gg Mr. N. J. Winch on the Geology of 



not to be found, though the seams cannot be compared in mag- 

 nitude to those of the Newcastle formation. In the mountainous 

 parts of the district the seams are extremely limited in extent, being 

 soon squeezed out, as the miners term it, and seldom exceeding 20 

 inches in thickness. In the high grounds, near the sources of the 

 South Tyne and the Allen, Coarse or Crow coal abounds ; and on 

 Aldstone moor five seams of this fossil are imbedded between 

 the grindstone sill and the Tyne bottom limestone : it does not 

 appear among the sills on the Derwent towards the east, or of 

 Dufton towards the west of Aldstone, but occurs near the summit 

 of Cross Fell, where no other is to be met with. Crow coal generally 

 rests upon a thil or plate of slate-clay ; but the beds being very un- 

 certain in their extent are seldom noticed in the Lead-mine sections. 

 They are worked at a small expense by means of drifts into the 

 sides of the hills, and as fuel is scarce in the mountainous district, 

 Crow coal becomes an object worthy of attention. 



This mineral is of a dirty sooty-black colour, and contains much 

 sulphur, which renders its smoke extremely offensive. At Aldstone 

 it is mixed with clay and made up into balls, which yield con- 

 siderable heat on burning, but emit scarcely any flame. 



On leaving the mountainous district, the seams of coal are found 

 improved in point of quality and thickness, and it will appear from 

 the following localities, over what an extent of country that mineral 

 is found. 



It occurs at Stublick, six miles south-west of Hexham j at Wall 

 near Fallowfield ; near Bellingham on the North Tyne, where many 

 good seams are found ; at Kerryburn near the foot of the Carter on 

 the borders of Roxburghshire ; in the vale of the Reed ; at Elsdon 

 at Woolcoats on the moors near Harbottle castle ; at Hesleyhurst 

 at Healy-coat ; near Carlington castle ; at Newton ; at Shilbottle 



