NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FOSSILS. 187 



extend the boundary in the eastern portion of the coal- 

 field. A shaft is being sunk at Great Fenton. A 

 considerable thickness of upper measures, not recognized 

 at Longton, has been passed through, containing several 

 thin seams of coal and ironstone, underneath which the 

 various seams lie in their regular and natural order. At 

 Lightwood, about a mile and a half distant to the south, 

 a bore-hole has been made to a depth of 250 yards, and 

 numerous beds of coal and ironstone have been passed 

 through. These trials are of great interest and importance. 

 They prove beyond doubt that the coal-measures of the 

 district will be found in their natural order underneath a 

 considerable tract of country beyond the limits of the 

 hitherto known and workable coalfield. The Wetley and 

 Shafferlong coal basin extends from Wetley Abbey on the 

 south to Deep Hay on the north. In length it is about 

 three miles, and about one mile in breadth. It contains 

 one or two thin beds of coal of little commercial value. 

 At the present time it is not worked. The Cheadle and 

 Ipstones coalfield is about four or five miles in length, 

 and about six miles in breadth. It is surrounded on the 

 north by grit rocks, and on the south by Bunter conglo- 

 merate. It contains several good seams of coal, and at 

 the present time is being well developed. The lower 

 measures of the Churnet Valley contain a valuable and 

 remarkable bed of hasmatite known as the Froghall 

 ironstone, which forms the base of the coal-measures, 

 resting upon a bed of clay a few feet above the mill- 

 stone grit. The little coalfield of the Roaches and Axedge 

 is about five miles east of the town of Leek. It contains 

 six or seven workable beds of coal, but no ironstone of 

 commercial value. 



