COAL 



825 



CHESHIRE: The coal-field of Cheshire is not of great importance. 



NORTH WALES. -Flintshire and Denbighshire. -The Flintshire coal-basin extends 

 from north to south, somewhat more than 30 miles from Llanassa to near Oswestry in 

 Shropshire. The coal-strata dip generally eastward, and form in the northern part a 

 trough beneath the estuary of the Dee. This coal-basin in Flintshire commences with 

 beds of shale and sandstone. The coal is of various thickness, from J to 5 yards, and 

 consists of the common, cannel, and peacock varieties. Phillips and Conybeare. 



CUMBERLAND. This coal-field extends as a narrow crescent from Whitehaven to 

 near Hesket Newmarket : around Whitehaven and at Workington the coal is worked 

 extensively. At the latter place, a few years since, a very valuable colliery was 

 destroyed by the bursting in of the sea. 



There are three workable seams in the Cumberland coal-field in the neighbourhood 

 of the three under-mentioned towns, and these are known in each place by the names 

 given : 



NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. The total thickness of the coal-measures of 

 this district is about 1,600 feet. The number of distinct layers or beds, as usually 

 noted by the miners, is about 600. The total thickness of the beds of coal rarely exceeds 

 - does not on the average equal 60 feet. No bed of coal is of greater thickness, 

 even for a short distance, than 6 or 7 feet ; several are so thin as to be of no value at 

 present ; but many of these will be worked with profit. The total thickness of 

 ' workable coal,' supposing all the beds to be found in a given tract, is not to be esti- 

 mated at above 20 or 30 feet. The most part of the coal in this great district is 

 of the coking quality, but, in this respect, there is much variation ; advantage has 

 been taken of this, in rendering available very large quantities of the dust of coal, 

 and the small coal which formerly was burnt to waste on the pit bank. The best 

 coke for locomotive engines is now made from the lower coals in the Auckland 

 district of Durham, and the Shotley Bridge district of Northumberland. The best 

 ' steam coal ' is obtained from the north side of the Tyne and the Blyth district. The 

 best ' house coal ' still comes from the remains of the ' High chain ' on the Tyne, and 

 from the ' Button seam ' on the Wear ; but the collieries north of the Tees have 

 acquired a high reputation. 



As a general view of the groups of strata the following summaries may suffice : 

 Upper groups of coal-measures, including chiefly thin seams of small value (8 or 

 more) in a vast mass of sandstone in shales, with some iron-stone. At the base is a 

 mussel band ; estimated at 900 feet. 



