1916] The Search for New Coal-Fields in England 625 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 

 Friday, March 17, 1916. 



The Right Hox. Lord Rayleigh, O.M. P.O. LL.D. Sc.D. F.R.S., 



in the Chair. 



Aubrey Strahan, M.A. LL.D. Sc.D. F.R.S., Director, Geological 

 Survey of Great Britain. 



The Search for New Coal-Fields in England. 



Whether the alarms which have arisen from time to time as to the 

 exhaustion of British coal-fields were justified or not, there can be no 

 question about the importance of making the most of what we possess. 

 Two Royal Commissions have considered the matter in all its 

 bearings. Evidence was taken on a variety of subjects, and among 

 these not the least important were estimates of the reserves believed, 

 but not yet j^roved, to exist, and the utilization to the greatest possible 

 advantage of all available coal. Both subjects are deserving of close 

 attention, but the search for concealed coal-fields is that on which 

 Geology has the most direct bearing, and is, therefore, the subject 

 on which I propose to speak this afternoon. Much progress in the 

 search has been made since the Royal Commission on Coal Supplies 

 reported in 1905, and the problems which have arisen for solution are 

 not devoid of interest. 



When coal first came into use it was easy to obtain. The seams 

 were visible at the outcrop, and were dug out by innumerable slants, 

 levels, and shallow pits, rather to the annoyance of the miners of 

 to-day, whose difficulties are increased by the admission of water to 

 the seams through the old crop-workings. As the seams descended 

 to greater depths the sinking of deeper shafts, well-equipped with 

 machinery, became necessary, and eventually the modern colhery was 

 developed, situated, generally, far away from the outcrop of the coal, 

 extending to depths not far short of 4,000 feet, and worked by 

 machinery which is not surpassed in efficiency by that of any other 

 industry. 



The collieries, however, were for a long time confined to what are 

 known as "visible coal-fields." Less than a century ago it was 

 commonly said by miners, " Under red rock no coal " ; and it was 

 not till Geology had been scientifically studied, and the geological 

 mapping of the country had made much progress, that the existence 

 and extent of " concealed coal-fields " under newer formations, 

 whether red or any other colour, came to be realized. 

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