180 Account of the Minerai-Fields of Airdrie and Bathgate. 
Connected with these limestones there are many beds of 
bituminous shale, which in burning gives out much flame, 
but leaves a residuum nearly as large as when in its 
raw state. In Scotland this kind of slate has been turned 
to no use ; whereas in Sweden limestones are calcined with 
this kind of schistus, and it is the only fuel used in the fur- 
naces of the alum-works there, where this mineral abounds. 
_ From this limestone district to the city of Edinburgh and 
to Leith, the lower series of the coal-formation abounds, 
with very few traces of coal. Under and immediately 
around the city of Edinburgh, the strata are upheaved and 
disordered, in an uncommon degree, by trap rocks, which 
are found both in beds and dykes; whereas, on the other 
hand, towards Leith, where bores have been put down, the 
series of strata under the coal-formation, consisting chiefly 
of sandstones and slate-clay and bituminous slate, are 
found lying very regular and undisturbed, and extend to the 
limestone at Duddingstone, Viz., the mountain-limestone 
which lies under the great coal-field of the Lothians. 
The same series, under the coal-formation, extends to 
Wardie, where thin and sulphurous coals are found, and many 
bands and balls of argillaceous ironstone. 
As a railroad is now constructing from Airdrie to Leith, 
the chief consumption of the very valuable minerals of these 
districts will be in Edinburgh and at the town and port of 
Leith ; and there is no doubt that coal, ironstone, and lime- 
stone, will be in great request for the iron-works at and 
around the town of Airdrie, where there are sixty blast-fur- 
naces, and the annual consumption of these is as follows, 
Vig 
Coals, . ; 3 § ! 837,070 tons. 
Ironstone, . : 4 ; 1,157,650 ... 
Limestone, . . J 4 UL Ga. kee 
2,110,485 tons. 
The production of cast-iron from these furnaces amounts 
to 356,200 tons. 
The above statement shews in a very strong light what 
