Show TETON BASIN COAL f one of the most important discoveries of late years in the great commonwealth of idaho was the finding a few months ago of large coal deposits in teton basin in fremont county the coal measures were examined two or three weeks ago by robert bell state mining inspector of idaho and his report was published in the he boise statesman in iii its issue of april 1st ast in his report mr bell says the principal coal development so far in the teton field is at the horseshoe mine which was discovered by william hill and two associates and has been developed by them it is situated near the head of horseshoe creek a small stream that enters the teton river a short distance south of oasis postoffice post office the vein is opened by an adit tunnel driven in on the coal all the way the vein is 7 to 10 feet thick and will average over eight feet thick it stands at an angle of 62 degrees with a strike north 52 degrees west and dips to the southwest the tunnel is as straight as an arrow and after getting through the surface soil the roof exhibits a clean bright blackb vein of rich bituminous coal for the full length of the tunnel with the exception of a thin parting of white sandy clay two to six inches wide that traverse the center of the vein the floor or foot wall formation is a blue compact slaty shale and the hanging wall or roof is of white mica sandstone A sample taken across the vein at feet in from the mouth gave the following following analysis per cent moisture combustible matter fixed carbon sulphur TT 44 ash 1155 total at this point in the tunnel the vein still shows the effects of surface influences but at a point feet in from the mouth of the tunnel and about feet vertically under the surface the coal is firmer brighter and of much superior quality and a sample at this point gave the following analysis par percent cent moisture volatile matter fixed carbon ash sulphur 50 total 7 this analysis proves that the vein at this depth carries a very superior article of clean high grade bituminous coal containing a much higher percentage of fixed carbon than the average of the big producers of utah and wyoming the ex high percentage of fixed carbon shown by the last analysis is closely verging merging on to semi anthracite and it is my opinion that unless it met with a fault this vein would if followed down on its dip rapidly develop a superior quality of free burning anthracite the horseshoe mine is forty miles from the short line railway at st anthony over a very easy road all the way I 1 was informed that the mine produced 2000 tons of coal during last winter widad which was sold locally to the farmers and a good deal of i it hauled to st anthony and rexburg when the sleighing was good where it found a ready sale at 7 per ton mr S F hunt of salt lake city met mr bell when he made the examination of the teton basin coal fields as above outlined and he brought samples of the coal home with him a piece of which can be sean seen at the office of the mining review |