Geological researches in China, Mongolia, and Japan, during the years 1862-1865.

CHINA, MONGOLIA, AND JAPAN. 17
top e, and working back the coal is won from above and below the gallery at the
same time, the refuse small coal, here about four-tenths of the whole, serving as a
support g, in place of that extracted. The water is carried out by the inclined
shaft b, fig. 2, the work being done by blind men, one of these standing in each of
the hollowed out steps c, and bailing the water from his step to the one above him.
The coal is drawn out on sleds, by men, through b and a, only one-half the
breadth of b being cut into steps for drainage.
Chingshui Mines.-These mines are in a narrow valley, about five miles W. N. W.
of Chaitang, in the midst of the porphyry mountains. There seem to be several
seams, but the confusion caused by the numerous dykes of porphyry is very great.
In two of the seams the roof is formed by these dykes, at least for a considerable distance, while others are cut through by them, and in places only fragmentary portions
of a seam, and its accompanying beds are left. Fig. 4 gives a general idea of the
relation between some of the seams, and the porphyry as seen in the side of a mountain valley. Fig. 5 is a section of a fragment of the coal series only a few square
Fi. Fig.
a. Porphyry. b. Coal series, c. Coal seams. a. Porphyry. b. Coal series. c, Coal seam. d. Creek rubble,
rods in extent, cut off on one side by the porphyry, and on the other by the creek.
The coal of this locality is very bituminous, and I failed, during my short visit, to
find any indications of the metamorphism, often observed in the action of dykes
on coal, especially where basalt has broken through tertiary brown coal formations.
The coal of the second seam from, the right, Fig. 4 c,' is very brilliant, clean, and
firm, breaking with a cubical fracture. It is very inflammable and melts and cakes,
burning with a long flame, and leaving considerable ash.
Spec. gr......... 1.38
Parts of lead reduced by one part of coal.... 29.00
Units of heat.........6670.00
Percentage of ash........ 12.00
The seam from which this coal was taken had been worked about 500 feet on an
incline, until stopped by water, and averaged between 7 and 8 feet in thickness.
The fuel was best in the middle of the seam, and improved with the increasing
depth. The proprietor worked two shifts of thirty men each, viz., eight miners,
six carriers, ten water raisers, four men at mouth of mine, and two overseers.
One miner produced, per shift, 1500 catties (about 1900 lbs.), of which two-thirds
was coarse coal, and one-third fine.
1 See Appendix No. 2.
3 April, 1866.