﻿^l- 
  53-] 
  MR 
  - 
  w 
  « 
  s 
  - 
  GRESLEY 
  ON 
  THE 
  FORMATION 
  OF 
  COAL. 
  245 
  

  

  19. 
  Coal 
  : 
  a 
  New 
  Explanation 
  of 
  its 
  Formation 
  ; 
  or 
  the 
  Phe- 
  

   nomena 
  of 
  a 
  New 
  Fossil 
  Plant 
  considered 
  with 
  reference 
  to 
  

   the 
  Origin, 
  Composition, 
  and 
  Formation 
  of 
  Coal-beds. 
  By 
  

   W. 
  S. 
  Gresley, 
  Esq., 
  F.G.S. 
  (Read 
  February 
  24th, 
  1897.) 
  

  

  [Abstract.] 
  

  

  The 
  Author 
  argues 
  that 
  the 
  brilliant 
  black 
  laminae 
  in 
  coal 
  and 
  

   materials 
  similar 
  to 
  those 
  that 
  form 
  these 
  laminae, 
  which 
  are 
  found 
  

   in 
  earthy 
  coals, 
  shales, 
  and 
  clays, 
  point 
  to 
  the 
  former 
  existence 
  of 
  

   an 
  aquatic 
  plant, 
  having 
  the 
  general 
  shape 
  of 
  the 
  modern 
  Platy- 
  

   cerium 
  alcicorne, 
  which 
  grew 
  in 
  place. 
  He 
  believes 
  that 
  much 
  coal 
  

   was 
  formed 
  by 
  this 
  aquatic 
  ' 
  coal-plant,' 
  which 
  grew 
  amongst 
  the 
  

   mechanical 
  sediments 
  and 
  the 
  debris 
  of 
  the 
  terrestrial 
  

   that 
  accumulated 
  on 
  the 
  floors 
  of 
  sheets 
  of 
  water. 
  1 
  

  

  Discussion. 
  

   Mr. 
  Marr 
  spoke. 
  

  

  1 
  [Specimens, 
  and 
  a 
  series 
  of 
  large 
  diagrams 
  in 
  illustration 
  of 
  his 
  paper, 
  

   were 
  exhibited 
  by 
  the 
  Author 
  when 
  the 
  paper 
  was 
  read. 
  By 
  an 
  unfortunate 
  

   oversight, 
  the 
  mention 
  of 
  this 
  exhibit 
  was 
  omitted 
  in 
  the 
  Proceedings, 
  p. 
  xciii. 
  

   —Ed.] 
  

  

  