1869. J The Mineralogical Resources of Ireland. 503 



those mineral resources which still are left. Commencing with the 

 most important — namely, coal — we find that there are the follow- 

 ing coal-fields, some of which are to be regarded, however, as almost 

 worthless, as far as our information extends : — 



1. County Clare (Connaught Coal-field). 2. Kerry and Limerick 

 (Munster Coal-field). 3. Tipperary and Kilkenny (Leinster Coal- 

 field), 4. Leitrim and Fermanagh. 5. Meath. 6. Dungannon, 

 CO. Tyrone. 7. Ballycastle, co. Antrim. Besides which, there are 

 several small tracts of unproductive Coal-measures. 



1. Co. Clare. — This coal-field is only partially explored. It 

 extends from the north bank of the estuary of the Shannon to an 

 apex a few miles south of Galway Bay, and from the Atlantic coast 

 inland nearly as fiir as Eunis. It contains several seams of coal, 

 the thickest being about 30 inches, as also bands and nodules of 

 clay-ironstone. The following section by Messrs. Kinahan and 

 Foot, of the Greological Survey of Ireland, gives a general view of 

 the succession of the strata where they occur in greatest thick- 

 ness : *■ — 



Geneeal Section— County Clake. 



Ft. In. 

 8. Shales principally — tliickness uncertaiu. 



7. Money Point-flags 150 



G. Shales principally 200 



Coal 1 G 



5. Intermediate beds, about 600 



Coal 2 6 



4. Intermediate beds, about 700 



Coal 6 



3. Grits and shales, about 9o0 



2. Lower flagstone series, about 70 



1. Shale series, about 500 



3150 



2. Kerry and Limerick. — This coal-field is a continuation to 

 the south of the estuary of the Shannon of that which has just been 

 described. In proportion to its enormous extent, it is far from 

 productive. At Coal Hill and Knocknaboola collieries, situated 

 near the banks of the Shannon, seams varying from 6 inches to 

 3 feet have been worked, but only to a small extent. The 

 seams are either anthracite or culm, and appear to be of very 

 limited range.f In other parts of the district, according to Pro- 

 fessor Jukes, the coal-beds are often highly inclined, contorted and 

 compressed, so as to be only a few inches in thickness for many 

 yards, and then suddenly expand into large pockets of coal of a 

 thickness of 20 or 30 feet ; under these conditions the coal is some- 

 times extracted in the manner of working metallic lodes. 



* ' Explanation of Geological Survey Map 142," p. 9. 18G0. 

 t For an account of these coals, and the mode of working, see ' Explanation of 

 Geological Survey Miip 142,' by Mr. Kinahan, p. 3G. 



