8 GEOLOGICAL MEMOIRS. 



mentioned by a great mass of the Gail thai (carboniferous) strata. 

 Their lignitiferous portion has a total thickness of from 6 to 7 feet, 

 the beds of lignite varying from |- to 1 foot. 



The tertiary basin of Liescha, south of Prevali, extending in an east 

 and west direction and entering the Styrian territory, is far more 

 important than either of the preceding groups. It lies from 500 to 

 600 feet above the level of the Miss valley, near Prevali, being 

 separated from it by micaceous schists associated with eruptive por- 

 phyries. The Liescha basin is bounded on the north by mica-schist ; 

 on the south by the Gailthal (carboniferous) rocks. The descending 

 order of the strata is : — 1. calcareous breccia ; 2. rolled fragments of 

 limestone; 3. argillaceous sand with freshwater molluscs; 4. sand- 

 stone and conglomerate; 5. yellow sands with patches of coal; 

 6. grey clay with vegetable remains ; 7. upper bituminous clay, with 

 some subordinate lignite-beds ; 8. principal lignite-bed ; 9. bitu- 

 minous clay ; 10. white clay. 



The vegetable remains have been described by Prof. Unger in the 

 Imp. Acad. Proceedings, Nov. 1855. Dr. Hoerneshas found among 

 the molluscs Melania turrita, Klein, and Helix Steinheimensis, 

 Klein, both species occurring in the Neogene freshwater limestone of 

 Steinheim and Zweifalten. 



The main lignite-bed has an average thickness of 18 feet, and 

 diminishes gradually, apparently disappearing with the increase of 

 depth. The strike is to the eastward, with some slight deviation ; 

 and its dip is south at an angle of 1 5° diminishing gradually to 8°. 



The workings now opened to the length of 3600 feet, and to an 

 extent of 1800 feet along the dip, show that these strata do not 

 occur in the form of a basin, as they do not ascend along the south 

 mountain-slope. The present produce, 840 workmen being em- 

 ployed, amounts to more than 1,000,000 cwt. annually, and is con- 

 sumed in the extensive puddling and rolling establishments of Prevali. 



[Count M.] 



On Hartite. By M. von Zepharovich. 



[Proceedings Imp. Geol. Instit. Vienna, Feb. 12, 1856.] 



This resinous substance was first discovered by Haidinger in the 

 upper zone of the lignites at Ober-Hart, near Gloggnitz, in Lower 

 Austria. The hartite found at Rosenthal, near Koflach (Styria), is in 

 comparatively large, irregular, perfectly transparent, and cleavable 

 pieces, showing in the tourmaline of the polarizing apparatus very 

 distinct systems of elhptical coloured rings. It is still more frequently 

 found within the hgnite in the form of small veins, incrustations, or 

 angular fragments. The microscopic crystals deposited from an 

 alcoholic solution of hartite are in the form of rhombohedral and 

 hexagonal lamellae, the angles of which, according to Prof. Kenngott, 

 correspond with those found by M. Haidinger in the lamellae obtained 

 by cleavage. " [Count M.] 



