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MR MILNE ON THE MID-LOTHIAN AND EAST -LOTHIAN COAL-FIELDS. 



I proceed next to furnish some information taken principally from the tabular chart referred to in 

 the text, in regard to the Limestone strata in the basin. These are : — 



1. The Coldcoats Limestone, which is about 350 fathoms from the top of the basin, or about the 



middle of it. 



2. Another Limestone, about 50 fathoms below the first. 



3. Another Limestone, about 1 50 fathoms below the first. 



4. Another Limestone, about 22 fathoms above the North Greens Coal. 



5. Another Limestone, about 15 fathoms above ditto. 



6. The Gilmerton Limestone, about 14 fathoms below ditto. 



7. Burdie House Limestone, lying near the bottom of the basin. 



Though it is undoubted, that these several strata of limestone exist, and that they extend over a 

 large portion of the district, there is some difficulty in identifying each stratum at all the places where 

 they shew themselves. This difficulty applies, however, only to the three limestones, marked above 4, 5, 

 and 6, which are so near in respect of position in the basin, and so similar in respect of thickness, that 

 they are on this account apt to be confounded ; — and to say the truth, I have a suspicion that No. 4 

 and 5 may be one and the same seam. It is very possible, therefore, that the columns in the following 

 table, enumerating the localities where these three limestones exist, there are several mistakes ; — but 

 it will be immediately shewn that these mistakes do not invalidate the particular inferences to be deduced 

 from the table. 



