Supply of Coal and Ironstone frorii the West of Scotland. 303 



The coals are very thin, and are only partially worked. Of the three 

 ironstones the first is the most valuable, and is composed of three inches 

 of clay band, and of a black band, ranging from four to twelve inches 

 thick, with a holeing of coal about ten inches thick below. 



The second ironstone is not a regular band. It was opened up and 

 worked at Blackhill, but found of inferior quality, and was discontinued. 



The third ironstone is also irregulai", and not of first-class quality. It 

 is worked at Keppoch, near Glasgow, but does not exist at Possil, 

 where the upper band is so valuable and so extensively worked. 



The position of these bands of ironstone extend over a large area, and 

 may be said to be bounded on the north by a line drawn from Renfrew 

 to Denny by Balsyth, — on the east by a line drawn from Denny to 

 Glenboig by Cumbernauld, — on the south, by a line drawn from Glen- 

 boig to Glasgow by Frankfield, — and on the west by a line di-awn 

 from Glasgow to Renfrew. 



The ironstones worked at Kinniel, near Bo'ness, are in the same 

 stratigraphical position as the Possil ironstones. The distance between 

 the bands is much increased by a bed of interstratified whin nearly 

 forty fathoms thick. The upper ironstone crops out at the Linlithgow 

 and Bo'ness road, and extends westward for a considerable distance 

 beyond Kinniel House. 



The position of the Lowband ironstone extends over an area of about 

 700 acres south of Bo'ness. In quaUty and continuance it is very ir- 

 regular — sometimes changing into an inferior black ironstone, and 

 sometimes into a gas coal. 



Of the Upper Band there is still a considerable area to exhaust west 

 of the Snab, and under the Firth of Forth northwards. Of the Lower 

 Band ironstone, the quantity still to work cannot be estimated at more 

 than 300 acres. 



There are a number of seams of coal in this field ; but the most 

 valuable of them have been worked out many years ago, leaving some 

 of inferior quality, which are only useful for calcining ironstone and 

 engine fires. 



At Balbairdie, near Bathgate, we again recognize the low band iron- 

 stone of this position ; but it does not appear to extend over a very ex- 

 tensive area there, although almost identical with that of Kinniel, having 

 the black band and gas coal of nearly the same thickness. Estimated 

 area of this ironstone still to work in these three districts, 11,200 acres. 



Gas Coal. — At 4G7 FatJwma — Average Thickness, 12 Inches. — The 

 principal seam of this quality of coal is found in the above position in 

 the section, and forms the chief supply for the gas works in Glasgow 

 and surrounding neighboui-hood. 



