The maximum rate of deposition of coals
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Abstract:
In the preceding paper 2 in.thisseries the attempt was made to ascertain the maximum deposition of the coals of the northern Appalachian coal field, it being held that the time necegsary for the formation of each coal bed must be sufficient to permit the formation of that bed at the point of its greatest thickness.The sum of these maxima gave a total thickness of about 3oo feet for that field.The purpose of obtaining this number was the belief that a study of the maximum rate of deposition of vegetal matter to-day in connection with the known maximum deposition of coal in a selected area might form the basis for estimating the time involved in the process.Without going over the evidence in detail, it is apparent from a comparison given beyond that under the conditions existing to-day, the most rapid accumulations of vegetal matter result from the growth of more or less aquatic plants under certain favorable conditions.Turning, then, to the consideration of the aquatic or semiaquatic plants, we are concerned with the growth or rate of accumulation of the resulting carbonaceous matter.There are a great variety of such plants, varying greatly in their habits of growth.The accumulation of the remains of such plants may be broadly classed as peat beds.Under certain conditions these plants, on dying, undergo only partial decomposition and the gradual accumulation of carbonaceous matter results from the process.Such accumulations are commonly below water level in lakes, ponds, or along the seashore, but under certain favorable conditions of moisture and temperature they may be above water level on gentle slopes.While in some cases such accumu-Keywords:
Deposition