132 Coal- Seams of Van Diemens Land. 



as are found cropping on the east coast south of Piccaninni 

 Point. 



In a high, flat-topped hill south of St. Mary's Pass 

 the section PL IV., fig. 1, presents itself. 



Lower down the Break-o'-day Valley, nearly opposite the 

 residence of F. L. Steiglitz, Esq., and at other points, the 

 limestone (D) crops out in the hottom of the valley. In 

 the flanks of the hills on either side, and along the valley of 

 the South Esk, at elevations of from 400 to 500 feet above 

 the level of the valley, several seams of Coal are found 

 cropping. 



They occur on the Mouut Nicholas range, on the estate 

 of E. L. Steiglitz, Esq., and close to the Township of 

 Eingal. These latter were the only seams I had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining in this neighbourhood. 



They are situated about 2|- miles S. 10° E. from the 

 Township, upward of 600 feet above the level of the South 

 Esk, and about 1500 feet above the level of the sea. The 

 seams, two in number, respectively 14 feet and 3 feet thick, 

 are exposed in the upper part of two branches of a small 

 creek which run at this point about 100 yards apart down 

 the steep slope of a hill, cutting through the greenstone 

 debris with which the face of the hill is thickly covered. 



The seams are dipping about 10° to 15° into the hill, 

 or from E. 10° S. to about 10° N. Between the up- 

 permost or 3 -feet seam, and the thick seam below there are 

 about 100 feet of soft grayish and brown sandstone, and 

 some thick beds of shale. Except in the channels of the 

 two creeks for a few yards, the Coal is no where visible on 

 the surface. 



It appears to be of good quality, though of rather slaty 

 structure, and, like most of the Coals in Van Diemen's 



