Charcoal pit locations?

[manumuskin]

I learned something in that one Al. I was puzzled as to why the tar would not simply lay on the ground in the pit and not move to the center. Now I realize the base is sloped towards the center, and the ground beaten hard with a clay covering. That prevents the tar from soaking in and just lying there.

I dug through the charcoal layer in one with my hand and started pulling up orange clay. I intend to dig in a barrel hole or two and see if I can find any tar left in the soil.The charcoal had a faint pine smell after all these years,wonder if tar will as well?

 

[bobpbx]

I dug through the charcoal layer in one with my hand and started pulling up orange clay. I intend to dig in a barrel hole or two and see if I can find any tar left in the soil.The charcoal had a faint pine smell after all these years,wonder if tar will as well?

I would think so, right? Tar is just pine resin, no?

Actually, the more I read the more complex it is. Heat being involved and all the changes.

 

[manumuskin]

In youtube video i was watching a man states they dug tar out of an old kiln so apparently it has staying power like charcoal.

 

[bobpbx]

Oh yeah, it sticks around (pun intended).

La Brea Tar Pits | California, Map, & Facts

La Brea Tar Pits, tar (Spanish brea) pits, in Hancock Park (Rancho La Brea), Los Angeles, California, U.S. The area was the site of “pitch springs” oozing crude oil that was used by local Indians for waterproofing. Gaspar de Portolá’s expedition in 1769 explored the area, which encompasses about 20

www.britannica.com

 

[manumuskin]

Oh yeah, it sticks around (pun intended).

La Brea Tar Pits | California, Map, & Facts

La Brea Tar Pits, tar (Spanish brea) pits, in Hancock Park (Rancho La Brea), Los Angeles, California, U.S. The area was the site of “pitch springs” oozing crude oil that was used by local Indians for waterproofing. Gaspar de Portolá’s expedition in 1769 explored the area, which encompasses about 20

www.britannica.com

I think thats a petroleum based tar but their both pretty much impervious to water which would probably make them almost indestructible as far as rot goes,could be carbonized into nothing by forest fires possibly?

 

[bobpbx]

I think thats a petroleum based tar but their both pretty much impervious to water which would probably make them almost indestructible as far as rot goes,could be carbonized into nothing by forest fires possibly?

Well, all petroleum is from plant life, so we're close enough. I doubt a forest fire would burn that deeply.

 

[Mikeofthewoods]

I want to share some photos and update this thread. Gabe and I walked around the EHC lake a month or two ago. He pointed out a spot on LIDAR that had potential as a charcoal mound. Today I was finally able to get over there and check it out, and it is indeed a charcoal mound. I took my 11 year old son with me and we were both really excited to find the location!

There are a few other locations nearby that also look like mounds. There is also an old trail that goes right by this location, but it doesn't appear to be part of the old indian cabin trail. Would Colliers or their helpers have cut their own paths through the woods? I'm also curious about the age of this mound. It is around one mile from Gloucester Furnace. The logical answer is that the charcoal was made for use in that furnace, but I'm not sure if there is a way to figure that out for certain

boydsmaps.com

boydsmaps.com

 

[manumuskin]

I want to share some photos and update this thread. Gabe and I walked around the EHC lake a month or two ago. He pointed out a spot on LIDAR that had potential as a charcoal mound. Today I was finally able to get over there and check it out, and it is indeed a charcoal mound. I took my 11 year old son with me and we were both really excited to find the location!

There are a few other locations nearby that also look like mounds. There is also an old trail that goes right by this location, but it doesn't appear to be part of the old indian cabin trail. Would Colliers or their helpers have cut their own paths through the woods? I'm also curious about the age of this mound. It is around one mile from Gloucester Furnace. The logical answer is that the charcoal was made for use in that furnace, but I'm not sure if there is a way to figure that out for certain

boydsmaps.com

boydsmaps.com

Now if it was a kiln the charcoal would be about a foot thick layer and below that would be clay. Charcoal mounds are just that but tar kilns look like donuts on the ground.I sure wish I could see a demonstration of how they were built and burnt.I wonder why the difference in shape?

 

[Mikeofthewoods]

Now if it was a kiln the charcoal would be about a foot thick layer and below that would be clay. Charcoal mounds are just that but tar kilns look like donuts on the ground.I sure wish I could see a demonstration of how they were built and burnt.I wonder why the difference in shape?

No clay under this one. There was about 3-4” of ash and sand, and then it turned into just sugar sand

 

[pinelandpaddler]

Now if it was a kiln the charcoal would be about a foot thick layer and below that would be clay. Charcoal mounds are just that but tar kilns look like donuts on the ground.I sure wish I could see a demonstration of how they were built and burnt.I wonder why the difference in shape?

Al, the outer rim of sand was placed there so that the clay could be shaped such that the tar would collect at the center.

 

[manumuskin]

Al, the outer rim of sand was placed there so that the clay could be shaped such that the tar would collect at the center.

Yes I see that on the jpegs you sent me.Made the berm to prop the logs on so everything would run toward center.I thought it was dirt collapsing off the side of the stack and that they had covered the stack with dirt before firing.