COAL. 71 



both slopes of the valley and the tops of the ridges are capped with 



limestones which I believe are either Upper Triassic or Rhsetic in age. 



I visited a small mine at Ta-sha-shan, in the steep range which 



borders the Chiu-ya-p'ing Hsien valley on the 



Pa-sha-shan mine. ^^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ 



north-west of the town at an elevation of G.000 feet above the sea. 

 Further to the north-north-west the ridge rises to an elevation 

 of 10,000 feet above the sea. After crossing one limestone band 

 the track ascends across red shales topped by steep limestone 

 cra»s. The coal-seams crop out in a series of coarse, soft, grey 

 sandstones, banded with variegated and yellowish shales containing 

 carbonaceous layers. On the occasion of my visit only one seam 

 was bein<* worked, from three steep inclines which descended in a 

 northerly direction from the outcrop. About 16 men were employed 

 and the coal was drawn out to the surface in iron-shod sledges. 

 The monthly output was about 20 tons and was sold locally for 

 domestic purposes. The coal itself was hard, bright and of excellent 

 appearance. There are other mines further south along the line 



of outcrop. 



Owing to the similarity of geological structure on both sides 



of the valley, it was anticipated that coal 



Coal to the west of wot J^ be foum | to tlie west f t ] ie towu< This 



Chiu-ya-p ing llsien. , 



proved to be the case and there are several 

 outcrops in the first stage between Chiu-ya-p'ing Hsien and Ilsin-kai. 

 Leaving the valley the red shales arc followed by limestones 

 dipping to the cast-north-east at 20°, which give place to the coal- 

 bearing, yellowish shales and sandstones again, capped by the 

 upper limestones. Coal was mined at We-pan-tsun and Ta-pin-fzu, 

 while near the village of Ta-wa which is built on the eastern slope 

 of the ridge bounding the Chiu-ya-p'ing Hsien valley, I found indi- 

 cations of outcrops. 



Coming down the valley L-ora Ta-wa to Hsin-kai, I noticed 

 many abandoned drifts in the sandstones. I had no time to visit 

 the active workings, to the west of the village, but the coal which 

 is burnt locally is of fine quality, being hard, bright and well 

 cleated. It does not soil the fingers when handled. 



Ma-ch'an« is only six or seven miles to the east of Hsin-kai, 



and is situated on the northern bank of the 

 Coal in the Ma- Yangtze. The coal-bearing series continues 



ch'ang vicinity. ° ,., ° 



all the way, but I did not see any outcrops 



