102 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [DeC. 18. 



phate of lime. This scaly appearance is characteristic. It burns 

 well, though, with much smoke ; but the clinker is lighter and better 

 burnt than in some species. 



Hirado coal is either hard or soft. The soft kind cannot be used 

 for steaming, because it becomes reduced to powder by being shaken 

 up in the bunkers ; otherwise it is a good coal. Of the harder coal 

 there are two varieties : — one abounding in earthy matter and silica, 

 the clinker of which is covered with a vitreous glaze ; and a second 

 and better kind, resembling Welsh coal, being bright in appearance, 

 and containing about 72 per cent, of carbon. The fracture is cubi- 

 cal. The percentage of waste is considerable, amounting to 32 ; and 

 the consumption would be equal to about 5 more than the best 

 Welsh coal, with which, however, it might be very advantageously 

 mixed. 



The best of these Japanese coals is that known as Gorio. It is 

 a clean, hard, cubical coal, resembling Welsh in appearance, and 

 containing 73 per cent, of carbon. But small quantities, however, 

 have been brought to Nagasaki; and it has unfortunately happened 

 that, in consequence of the heavy rains, the Gorio mine has fallen 

 in, and some time must elapse before the old workings can be again 

 made use of. 



I must not conclude these remarks without reference to a remark- 

 able coal which has been brought in small quantities from Ivanai, 

 in the north part of I^Tipon, where there appears to be a large 

 mine of it. The Daimio to whom this coal belongs is not friendly 

 to foreigners, and therefore the coal is difficult to be procured. This 

 coal is worked by the Japanese. It is a very clean, highly bitumi- 

 nous coal, and will bum with flame in the light of a candle. It 

 appears, like the rest, to be a lignite *. 



* [The paper was illustrated by specimens of various rocks and of the coals 

 of Formosa, Labuan, Pui, and Ivanai, whicli the author presented to the 

 Society. — Edit.] 



