68 Richmond and Jerusalem, 



but, from failure of means or of enterprise on the part 

 of the projector, it has fallen short of success. This is 

 not to be much regretted, however; for the coal proves 

 to be an anthracite, only superior to that from Port 

 Arthur in this, that it does not split and fly about to 

 the extent that the latter does when first heated. 



The crop of the seam exhibits only a few inches of 

 soft carbonaceous matter, of a dull black colour ; but it 

 appears to have yielded about two feet of a consumable 

 commodity, when fairly opened into. In common with 

 the coal from Port Arthur, and other non-bituminous 

 coals, this has the property of great durability as a fuel ; 

 burning without flame, and emitting but little smoke. 

 The mineral, when newly broken, has a shining lustre, 

 and a greyish-black colour, and is compact ; but it does 

 not stand weather well, frittering down into a gritty 

 powder. 



The Coal River crosses the edges of the strata in which 

 this coal rests, and exposes several seams of carbonaceous 

 matter. Toward the dip, these have the ordinary aspect 

 of beds of carbonaceous shale ; but, in the direction of 

 the crop of the seams, they have acquired a flinty degree 

 of hardness, so as in some cases to strike fire with steel. 

 The sandstone in that neighbourhood is also much 

 hardened. 



On proceeding about 150 yards the cause of this 

 becomes obvious : for there a dike of basalt crosses the 

 river, fairly intersecting the coal strata, and connecting 

 the low rounded eminences of eruptive rock on the 

 opposite sides of the stream. , 



The coal-beds are cut off" in a similar way in the 

 direction of their dip, and at about the same distance 

 from the abandoned pit or gallery. Between the two 

 points where the eruptive rock crosses the river, it 

 forms a bend ; and directly opposed to this bend of the 



