IN THE PLEASLEY AND TEVERSALL COLLIERIES. 435 



eviflence of lateral movement and pressure, being curved and con- 

 torted, as shown b}' the lines in the section. The same peculiarities 

 were found in the floor of this section as described in Section 1. 



Section jS'o. 3. — This section is very similar to No. 2, the only 

 difference noted being, that there are not so many layers of sand- 

 stone running into the sides of the seam, and that the coal for a 

 length of 23 yards under the northern '' Wash " has not been 

 entirely denuded. 



Section Xo. 4 (fig. 4). — Here the two branches of the " Wash " have 

 again united, and in this locality the denuding force seems to have 

 been strongest, for not only is the coal absent but in two places the 

 clay floor has been entirely removed, in one instance for 7 yards, and 

 in the other for a width of 10 yards, laying bare the sandstone 

 below, there being a tliin smooth parting between the sandstone of 

 the " Wiish " and that of the floor. On examining this sandstone 

 floor it is found to be furrowed and, in some places, distinctly ripple- 

 marked, the wave-lines being more or less at right angles to the 

 course of the " Wash.' The line of denudation is made apparent 

 in the coal-seam on either side of the " Wash " by a layer of 

 sandstone, of from 3 to G inches thick, which divides the upper from 

 tlie lower coal (see flg. 4). The upper coal has evidently been 

 re-deposited, being in many places impregnated with sand and 

 earth}- matter, wliilst the lower coal retains its ordinary appearance 

 and quality. On the south side of this section several blocts of 

 isolated sandstone appear in the middle of the seam, these doubtless 

 being the result of cavities formed in the coal about the time of 

 denudation, and afterwards filled with sand, &c. The width of the 

 " Wash'- here is about 75 yards. 



Section No. 5 (fig. 5). — This section is taken in the Pleasley 

 colliery-workings. There is here a shale 2 feet thick, imme- 

 diately overlying the coal, and forming the " roof" of the 

 mine, instead of sandstone as in the Teversall colliery. On 

 approaching the '' Wash " this shale disappears with the coal, the 

 overlying sandstone and that of the " Wash " taking its place. 

 There is the same thickening of the seam on each side of the 

 *• Wash." On the north side the caunel gradually runs out in the 

 lower coal, whilst in the upper coal it increases to a thickness of 

 over 3 feet. The sandstone of the "Wash" is here harder and 

 more compact, its stratification not being so well marked as in the 

 other sections ; but, as in several other instances, it penetrates the 

 sides of the coal-seam like a wedge, this peculiar shape no doubt 

 being due to the subsequent vertical pressure. The clav floor 

 here maintains its ordinary appearance, there being none of the 

 signs of denudation noticed as described in the other Sections 

 figs. 2, 3, 4. 



Most careful examination has been made of all these headings, 

 but in none of them have any fossils been found in the " Wash." 

 There are, however, several " threads "or thin layers of coal running 

 throughout the "sandstone " of the " Wash," varying in thickness 

 from 1 to 3 inches, and from 4 to 20 inches in length, these beiii"- 



