THE DIAMOND, OR DADDOW.
This is one of the larger and persistent red-ash beds, and is found uniform in character throughout the red ash formations or upper series of the coal measures. It ranges from 5 to 9 feet in thickness, and lies from 250 to 300 feet above H, or from 400 to 500 feet above the Primrose, G, across the measures, at right angles with their dip.
This vein is known locally by a variety of names, as the " North Diamond," " Flowery Field," " Peacock," &c., and has been extensively worked at Oak Hill, on the West Norwegian, by the writer's father, and others. When in its best condition, it is productive of the most excellent, prepossessing, and lustrous coal, and is appro priately named the " Diamond," since none of the red-ash coals have a more splendid appearance. But, unfortunately, this vein is not reliable. It is subject to "faults" and irregularities, and frequently changes suddenly from the purest coal to a dull mixture of dirt, slate, bone, and coal. These faults, however, are not very extensive, and in a large operation the impure portions might be left as pillars without much loss ; but, under present circumstances, mining on a large scale cannot be profitably conducted on the red-ash seams in competition with the great white-ash beds, which are mined with much more economy. Small amounts of red-ash coal may find
a market at reasonable or remunerative prices; but large quantities would come in opposition with the white-ash markets. The day has not yet arrived when the red-ash veins can be worked with profit; but it will come, as surely as the exhaustion of the Mammoth at moderate " sloping" dis tances from the surface. When deep shafts are necessary to reach the Mammoth, the red-ash seams must be penetrated; and they will then be worked to some advantage.
The Diamond is, we believe, invariably divided into two "benches," generally by a soft "mining," which sometimes, however, changes to slate and bone. The bottom bench is hard, lustrous, and pure, and generally solid, with a conchoidal fracture. Its thickness ranges from 2 to 4 feet. The dividing portion is from 4 to 10 inches in thickness, and the upper bench or benches from 3 to 4 feet in thickness, and is often Shelly and soft, productive of much waste. Though easily mined, it is not always re munerative, on account of the large amount of refuse, which must be handled, and which frequently is more than can be stowed away iu the ex cavated portions of the mine.