lEON OEE AND COAL DEPOSITS AT WALLERAWANG. 87 



then a little farther on they widen out to a thickness of even 

 18 inches. The average thickness of the two lower seams may- 

 be taken at about 10 inches each, and the upper seam (No. 3) at 

 11 or 12. These dimensions are estimated from the outcrops of 

 the seams, and are of course only approximate, for as they have 

 not yet been opened out or cut across in any way, no clean 

 sections are exposed, and consequently no minute measurements 

 could be taken. 



It is at once apparent from the analysis that they are all 

 three richer than the ordinary English clay band ore, and that 

 the amounts of phosphorus and sulphur, for all ordinary pur- 

 poses, are unimportant. 



Coal. 



The coal measures in this district contain several very valuable 

 and thick beds of coal. The three principal ones which I had the 

 opportunity of closely examining have respectively the following 

 thicknesses of coal irrespective of any partings : — 



The lowest seam, which I will call No. 1, has a thickness of 

 17 feet 6 inches ; the next seam, No. 2, is 6 feet 6 inches ; and 

 the one above this. No. 3, is 4 feet 6 inches. 



There are other seams present, but as they are thinner they 

 are of minor importance, and in the face of the above thick 

 seams they are not likely to be touched for some years. 



Seam No. 1. — The outcrop of this bed is seen in the banks on 

 a creek known by the name of Coal Creek, on the western side 

 of the Dividing Eauge. 



A trial shaft sunk through it has proved it to be 17 feet 6 

 inches in thickness, divided by a parting of fire-clay some 8 inches 

 thick. 



The parting of fire-clay shows the numerous remains and 

 impressions of coal measure plants — principally thin rootlets in 

 this case — embedded in the original soil in which they grew. At 

 this period of the history of the coal bed there must have been a 

 change in the conditions throughout the area over which this 

 parting extends ; the circumstances had become unsuitable for 

 the continuance of the growth of luxuriant vegetation which 

 previously covered it. This unfavourable change may have been 

 brought about by a variety of causes. It was most probably due 

 to a gradual depression of the area beneath the surface of the 

 water, which period of depression extended sufficiently long to 

 allow of the deposition and accumulation of the eight inches 

 of finely divided mud and silt which was the original form of 

 the fire-clay. It is generally regarded that coal has been derived 

 from the decay of terrestrial plants which flourished in marshy 

 places, and that the majority of them consisted neither of true 



