of the Forest of Dean Coal-field. 



201 



Meend, between the inclined or eastern and the horizontal or western part 

 of the bed^ emerges to the surface, and the coal crops out in opposite direc- 

 tions, for some distance, from the Whimberry Slade to Carter's-piece Meend ; 

 but beyond the latter point the two beds crop conformably with those above 

 them, into the valley of Lidbrook. 



Mr. Mushet observes, that this line of division causes the western side to 

 dip gently to the west, and afterwards to rise again, forming on Coleford 

 Meend a slightly inclined basin rather than a horizontal bed. 



At Oakwood Mill the "Coleford High Delf " is not worth working, pro- 

 bably from the effects of a fault. 



The divergence observable in the outcrop of the beds to the northward, 

 arises from the decrease in their angle of position. 



The Trencher Delf begins to be workable coal about north of Bream ; but its 

 range has been traced from the clay observable in its line of outcrop; and 

 though of little consequence to the miner, it should not be altogether disre- 

 garded by the geologist. 



At Lidbrook Valley, on the north of the coal-field, there is a contortion on each side, which 

 throws down the High Delf coal, in one instance, seventy yards, and in two others, thirty yards 

 each (see the accompanying diagram which is parallel with the strike or at right angles to the dip 

 of the beds). 

 Lidbrook Valley. Joy's Green. Horse Lea. 



Plud's Enclosure 



S.l 



\ 



b. Carboniferous limestone, c. Millstone Grit. d. Coal measures. 



The ten yards of clod ceases as a covering to the coal before we reach Carter's-piece Meend, 

 and its absence is probably connected with the effects of the fault; for on showing this section to 

 Mr. Mushet, he confirmed the details, as received from a practical miner, but reversed the order, 

 making the double contortion on the western side of the valley, and the seventy yards depression 

 at one step, on the eastern, where this section is represented to be. 



In the double step, the descending portions are useless coal, and represented to be dust and dirt. 



The local name for this contortion is " Horse," whence " Horse Lea." 



I'rom Worcester Lodge near Coleford, to Bury Hill, is a line of disturbance, the course of 

 which is marked, on the surface, by a series of ponds, called Howler's Well, Leech Pool, Crabtree 

 Pool, Hooper's Pool, and Hall's Pool. It is possible the water may be kept up by the clay in the 

 fault, which is said to be 200 yards thick, extremely i)ard, full of silicified wood; and when acted 

 on by powder, it separates without disturbing the surrounding mass, yet causes much trouble to 

 the miner. 



One branch of the fault ranges to Elmore Mill ; and others are said to diverge along its 

 course, but they have not been defined. 



VOL. V. — SECOND SERIES. 2 D 



