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Show THE ORIGIN OF ANTHRACITE. L A. Possible Solution of One of theIysterles of Science. The main difference between anthracite anthra-cite and bituminous coal is that the former for-mer is devoid of volatile matter. Heretofore Here-tofore the theory generally accepted to account for this difference wai that presented pre-sented half a century ago by Professor Rodger3 while conducting the first geo-ligical geo-ligical survey of Pennsylvania Observing Observ-ing that the anthracite beds lay in the eastern part of the state in close proximity proxim-ity to the Archean axi3 of elevation, he surmised that these coal beis had, so to speak, been "coked" upon the elevation eleva-tion of the Appalachian chain that is, he supposed that the heat and pressure accompanying the Appalachian elevation, eleva-tion, acting most vigorously near the axis, had distilled and removed the volatile vola-tile matter of the coal bed nearest it. To adjust the theory of increasing facts, Professor Lesley added the supposition sup-position that the heat involved in this theory was brought up by conduction when the superincumbent layers of rock were extromely thick, which have since been mainly removed by the erosive agencies which have been active over the region for millions of years. The inadequacy in-adequacy of these theories has led Professor Pro-fessor J. J. Stevenson of the University of New York to propound another and simpler theory, which was ally defended by him at the recent meeting of the Geo logical Society of America. He would account for the lack of volatile vola-tile matter in anthracite coal by the simple sim-ple fact that it bad been longer exposed to thai; kind of decay which takes place in vegetable matter when immersed in water, and which consists chiefly in the loss of the hydrocarbor'f jhich constitute consti-tute the volatile elem -otedd bituminous coal. On thissuppctlie che anthracite beds are those wbom n4e formed earliest ear-liest in the swai, ' jpgyiagoons of the carboniferouaoo; remained long est devoid of t jof sedimentary deposits, wln Jently preserved them from ,;u" he. y This theory is confirmee it there is no such strict 3 Vracite beds to thJT .eeva and by man)oTjtroL Professor Stevenson i This simple cause seem fac-count fac-count for all the phenont stfproba-bly stfproba-bly solves one of the longstanding mysteries mys-teries of geological science. Independent. Independ-ent. ' |
