378 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION C. 
In the Alberton area of about 300 square miles and the La Trobe Valley area 
of 700 square miles there is probably 30,000,000,000 tons of coal. The approxi- 
mate area at Altona is 200 square miles, with a probable average thickness of 
50 feet of coal. At Lal Lal the coal covers three square miles with an average 
thickness of 80 feet. 
The geological and geographical distribution of the various brown coal-seams 
is still being ascertained by boring; the bores are being systematically tested for 
calorific value, gas production, and by-products. A typical analysis of the 
brown coal, as freshly mined, is :— 
Per cent. 
Msi Vs!) RE! Ometee ee TS8 08 
VA Ost) GAS 0 aCe eee ew ee 
Fh WE A OMS Me Hea IRS 
Ashvinit ited: fie et ayng at aiokite 1-00 
100-00 
Sulphur. . . . .  .  « 0°7 per cent. 
Nitrogen. . . ¢ .  . « 0:3 per cent. 
Calorific value 4 : t ; . 5,500-6,000 B.T.U. 
Evaporation value eo. eh a 64 Tb. water 
Gas perton . . . .  .  . 6,500 cubic feet 
Ammonium sulphate per ton (theoretical), 32 Ib. 
Experimental work has also proved that under proper conditions a firm hard 
briquette can be produced without the aid of an agglutinant binder. It is 
suitable also for use in the gas producer, the improvements in which of recent 
years bid fair to give brown coal an important place in the power-fuels of the 
world at no distant date. 
SYDNEY. 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21. 
After the President had delivered his Address (see p. 344) thie following 
Papers were read :— 
1. The Geology of New South Wales. By BK. F. Pirrman. 
2. The Age of the Permo-Carboniferous Glacial Beds. 
By Dr. A. Vauauan. 
3. Report on the Erratic Blocks of the Brilish Isles. 
See Reports, p. 111. 
4. Report of the Committee to consider the Preparation of a List of 
Characteristic Fossils.— See Reports, p. 111. 
5. Report on the Geology of Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire. 
See Reports, p. 111. 
6. Report on the Old Red Sandstone Rocks of Kiltorcan, Ireland 
See Reports, p. 113. 
