Supply of Coal and Ironstone from the West of Scotland. 301 



Detjmgeat Coal. — At 148 Fathoms —Average Thickness, 24 Inches. 

 — This is a thin coal, and not one which can be calculated upon as 

 forming a large part of the future supply. 



It has been worked for many years on the lands of Drumgray, near 

 Airdrie, where it varies in thickness from twenty to twenty-eight 

 inches. In extent, it covers the same area, and possesses the same 

 irregularity of thickness and quality as the Kiltongue coal. It is at 

 present being worked at Stand, on the Eochsoles Estate, but not to a 

 very great extent. 



It may be said to extend over the greater part of the New Monk- 

 land parish, and the west part of the parish of Shotts. 



In Stirlingshire, it is known as the Coxrod coal, and extends over 

 the same area as the Splint seam there, and is a thin but workable 

 seam at Gardrum and Eoughrig. Estimated area still to work, 5,000 acres. 



Slatt Blackbaot) Ironstone. — At 208 Fathoms — Average Thick- 

 ness, 18 Inches. — This is a carbonaceous ironstone, and second only to the 

 Mushet Blackband, both for the quantity and quality of the iron which 

 it yields. The area containing it extends to about 70,000 acres, and 

 may be said to be bounded on the east by Bathgate, on the west by 

 Airdrie, on the north by Garbethill, and on the south by Carluke. 



Under this designation there are three bands of ironstone, known as 

 the upper, the mid, and the lower slaty band ; — of which the first is 

 only about seven inches in thickness, and in the present state of the 

 market generally unworkable. The mid slaty band is that known 

 properly by the slaty hand ironstone. The lower band ranges in 

 thickness from two to four feet, but usually contains so much sulphur 

 as to render its use injurious to the quality of pig iron. It is worked 

 however, at Goodockhill and Peatpots, in the parish of Shotts, where 

 the sulphur exists in less quantity ; but its more extended use will 

 depend on the discovery of some cheap means of freeing it from 

 sulphur. The mid slaty band ironstone has been bored too at Arden, 

 Brownieside, and Meadowhead, near Airdrie, and found to be of good 

 thickness and quality. It is at present being worked at Stepends, 

 Bowhousebog, and near Shotts Iron-works. 



In Linlithgowshire it is extensively worked near Bathgate, at Tor- 

 banehill, Polkemmet and Barbachlaw ; and further south, at Crofthead 

 where it has been worked for many years for the supply of the Coltness 

 and Shotts Iron-works. This scam is very irregular in its position, and 

 is only to be found of workable tliickncss in detached patches, so that 

 w(i cannot calculate on more than 14,000 acres, which includes what is 

 workable of the upper and lower slaty band seams. Estimated area 

 still to work, 14,000 acres. 



