﻿HAUSMANN ON THE COAL-FORMATION OF LEON. 



1] 



Hamites trinodosus, Gein. 

 Turrilites Essensis, Gein. 

 Aptychus. 



Scaphites quadrispinosus, Gein. 

 Strombus pyriforrais, Kner. 



arachnoides, Muller. 



Acmsea Plauensis, Gein. 

 Rostellaria emarginulata, Gein. 

 Cerithium Bircki, Gein. 



Thetis undulata, Gein. 

 Venus Goldfussi, Gein. 

 Lyonsia Germari, Giebel. 

 Mytilus arcaceus, Gein. 

 Mactra porrecta, Gein. 

 Anomia semiglobosa, Gein. 

 Chama Plauensis, Gein. 

 Lima interstriata, Gein. 

 Spongia Ottoi, Gein. 



[T. R. J.] 



On the Coal-formation of the Province ©/Leon. 

 By Prof. Hausmann. 



[Karsten u. Dechen's Archiv fur Mineral, u. s. w. 1850, vol. xxiii. p. 761.] 



It is matter of congratulation that trie mineral treasures in which 

 Spain abounds, many of which have been up to this time neglected, 

 are by degrees being brought to light and made available for the 

 enriching the country. As the art of mining has improved of late 

 years in Spain, so also has the knowledge of its geological constitu- 

 tion progressed ; whereby, independently of scientific considerations, 

 many unexpected and solid advantages will arise to that country. 



The great wealth that Spain possesses in her numerous coal-fields 

 has but lately forced itself on observation. The existence of coal in 

 the Asturias was long known ; but the raising it in that province is 

 only beginning to be general. It remained unnoticed until a still later 

 period, that in the neighbouring province of Leon, south of the high 

 mountain-chain which divides it from Asturia, an extensive coal- 

 formation existed, with an inexhaustible store of iron-ore in its vi- 

 cinity. In the year 1845, a company was formed under the name of 

 the Palentina-Leonesa, for raising and putting to use these subter- 

 ranean treasures. The geological investigation of the strata and di- 

 rection of the works is entirely committed to Mr. Pratt. 



The district in the province of Leon which is occupied by the 

 coal-measures is divided in a north and south direction by the Esla, 

 a tributary of the Duero, which takes its rise in the Cantabrian 

 mountain-chain. The coal-measures, which rise at the utmost to 

 the height of 400 varas (about 1000 Paris feet) above that river, have 

 their greatest extension in an east and west direction, stretching along 

 the right bank of the Esla, from Fuentes on the eastern extremity to 

 Sabero, Saelices, Ollero, Sotillo, Llama, Veneros, and Las Bodas on 

 the west. The greatest breadth of the coal-measures is in their centre, 

 from whence to each extremity they taper away to the form of a 

 wedge. Moreover, the northern and southern limits are somewhat 

 irregular, presenting many indentations and projections. Both to 

 the north and south the coal is hemmed in by lofty transition rocks. 

 On their southern declivity the chalk almost uninterruptedly reposes, 

 which in its westward extension surrounds the transition rocks, and 

 to the north covers a considerable space between the transition and 



