XI, /Jn Account of the Coalfield at Bradford^ near Manchester, 



By Robert BakewelLj 

 Communicated to the Geological Society by Dr. Roget, M.G.S. 



Ti 



HE Coalfield which I have undertaken to describe is of very 

 jlimited dimensions, extending little more than two miles in length, 

 and about 2000 yards in breadth. (See PI. ii. fig. 2.) The form of 

 its area is oval. The greatest depth to which the workings have been 

 carried is 140 yards. Ten seams of coal rise to the surface, some of 

 which are greatly deteriorated by an intermixture of pyrites. The 

 river Medlock flows nearly at right angles with the line of bearing of 

 the strata and a section is exposed on its banks to a considerable dis- 

 tance. 



The strata which alternate with the beds of coal are the same that 

 are usually found under similar circumstances in Lancashire, Che- 

 shire, and the west of Derbyshire, viz. argillaceous and bituminous 

 shale with vegetable impressions, and ironstone sometimes in beds 

 sometimes in nodules. There occurs also over the first coal what is 

 more uncommon, limestone not containing I believe any organic 

 remains ; it lies in three several strata from 2 to 6 feet in thickness. 

 It is of a reddish brown colour, and resembles the magnesian variety 

 of Derbyshire in appearance, though it differs from it in its compo- 

 nent parts. 



The coalfield is bounded (except at its eastern extremity) by red 



