Analyst I'lofcssor Chapman, 
 
 ICiiiury. 
 
 0.') 
 
 82.21 
 
 .34.80 
 
 0.3.4!) 
 
 00.1)0 
 
 .3.05 
 
 2.41 
 
 1 .28 
 
 J 
 
 tColliim. 
 
 - 3n.7o 
 :)7.io 
 
 0.00 
 
 • • • • 
 
 1.27 
 
 I 
 
112 
 
 CAIUIONIFEROUS OF CAPE BRETON — GILPIN. 
 
 Iron peroxide 38.704 
 
 Alumina 1.3.SG 
 
 Silicious residue 50,C73 
 
 Lime 4.200 
 
 Manganese trace. 
 
 Magnesia 1.015 
 
 Sulphuric acid 4.030 
 
 Phosphoric acid .012 
 
 Chlorine decided trace. 
 
 Alkalies do. 
 
 < 7i 
 
 100.030 
 During the examination of the ash of this coal numerous 
 small rounded (juartz pebl)les the size oi a pea were noticed. 
 
 The following analysis shows the ultimate composition of the 
 seam as worked at the Schooner Pond Colliery (ana'ysL un- 
 known.) 
 
 Carbon ^ 78.10 
 
 Hydrogen 5.48 
 
 Oxygen and nitrogen 7.81 
 
 Sulphur 2.4i) 
 
 Water 2.G7 
 
 Ash 8.45 
 
 100.00 
 The coals from this seam are claimed to be good for steam 
 
 raising, and to give off less smoke than the overlying coals. 
 The following analysis will serve to show the character of the 
 
 best known seams opened below those referred to above : 
 Tracey seam, of Mira Bay, (analy. Geo. Survey.) 
 
 Moisture 22.35 ' 
 
 Volatile combustible matter 30.09 
 
 Fixed carbon GG.G 1 
 
 Ash 08 
 
 Mullins' seam, south side Sydney Harbor 
 
 99.915 
 
■ i 
 
 r 
 
 ^ 7i 
 
 CARBON IFEUOUS OF CAPE BRETON— GILPIN. 113 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 Coal 2 
 
 Shale 4 
 
 Coal 4 
 
 G 4 
 
 Volatile matter 81.4 
 
 Fixed carbon C2.4 
 
 Ash G.2 
 
 This analysis was inade some years ago by Dr. Dawson, and he 
 remarks : " This coal has some of the properties of cannel. It 
 has great heating power and yields much dense carbonaceous 
 gas." 
 
 In the Glace Bay section, a few feet below the Hub seam, is a 
 bed of cannel coal one foot two inches thick lying on nine inches 
 of ordinary bituminous coal. The following analysis was made 
 bv Dr. How : 
 
 Moisture 83 
 
 Volatile combustible matter 30.07 
 
 Fixed carbon 44.42 
 
 Ash 24.G.S 
 
 100.00 
 
 BROAD COVE DISTRICT. 
 
 In the Geological Survej'^ Repoit for the year 1874, there is a 
 description of the Broad Cove coal field, and a set of analyses 
 made by Mr. Hoffman of the survey, which are given here with 
 his remarks, in a condensed form : 
 
 7 ft. Soain. 5 ft. Seam. 4 ft. Seam. 
 
 Moisture 4.02 7.78 8.45 
 
 Vol. Comb. Matter, slow Coking.. 20.17 27.G7 28.30 
 
 fast " .. 25.39 34.51 3G.52 
 
 Fixed Carbon, slow Coking 70.41 52.87 56.94 
 
 fast " G5.18 46.03 48.78 
 
 Ash 5.40 11.68 6.25 
 
 These coals do not soil the fingers. They are black, with pitchy 
 
114 CARBONIFEROUS OP CAPE BRETON— GILPIN. 
 
 lustre, banded, with uneven fracture. The powder of the five 
 and of the four feot seams when boiled in caustic soda imparts a 
 brown color to the li(iuid, this with the percentage of water would 
 make them approach in character to brown coal, although they 
 occur in strata of Carboniferous age. The coal from the largest 
 seam does not color a solution of caustic soda and is more closely 
 allied with the typical carboniferous coals. Zinc blende was 
 observed as a film in this coal. These coals are said to produce 
 little smoke when burned in maiine boilers. 
 
 PORT HOOD DISTRICT. 
 
 As yet but little mining has been done here, and the qualities 
 of the coals have not been settled by practical experience. The 
 Ueological Survey Report, 1870-77, page 4G9, gives a report on 
 the coal of the lower or 7 feet seam. It appears to resemble in 
 its general characteristics the Broad Cove coal, and yielded on 
 analysis : — 
 
 Fast Cokintf. Slow Coking. 
 
 Moisture 4.02 4.02 
 
 Volatile combustible matter 38.81 34.80 
 
 Fixed carbon 49.65 53.00 
 
 Ash (pui plish red) 7.52 7.52 
 
 The coal is said to contain rather above the percentage of sul- 
 phur usually found in Cape Breton coals. 
 
 I have no analysis of the Chimney Corner coals. They are 
 not as bright as man}' of the eastern coals, but are good steam 
 coals. 
 
