1848.] Ball Coal of the Bur dwan Mines. 61 



to deposit them amongst beds of coal forming (if any are so,) in the 

 Gulf of Mexico ! Yet to this conclusion we come ; nor is it easy to 

 imagine any process by which these balls could have been formed but 

 that of rolling. If they were homogeneous throughout we might sup- 

 pose them imperfect crystals ; if with concentric layers, or a nucleus, 

 that they were derived from some particular vegetable production ; and 

 finally, if coal was a rock exposed to the air, that, like granite, the crystal 

 or mass had been weathered, and not worn down at the corners. It 

 evidently is worn ; and correct information as to how these balls are 

 found in situ with every particular regarding them, would be highly 

 acceptable. I do not here advert to the theory of coal being a purely 

 mineral deposit, as it has been found in so many points untenable 

 against that of its having a vegetable origin, at least so far as relates to 

 bituminous coal. H. P. 



P. S. Since this paper was written I have obtained a copy of Mr. 

 Homfray's second pamphlet on the coal field of the Dummooda, and 

 Adji, in which that gentleman, an able and experienced miner, who gives 

 one of the localities has noticed these balls (p. 26) in the following 

 terms : — 



" We proceed westward and come to China Coory, where only 7^ feet 

 of the vein is worked as good ; further west we cross the Barracar 

 river, and the Coals in almost every locality are of a much better 

 quality than those from the eastern division ; those near to Pachete 

 Hill are good and very bright. We come then to the Coodeah nullah, 

 running into the Barracar river, and there the coals are very superior, 

 and it is from some of those little localities about there that the vein 

 produces Coal, which as I before said, yields a fair third rate coke ; the 

 vein is thicker and the Coal much brighter, but more tender, and con- 

 tains a vast quantity of round balls of Coal, as though large lumps 

 had been submitted to the attrition of a running stream ; this is found 

 when the vein of Coal exhibits no symptoms of derangement save these 

 nodular balls, which are generally the size and shape of a Dutch 

 Cheese. Without doubt the Coal at this part of the country is the best 

 for all purposes." 



It is evident that Mr. Homfray, considers them as I do, as blocks 

 of coal rounded by water. How could this happen, and their subse- 

 quent deposition in another Coal bed, without their having belonged to 

 a Geological era preceding all the present supposed ones ! 



