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TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 73 
the presence of organic matter. In the ordinary iron nodules, common in the dis- 
trict, wood or other organic matter is commonly present, and seems to have served 
as a nucleus of attraction for the iron. Even in the adjacent peat-beds logs of 
wood are found conyerted into solid crystalline iron pyrites. [Specimens of iron- 
stone formed round the roots of couch-grass were exhibited ; these were of recent 
formation on the surface of the ground.| My. Judd has found similar formations 
on the roots of willow in sand-pits in Lincolnshire. There is therefore ground for 
supposing that the remains of the boring animal in the end of the tubes gave rise 
to the spherical nodules, and that the hardened circumference of the borings was 
in the same manner due to the presence of traces of organic matter left in the 
process of boring. 
On the Coal-field of Natal. 
By Dr. Mann, F.R.GS. §¢., Special Commissioner of the Government of Natal. 
The position and general configuration and geological character of the colony 
of Natal were described, and the presence of coal-deposits on the surface in various 
ee was explained. The history of the gradual discovery of the deposits was 
riefly sketched, and the quality and character of the coal was then considered. 
Tn the last and most important trial recently made to determine the question of 
quality, seven tons were used on board the surveying-ship ‘ Hydra,’ and compared 
with equal quantities of Cardiff and West-Hartley coal. The result of this expe- 
riment was, that steam was up with Cardiff coal in 60 minutes, with 26 ewt. con- 
sumed; West-Iaitley coal in 50 minutes, with 82 cwt. consumed; Natal coal in 
55 minutes, with 30 ewt. consumed. 
In steaming on the third grade, the consumption per hour was— 
@arditiicoall tosis Pee 1553 lbs. 
West-Hartley coal...... 1648 _,, 
DNatal Coal Ae cictetteds asi: 1568 ,, 
In steaming on the third grade, the consumption wes respectively— 
Carditiyconl persis, ssotinys era 1624 lbs. 
West-Hartley coal ...... 2293 ,, 
Wataligoalit rcras atin ors 2128 ,, 
The several samples yielded— 
Cardiff. .... 9 per cent. of ashes, 2 per cent. of clinker. 
West-Hartley 8 5 rt 5 3 x 
SD) eae 16 of as Zi A 3 
For easy steaming the Natal coal was deemed nearly equal in commercial value 
to Cardiff coal; but with full steam a larger quantity of Natal coal was required 
on account of the masking of the combustion with ash. 
Specimens of the coal and of organic remains of Glossopterts, from the coal- 
deposit of Bushman’s River, were exhibited, and the inference was drawn that in 
all probability the Natal coal will prove to be of the Jurassic or Cretaceous age. 
On the Sequence of the Deposits in Norfolk and Suffolk superior to the Red 
Crag. By Grorcz Maw, F.G.S., F.L.S., Se. « 
In connexion with a large diagrammatic section from the neighbourhood of Ald- 
borough in Suffolk to the Norfolk coast, and detailed sections of the strata at 
different localities, drawn to scale, reference was made to the various disputed 
oints on the sequence of the more recent deposits of the eastern counties, 
Although the superposition of the Chillesford beds on the Norwich Crag had been 
questioned so recently as during the late session of the Geological Society of 
London, it was now, the author believed, admitted by every geologist acquainted 
with the district. It was suggested in general terms by Mr. Prestwich, eighteen 
years ago; and the recent labours of Mr. J. E. Taylor, in the Norwich district, in 
distinguishing and separating the upper from the Lower Norwich Crag, had fixed 
