Cox. — On the Mineralogy of New Zealand. 373 



Besides which there are numerous small seams, 10 inches thick and less, 

 occurring in the Jurassic strata in various localities, as the Hokanui Hills 

 and Mataura, Southland ; Waikawa, Otago ; and the Waikato Heads, Auck- 

 land ; in fact wherever the formation occurs, but since they have never been 

 found in seams which are of sufficient thickness to work remuneratively 

 they do not merit any special attention. 



Bituminous Coals. — These coals are, so far as is at present known, 

 exclusively confined to the west coast of the South Island. At Collingwood 

 they occur as thin seams from 27 inches to 32 inches in thickness ; one 

 mine being at present at work in this district. The average composition of 

 the coal from this locality is — 



Fixed carbon . . . . . . . . 53-29 



Hydro-carbon.. .. .. .. 3818 



Water 2-06 



Ash 6-47 



100-00 

 At Westport seams of bituminous coal occur from 4 feet to 50 feet in 

 thickness, and two mines are at present at work. The estimated quantity of 

 coal in this field, from accurate surveys, is 140,000,000 tons, which is pro- 

 bably considerably below the mark. All the coal is level, free, and generally 

 at an -elevation of from 1,000 to 3,000 feet above the sea. The average 

 composition of the coal is — 



Fixed carbon 63-81 



Hydro-carbon.. .. .. .. 31-88 



Water 3-08 



Ash 1-23 



100-00 

 There are also two small areas of highly-inclined, faulted coal, which is 

 much crushed, and too tender to be marketable. It has the following com- 

 position : — 



Fixed carbon . . . . . . . . 75*05 



Hydro-carbon . . . . . . 21-29 



Water 1-40 



Ash 2-26 



100-00 



Two mines have been opened to work this coal, but both are now 

 abandoned. 



At Greymouth another series of bituminous coals has been worked in 

 which the percentage of fixed carbon is considerably less than in that from 

 Westport. It is, however, an exceedingly valuable gas coal, and the coke 

 made from it is as good as can be procured. The seams vary in thickness 



