122 Coal-Seams of Van Diemen's Land. 



of beds as exposed in the valley of the Derwent, from seven 

 miles above to the same distance below New Norfolk. In 

 many parts the series is much broken by faults, probably 

 often repeating the beds, and by intrusions of large masses 

 of igneous rock, basalts and greenstones of different ages. 

 On this account it is almost impossible to estimate correctly 

 the thickness of the whole series of strata, from the first 

 Coal, seven miles above New Norfolk, to the lowest exposed 

 bed of limestone, the same distance below the above Town- 

 ship. 



2. — EISDON TO EICHMOND AND PROSSEK'S 

 PLAINS. 



From the mouth of the Valley of Eisdon over Grass-tree 

 Hill to within three miles aud a half of Eichmond the 

 section exposed is precisely similar to that seen in the hill 

 opposite New Norfolk. Thence to the Village of Eichmond 

 the strata occur as represented in the Diagram, PI. I., fig. 2. 



The three seams of Coal {e e e) are seen cropping in the 

 south bank of the river, about three quarters of a mile below 

 the village. 



All three are anthracite, of poor quality and very slaty 

 structure, dipping (W. 15° S.) 15°, and apparently cut off 

 on all sides and within a few yards by eruptive greenstones. 



A shaft now abandoned and full of water has been sunk 

 about twenty yards from the margin of the river, in which 

 the lowest and the thickest seam has been cut at a depth of 

 about 35 feet. 



On the crop in the river this seam is apparently 2 to 3 

 feet thick ; but from the poor quality of the coal, the high 

 angle at which the seams are dipping, and the fact above 

 alluded to of their being cut off on all sides within a very 

 short distance, none of these seams would, I imagine, be 

 worked to advantage. 



