224 Review of “Outlines of the 
ceous matter, however, of inferior quality, and sormotinnes 
used as fuel, isfound in thin seams, in other deposites. It 
may be useful to present a view of the several einen 
in which coal, or carbonaceous matter has been foun 
1 Alluvial_—This furnishes peat ; which is rs by 
ws ose ety of sphagnum palustre, or other mosses, or 
e plants: the lower parts of the mass gradually 
aera change into aed andeven into a substance 
not differing essentially from jet 
2. Diluvial.—Contains beds of fossil wood, passing, by @ 
series of gradations, into jet. 
3. Basaltic Formation, or Newest Floetz Trap.—In Ire- 
Jand and Germany, a species of lignite, similar to that just 
mentioned, is associated she this formation 
4. Plastic Clay—The coal in this forma ation occurs in 
7 is obviously of vegetal le origin, and 1s of little 
vaiue. | 
5. Sand immediately below the Chalk.—This has all the ap- 
pearance of an imperfect coal formation ; the coal existing 
in the form of fossil wood, and in distinct beds ; but it is 
very poor. 
6. Oolitic Series. The Kimmeridge Clay embraces bi- 
tuminous shale, which is sometimes used for fuel; and the 
ing on the lias, present regular beds of workable 
7. Newer Red or Saliferous Sandstone. On the conti- 
nent of Europe, this rock contains se seams of coal; but 
bas have not been noticed in En 
» The Great Coal Formation. thie is the next deposite 
of nny in the descending serie 
9. el st — (Grey: Wacke Slate, &c.) Some- 
times beds cite are contained in these rocks, as 10 
Devonshire, = fas example exists also in Rhode island 
in this country. 
10. Mica Slate. This and other primitive rocks furnish 
beds of anthracite and plum bago. 
t coal, with the exception of the non-bituminous ¥3- 
rieties, is of vegetable origin, seems now to be generally 
