35S COAL AND LIGNITE 



A stratum of a tenacious blue* clay, alternating with this micaceous 

 sand-stone, appears to develope the greatest deposit of the above mineral, 

 although the distribution of it throughout the bank is by no means confined to 

 this particular spot, a similar deposit taking place about 200 yards lower 

 down the stream, in the total absence of the blue clay, where the white sand- 

 stones of an extremely friable quality, is perforated with (to all appearance) 

 veins of coal, having in its immediate contact a distribution of light earth, 

 highly impregnated with native Sulphur. 



From its appearance and mineral feature, I should class it in that variety 

 ■which exists in the transition from common brown to pitch coal, a classifica- 

 tion authorized by its alluvial position, &c. although the casual observation 

 made by myself, urges me to confess, that the remark is made with consi- 

 derable diffidence. 



Color, velvet black, lustre resinous ; principal fracture in the small fi- 

 brous, great, slaty ; cross fracture smooth, and even in the friable speci- 

 mens ; in the large perfectly conchoidal ; brittle and easily frangible, break- 

 ing into splintery, rhomboidal, or trapezoidal fragments j specific gravity 

 1.34; Burns slowly with a Bituminous (and in those parts which have been 

 in contact with the white sand-stone a highly Sulphureous) odour ; when 



* ' Shale clay/ Color denominated green bice verging to blue; texture foliated, unctuous and 

 greasy feeL Breaks down by exposure to weather in rhomboidal, and irregular four-cornered pieces, 

 adheres to the tongue, and plastic. 



The stratum above mentioned had been partly excavated by the village people, who use it, as I 

 was informed, in cleaning the floors and walls of their huts after solution in water. 



Another species of indurated clay, or rather Shale, into which it passes, of a reddish color, and 

 anctuous and greasy feel, containing imbedded nodules of the above blue clay, forms a great por- 

 portion of the bank. The coal deposits, however, appear to be solely in alternation and junction with 

 the blue clay, and white micaceous sand-stone. 



