386 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [June 19, 



down the declivity in winter ; this being out of the influence of the 

 sun, but little evaporation would take place. 



In the above case, we- must suppose a cavern to have existed at^; 

 the roof having fallen in has left a series of caverns exposed. 



If we imagine this to have occurred on a larger scale, we have, I 

 think, the true cause of the larger subsidences, all of which have, at 

 one part or another, a slope to the water similar to the above. 



The whole country must be cavernous ; and the brackishness of the 

 water of the lakes may be due to a connexion with the sea. 



" Howa Bullowsh " may have been formed by two subsidences. 



Of the fossils collected, I have only been able to identify Echino- 

 dermata, 3 sp., Ostrea, 2 sp., Coral, 2 sp., a Pecten, a worm in the 

 form of a Helix, and, on the surface, Cardium edule. 



12. Report on the Existence of a large Coal-field in the Province 

 of St. Catherine's, Brazil. By Edward Thornton, Esq. 



[Communicated by the Kt. Hon. the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.] 



The Tubarao basin is situated in the southern extremity of the pro- 

 vince of Sta. Caterina, lat. 28^° S., long. 5|° to 6° W. of Eio de Janeiro, 

 and 48° 14' to 48° 44' W. of i&reenwich, (Hstant about forty- five miles 

 north-west of the seaport of Laguna, and intersected by the river 

 Tubarao and its tributaries, which stream is navigated by small 

 vessels for about twenty-five miles. 



The existence of coal in this district has for some years been an 

 established fact ; and the Belgian traveller, Yan de Lede, iu 1842, 

 visited and reported upon the small seams which were exposed to 

 view on the route from Laguna to Lages ; but from 1861 to 1863 a 

 practical exploration was carried out by the Viscount Barbacena (who 

 engaged Mr. James Johnson, an experienced Lancashire coal- viewer, 

 and the engineers Messrs. Borell and Klap), which resulted in his 

 purchase of a tract of land containing the best seams, and his acqui- 

 sition of a concession of mineral rights in the valley of the Tubarao 

 from the Imperial Government, dependent upon the formation of a 

 railway and the opening of the mines. 



The exploration, by driving several levels and sinking pits over an 

 area of about twelve miles, proved the existence of a series of Coal- 

 beds at nine different levels, underlying a sandstone foi^mation, in 

 almost horizontal strata of different qualities, and of thickness varying 

 from 1| to 10 feet, all more elevated than the waters of the adjacent 

 streams. 



The longest adit was driven 78 feet through coal, which proved 

 similar to that exposed in two other outcrops three miles distant from 

 each other, showing, under a solid roof of grey sandstone, — 



ft. in. 



Top Coal 8 



Black Bass 3^ 



Coal 4 



Strong Schist 1 7 



Coal 1-2 



