28 



On the Physical Structure of the Northern part of the Bristol Coal 

 Basin, chiefly having reference to the Iron Ores of the Tortworth 

 area. By Egbert Etheridge, F.E.S.E'^- F.G.S., Honorary 

 Member of the Cotteswold Club. 



Read at the Tortworth Meeting. 

 M. FoiTRNET has well remarked, that "Metals having become 

 objects of the first necessity to man, he would, during all times 

 and in all places, attach great importance to their receptacles; 

 and that it is to the study of their mode of occuirence, their 

 connexion with adjoining substances, and their relation to the 

 phenomena observable in the neighboiiring country, that Geology 

 owes its birth."* 



There is no branch of British gommerce and industry which 

 has of late years advanced so rapidly or so successfully, or has 

 grown to such gigantic proportions, as that which is compre- 

 hended under the important mineral products Coal and Iron; 

 of the former we now rise in Great Britain alone for home 

 consumption and foreign shipment 92,787,873 tons, the value of 

 which at the pit's mouth is £23,197,968; of the latter, 10,064,890 

 tons, having a recognised value of £3,367,144 in the raw state, 

 or as mineral ore; but when converted into pig-iron, 4,767,951 

 tons, and at the value of £11,919,877. t The magnitude of these 

 items alone testifies to the resources contained in the physical 

 structure of the British Islands, and their application in the arts 

 and manufactures, as weU as to the amount of wealth, support, 

 comfort, and happiness enjoyed by large masses of the people 

 engaged in those pm-suits which are classed imder the head of 



* Etudes sur les Dep6ts M^tallif^res. D&ubuisson's Traits de Geognosie, 2nd, 

 tome 3, p. .383. 



+ Mineral Statistics of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1864. 

 By Egbert Hunt, Keeper of Mining Records. 



