SANDSTONE, SHALE, AND COAL. 119 



In all these coal strata, the middle part of the seam usually con- 

 sists of good coal, breaking into cubical fragments ; while the rest is 

 of an inferior quality, differing little from the fine bituminous shale. 



As the coal seams wrought in the interior belong to the upper 

 part of this series, it is possible, that in some places a richer seam 

 may be discovered in a lower position, corresponding with the seam 

 at Hawsker Bottoms, but increased in thickness, according to the 

 greater elevation of the hills. The boring now going on at Maybecks, 

 under the direction of the proprietor, James Wilson, Esq., will soon 

 ascertain whether any such seam exists there or not. That gentleman 

 having favoured the authors with the register of the borings, as far as 

 they have proceeded, a copy of that register is here given. The spot 

 where the experiment is making, is about 20 yards below the six inch 

 seam of coal, already mentioned; which seam is about 15 yards be- 

 low the blue limestone. The series through which the boring has 

 been made is thus stated : 



^ ., Fathoms. Yds. Ft. Tn. 

 Soil and loose stones {i. e. alluvium) _ 1. 1_ 



Strong brown post (broion sandstone) 2. I. 



Blue metal and metal stone with post girdles {blue shale, 



schistose sandstone with nodules) 9. 1. 



Coal 



4. 



Gvey me\3[s\.onb (grey schistose sandstone) 4. 1. 



Strong post with a mixture of whin (sandstone with 



ironstone) I. I 6 



Grey metal ('g)ey «/ia/ej 1. 6 



D'AvV.hXuemctaX (blue shah) jq 



Grej \iost (grey sandstone) ]. 



Grey metal with post girdles ('^rej/s/ja/ewiMnodw/e^; 1. — 



Grey metal with skares of coal (bituminous shale) — 1. 



'VihW.e ^osi {white sandstone) ]. 



Grey metal ]. 2 



Coal g 



Grey metal stone ] g. 



