[Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XIX, No. 8, Part II, pp. 161-204, P1I. XV-XX. 
1 February, 1910.] 
THE COAL BASIN OF COMMENTRY IN CENTRAL FRANCE. 
By John J. Stevenson. 
{.Read in abstract before the Academy, 6 December, 1909.) 
CONTENTS. 
Introductory note .......... 
Description of the region ........ 
The Commentry basin ........ 
Description of the openings ........ 
Tranchee de Saint-Edmond ....... 
Tranchee de Foret ......... 
Tranchee des Chavais ........ 
Tranchee de l’Esperance ........ 
Tranchee de Longeroux ........ 
Grande Tranchee ......... 
Tranchees de l’Ouest et du Pre-Gigot ..... 
Variations of the Grande Couche ...... 
History of the Commentry basin ....... 
Origin of the Grande Couche ....... 
Possible early erosion of the Grande Couche .... 
Glissement de l’Esperance ....... 
Cause of dislocation ........ 
Secular movements in the basin ...... 
Appendix ............ 
Jukes on the formation of coal beds ...... 
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Introductory Note. 
The Commentry coal field in central France was described more than 
twenty years ago by M. Henri Fayol. His work, 1 the result of studies 
continued during more than twenty-five years, has never been excelled in its 
1 Etudes sur le terrain houiller de Commentry. Ire. partie. Lithologie et Stratigraphie. 
par Henri Fayol. Bull. Soc. Ind. Min. 2me. serie, XV, liv. Ill et IV. Saint-Etienne. 1887. 
An admirable synopsis was presented to the Geological Society of France in 1889. This, with 
contributions by other geologists, is in the bulletin of that society, 3me. serie, XVI. These dis¬ 
cussions were published separately as Reunion extraordinaire dans 1’Allier. This will be cited 
in the following pages as Reunion etc. and the original work as Commentry. 
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