8 GEOLOGICAL MEMOIRS. 



here and there intercalated with sandy clay and shale ; four such 

 layers, ^ to 1 foot thick, are known near Piberstein. Near Voits- 

 dorf and Oberdorf the lignite is interrupted by a clay-bed 8 feet 

 thick ; the former having a thickness of about 6 fathoms (12*444 

 yards) above, and about 7 fathoms (14*52 yards) beneath, the in- 

 tercalated clay. 



The bed of lignite immediately overlies either the older rocks 

 or a thin stratunl of grey or blue plastic clay, loose sandy conglome- 

 rate, or arenaceous clay. It is overlaid by greyish-blue clay, or 

 occasionally by some gravel or loam. 



Generally the uppermost and lowest portions of the lignite-bed are 

 not worth working, and remain untouched. 



The lignite preserves the texture of wood, rarely exhibiting bands 

 ,of compact and shining coal. Thirty specimens, from different loca- 

 lities, examined by Che v. Ch. de Hauer in the laboratory of the 

 Imp. Geolog. Institute, gave Ash 3'43 per cent., "Water 13*68 per 

 cent. 



In its heat -producing power, 13*48 cwt. of the lignite ( 1 23*4 pounds 

 avoirdup.) are equivalent to one klafter (100*401 cubic feet) of fir- 

 wood in logs of 30 inches length. The lignite, leaving very little 

 ash, and containing no sulphur, is fit for general technical use ; and is 

 in this respect equal to tertiary coal in general. 



Supposing the average thickness of the bed to be not less than 

 ,6 fathoms (12*444 yards), it may be estimated, from the extent of 

 its area, to contain above 3400 millions cwt. of fuel. It has long 

 been worked ; the official lists of 1852 enumerate nearly fifty persons 

 working it. The produce in 1853 amounted to 350,990 cwt., worth 

 33,71/ florins (about 383507 sterling); it was nearly all sold at 

 Gratz at the price of from 24 to 28 kreutzers * for 123*4 pounds 

 avoird. ; the carriage of 123*4 pounds costing from 18 to 20 kreutzers. 



Recently a mining company has been formed to work an area of 

 884,595 square fathoms, estimated to contain above 760 millions cwt. 

 of fuel. A privilege for the construction of a railroad within two 

 years from Gratz to Koeflach, a distance of 20,313 fathoms (above 

 23*57 English miles), has been lately granted to this newly esta- 

 blished company. [Count M.] 



On a Quicksilver-deposit near Cividale. 

 By Chev. von Hauer. 



[Proceed. Imp. Geolog. Instit. Vienna, November 13, 1855.] 



In the spring of 1855 some marl containing globules of native 

 quicksilver was found near Gagliano, near Cividale, in the province 

 of Eldine [Venetian Lombardy]. It was discovered in the cellar of 

 a house which was built on a hill, a few feet high, S.S.E. of Gagli- 

 ano. The rock is at present dug to the depth of about 2 klafters 

 (4*148 yards), and does not differ from the common variety of ma- 

 * The Austrian florin = 60 kreutzers = ^0*104 sterling. 