 Reference has been already made to the area of millstone grit 
 extending from Sydney up the valleys of the Mira and Salmon 
 Rivers. These measures show several outcrops of coal beds 
 apparently underlying large tiacts of country. The beds are 
 known oidy by natural outcrops, and no attempt has been made 
 to ascertain if other beds are present. They do not exceed two 
 feet in thickness, and, as the route of the Cape Breton radway 
 will not follow these rivers as was expected at one time, they 
 will probably not receive any attention for many years to come. 
 The following analysis is from the Canadian Geological Survey : ^ 
 
 c 
 
CARBONIFEROUS OF CAPE BRETON— GILPIN. 115 
 
 Moisture 1.^3 
 
 Volatile combustible matter 20.16 
 
 Fixed carbon 47.49 
 
 Ash 30.82 
 
 100.00 
 At other points the coal is reported by Mr. Hetcheras yielding 
 an inconsiderable amount of ash. Another outcrop of coal in 
 this district is interesting, as it presents in the Lower Caiboni- 
 ferous conglomerate the evidences of an origin identical with 
 that of the more important seams of the pioductive measures. 
 It yielded : 
 
 Volatile combustible matter 17.80 
 
 Fixed carbon 29.04 
 
 Ash 53.16 
 
 About eight miles from Baddeck, at Hunter's Mountain, is an 
 outcrop of coal similar in composition and mode of occurrence 
 to that just mentioned. The coal is irregular, varying in thick- 
 ness from a few inches to two feet. It is divided by numerous 
 cleavage planes, sometimes coated with galena. 
 
 At East Bay, in the marine limestones and marls, pockets 
 occur holding calc and fluoi- spar and patches of bright cubical 
 coal yielding on analysis : 
 
 Volatile mattei' 36.72 
 
 Fixed carbon 40.64 
 
 Ash 16.64 
 
 100.00 
 For comparison with the seams of coal of economic value the 
 following analysis of coal from a fossil carl)onized tiee in mill- 
 stone grit measures in the same district may prove interesting : 
 
 Volatile matter 34.9 
 
 Fixed carbon 59.0 
 
 Ash 5.2 
 
 1000 
 Coke firm and vesicular. 
 
 Some years ago a good deal of interest was aroused by a state- 
 
116 CAUBONIFEROUS OF CAPE BRETON — CJILPIN. 
 
 tnent that active work was being perfonned on a scam of 
 anthracite coal at Mc Adam's Lake, near the head of East Bay. 
 The bed occurred in red and gray shales and conglomerates of 
 the lowest division of the Carboniferous. It, however, proved 
 to be little moie than a coaly shale, lustrous and resembling the 
 poorer anthracite coals of the United States. On analysis it 
 yielded — 
 
 Volatile Matter 17 >sO 
 
 Fixed Carbon 29.04 
 
 Ash 53.16 
 
 100.00 
 Notwithstanding the large amount of ash the coal yielded a 
 firm and porous coke. 
 
 Irregular pockets and beds, or rather .seams, of hard compact 
 coal are frequently found in the carboniferous of this Province. 
 The minei'al frequently break.s irregulaily, does not soil the 
 fingers, and resembles anthracite. On a clo.ser examination how- 
 ever these coals are found to be either highly carbonaceous shales, 
 or compact sen)i-anthracite coal, 'ts more volatile ingredients 
 being lowered in amount by the hardening, etc., the containing 
 strata have undergone. (\)nsiilerable sums of money have been 
 spent in testing and prospecting these deposits, but so far rhe 
 results have not been at all satisfactory. 
 
 RIVER INHABITANTS COAL DISTRICT. 
 
 I am not aware of any recent analysis of the coals of this dis- 
 trict. Little systematic mining has been carried on for a nundxr 
 of years, and the writer is obliged, like Mr Fletcher, to n^fer to 
 the report made a number of years ago by Dr. Dawson to the 
 Government of Nova Scotia. He gives the following analysis of 
 the Little River four feet seam :— 
 
 Volatile matter 30.25 
 
 Fixed carbon 56.40 
 
 Ash 13 35 
 
 100.00 
 and remarks that it is more bituminous than the Sydney or 
 
OARBONIFEROirS OF CAPE BRETON— (JILPIN. . 117 
 
 Pictou coals, and should prove practically a good domestic and 
 
 gas coal. 
 
 He also gives the following analysis of the eleven-feet seam 
 
 found at Sea Coal Bay : — 
 
 Volatile matter 2'). 2 
 
 Fixed carbon 44.7 
 
 Ash 30.1 
 
 100.0 
 
 The amount of ash given in this analysis would make the coal 
 of little use for ordinary pnrpo.ses. I am informed, however, by 
 parties interested, that it by no means yields this large percent- 
 age of ash and that the other seams are appaiently of excellent 
 quality. These be<ls are very well situated, as the harbor remains 
 open all winter, and they will no doubt be re-opened whenever 
 the conditions of the coal trade hold out more promising induce- 
 ments to the miner. I have no analysis of the coal found at the 
 head waters of the Inhabitants river. 
 
 From the analv^is I have given it will be seen thnt thn islam! 
 of Cape Breton furnishes ( -oals adapted for every putpose. They 
 are largely used for steam laising in locomotive and maiine 
 boilers, and as their (jualities b(?come better known they will be 
 a favorite railway fuel. For <>;as making and domestic purposes 
 they have established a good reputation. In coimection with the 
 various schemes mooted fov won and copper smelting in Cape 
 Breton it is encouraging to note that practical tests have shown 
 that an excellent coke can l:)e made from them. At present the 
 low price obtainable for coal, and the presence of large mines in 
 the eastern district, will operate ao;ain.st developments iii other 
 parts of the Island. But it is to be hoped that the discovery of 
 metallic deposits ii> the districts suirounding the western and 
 southern coal beds may lead to the erection of works drawio'^^ 
 their fuel from local sources, arid the projected railway from the 
 line of the Sydney and Hawkesbury Railway to Broa<l Cove v.il! 
 give this part of the islarrd an outlet to good shipping por-ts.