QUEENSLAND COAL FIELDS. 51 



ike Government Analyst, the samples being taken between 

 -different bands of shale, are as follows: 



Moisture. Vol. H. Curb. Fixed Carb. Ash 



7.1 211 43.6 28.2 



2.2 19.9 53.0 24.9 

 1.4 24.1 59.1 15.4 



Coal was discovered at Blair Athol in the year 1864, while 

 a well was being sunk on the Blair Athol Freehold Block; but 

 for this, it is probable that coal would not have been dis- 

 covered, as there is absolutely no surface indication to show 

 that coal exists below. 



*B. Dunstan says that, taking everything into con- 

 sideration, it is very probable the Blair Athol coal 

 basin contains at least five square miles as coal land, and 

 that future developments may indicate twice this area, as be- 

 ing possibly coal-bearing- The two coal seams already known 

 to occur are approximately about 1000 feet above sea level, 

 and vary in depth to about 120 feet below 7 the surface. The 

 top seam averages about 4ft. (Jin. in thickness; and the bottom 

 seam, 15ft. thick, is about 17ft. lower. These seams do not 

 appear to have suffered much local disturbance, alhough a 

 general elevation must have taken place over the whole district 

 to have brought the coal measures so many feet above sea level. 



Analysis of coal from the top (A) seam and bottom (B) 

 seam are given below : 



Moisture. Vol. H. Carb. Fixed Carb. Ash. Snip. 



A. 5.6 32.4 5T.5 4.5 trace. 



B. 5 27 61 7 trace. 

 This coal does not coke satisfactorily: it also deteriorates 



very much on exposure to the atmosphere. It has been used 

 for railway purposes for a considerable time : the coal burns 

 very freely and leaves but little ash, which is easily cleaned 

 from the fire bars, but the stokers complain that inferior coal 

 is mixed with the good coal, thus spoiling its value. Loco- 

 motive tests required 1821bs. Clermoiit coal per train ton mile- 

 Coal seams have been known, to exist in the Nebc district 

 for many years. Two prospecting shafts were sunk on coal in 

 the bed of Bee Creek in 1878, but no attempt has been made to 

 develop these coals ; their distance from a port the nearest 

 point of the coalfield being about 60 miles frem Mackay and 

 the difficulties of transport across the coastal ranges, prevents 

 their being brought into market for the present. 



So far no coal seams of workable thickness and quality 

 have been found in the Hazeldean and Black Rock Creek beds : 

 it is dirty and has been much disturbed and burnt by contem- 

 poraneous flows of basalt and subsequent intrusions of plu- 

 *The Permo-Carboniferous Coal Measures of Clermont and 

 Associated Formations. (By Authority, Brisbane, 1900). 



