Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1877 — Coal in the Arctic Regions. [ARTICLE]

Coal in the Arctic Regions.

The Discovery wintered in a bay on the west side of Robertson channel, in latitude 81 degrees 44 minutes north and 65 degrees 3 minutes west, now known as the Discovery bay. About two miles from this place, in. Grantland, coal was found in the side of a narrow mountain gorge by Mr. Hart, the Rev. C. Hodson, Lieut. Taiford, and Dr. Coppinger. The prevailing rock of the surrounding district was a shingly claystone of a very irregular arrangement, but mainly dipping to the westward, and, so far as could be ascertained, devoid of fossils. Vegetation included no less than sixty species of plants. Coal had been brought home on previous expeditions from high latitudes but not so far north. The coal (specimens of which were exhibited) has a bright, shiny appearance, is somewhat of a pitchy character, and very brittle. On analysis, it could not be distinguished from a bituminous coal of exceedingly good quality, and belongs to the true carboniferous period. It is very similar to coal, found in some English coalfields, and particularly at Chesterfield. It contains 65 per cent, of coke. Mr. Wills had inquired of Dr. Coppinger as to whether it would, in future expeditions, be possible to utilize this coal, as it only had to be quarried, Dr. Coppinger was of opinion that it might. If ballooning were resorted to in future expeditions the coal would be also useful in the manufacture of gas.— Coal Trade Journal,