On a New Coal Basin in Limhurg. 413 



shafts of from 50 to 100 metres in the 'couchant' district of Mens — 

 sunk through much-fissured and open chalk, and especially through 

 the bands of flints, with much water, which are never absent from 

 the lower part of this chalk in Hainault. 



" In the northernmost part of this new zone, and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Eiver Lippe, the Tertiary sands overlying the 

 Cretaceous rocks, and the Permian Magnesian limestones which 

 seem to occur there, will probably offer great difficulties in pit- 

 sinking. It is, however, scarcely necessary to trouble oneself on 

 this head, since the more easily-attainable portion is sufficient to 

 meet the requirements of many years to come." 



[Here follows a reference to some Sections given in a Plate ap- 

 pended to the Eeport. These Sections illustrate the structure of the 

 Coal-fields of the Euhr, of Theux, and of Durham. A Section taken 

 from a well-known English paper shows the Coal-fields of Canobie 

 and Plashetts, and from the context it would appear that the author 

 regards the latter as of Coal-measure age. This is a mistake ; the 

 Coal-seams of North- west Northumberland belonging, it need scarcely 

 be said, to the Carboniferous Limestone series.] 



" A striking fact is revealed by the examination of these three 

 sections, and by a study of the three great basins to which they 

 relate, viz. that in these three basins the southern portion of the 

 Coal-measures is much contorted by pressure in every direction 

 exerted upon them during, or soon after, their formation, and prior 

 to the deposition of newer beds. 



'' It follows that the southern limit of these basins is very irregular, 

 and that at certain points lateral basins are found branching off 

 from the principal ones, or even small circumscribed isolated 

 basins. 



" To the north, on the other hand, as is shown by the Sections of 

 the English and French basins, there is great regularity, apparently 

 increasing in that direction, as does also the richness of the basin. 



*' This fact is of great importance with regard to future explora- 

 tions at points lying between these Sections; for wherever the 

 known portions will show much dislocation, numerous changes, and 

 high angles of dip, it will be well to explore the northern part to a 

 great distance, in order to see whether the principal regular basin 

 does not lie in that direction. 



"From this point of view Dutch Limburg, and probably also 

 Northern Belgium, are favourably situated for the discovery there 

 of the prolongation of the Coal-measures. 



" It is admitted that the Belgian Coal-measures are due to the 

 same mode of formation as those of Germany and the North of 

 England, between which they lie, and of which, in our opinion, 

 they should be considered as forming part. 



"A recent fact justifies this assertion. The prolongation of the 

 basin of the Euhr to the west, now well proved by the Homberg 

 pit, on the left bank of the Ehine. And besides this, the discovery 

 of coal at Crefeld, that is to say, much further west of the Ehine. 



" This extension is moreover clearly indicated by the general strike 

 of the encasing primary rocks. 



