109 



NOTES ON THE BEST LOCALITY 



FOR COAL BENEATH THE PERMIAN ROCKS OF 



NORTH-WEST CUMBERLAND. 



By T. V. HOLMES, F.G.S., M.A.I. 



Coal is worked on many different geological horizons among the 

 Carboniferous rocks of Cumberland and the Border, and not 

 merely in those beds which are specially known as Coal Measures, 

 and which constitute the Coal-field of Whitehaven, Workington, 

 and Maryport. The lowest coal-bearing strata of any importance 

 are those of the Canobie Coal-field, just across the Border, which 

 are now ascertained by the Geological Survey to be the equivalent 

 in geological position of the lowest beds of the Carboniferous 

 Limestone elsewhere. Much later in date than the Canobie coal- 

 seams are those that have been worked in East Cumberland and 

 West Northumberland, from Brampton to Hexham, at Blenkinsop, 

 Roachburn, Fourstones, and other places. These coals are of the 

 so-called Yoredale age ; the Little Limestone coal, named from its 

 position just below a certain bed of limestone recognised over a 

 large area, being the best known seam. Lastly, we have the 

 coals of the Whitehaven Coal-field, which may or may not be on 

 the same geological horizon as the Coal Measures of the Newcastle 

 Coal-fiehi, but which are certainly the latest in date, and the most 

 important economically, in Cumberland. And it is manifest that 

 the coal-seams to be looked for beneath the Permian rocks of 

 north-west Cumberland must be those of Maryport, Aspatria, and 

 Bolton-Low-Houses. 



