BY W, F. PETTERD, C.M.Z.S. 101 



still admits of application in numerous occurrences, which 

 action may be through the circulation of meteoric waters 

 containing carbonic acid. Kaolinite is known to occur at 

 Killikrankie Bay, Flinders Island ; Middlesex ; Mt. House- 

 top ; Derby ; near George's Bay and near Alford, Lower 

 Piper River. 



168. Kerosene Shale. 



This is a substance which has be-en described as neither 

 shale nor cannel coal, but rather as an intermediate variety 

 between the shale-cannel group and bituminous coal, and 

 further, it would probably produce benzines rather than 

 oils. It occurs as seams in the sandstones and clay-slates 

 belonging to the lower coal measures of the Permo-Carbon- 

 iferous epoch in the parish of Preolenna, which is situ- 

 ated between the Jessie and Flowerdale Rivers, and is thus 

 about 16 miles south of the seaport of Wynyard, near 

 Table Cape, North- West Coast. 



The shale and coalfield covers an approximate known 

 area of about 2 miles by 1 mile, and the shale itself has 

 been exposed at two point's. One of the seams is 20 inches 

 in thickness, and is composed of 6 inches of the kerosene 

 shale in question, with 14 inches of bright and splint ( ?) 

 coal. The shale is black, has a decided pitchy lustre, 

 strongly marked conchoidal fracture, and is remarkably 

 tough and somewhat sectile. As fragments of the shale 

 have been observed at various points, mostly in tlie beds 

 of the streams, it is highly probable that it covers a larger 

 area than has been exposed. It may also be noted that 

 for many years past samples of the shale have been 

 obtained on the coast mainly in the vicinity of the Inglis 

 River; these have probably been washed downstream for 

 a considerable distance, or they may represent an extension 

 of the Permo-Carboniferous area to nearer the coast. An 

 analagous mineral from New South Wales has received 

 the name of woollongonite, but this is a misnomer, as it is 

 not known to occur at the locality indicated by the term. 

 It differs so much from the ordinary torbanite, dysodile, 

 and cannel that it would seem a specific appellation is 

 desirable unless the term kerosene shale may be deemed 

 sufficient. 



Samples tested at the Tasmanian Government labora- 

 tories yielded the following results, viz. : — 



