186 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



me with the following analysis and observations. It is 

 proper to premise that the coal with which I furnished 

 him was obtained at an early stage of the opening of the 

 vein^ near the outcrop, and consequently the result may 

 be expected to exhibit a larger proportion of earthy mat- 

 ter than actually exists in the vein. 



'^This substance is formed of parallel layers, making 

 different angles with the natural surfaces of the mass: 

 they having a vitreous, shining, black lustre. Its frac- 

 ture in two senses iu lamellar, with a very pure briliiant 

 black lustre: in a cross direction it is imperfect conchoi- 

 dal, with a grey black metallic appearance. Powder 

 dark brown ; fragments indeterminate, angular. Not 

 fragile, and does not soil: free from the sulphuret of 

 iron: gives a voluminous fine coke, and burns with a 

 long bright yellow flame, with much smoke: ashes free 

 from carbonate of lime, and having a blue grey colour." 



Composition. 



Carbon, 52.7 



Volatile matter (bitumen, water and gas), . 16.9 

 Ashes, 30.4 



100.0 



Three miles north of the Hopewell coal vein, is an- 

 other called Riddle's Bank, which has been opened thirty 

 years, but not extensively worked. The adit appears 

 to be drifted in a fault or derangement of the strata at 

 this point. Thickness of coal worked is five feet three 

 inches. It is a dry hard coal, with lit;tle waste in mining, 

 having a good roof and a convenient situation for work- 

 ing, so far as that operation has advanced : but from its 

 peculiar position in an undulation of the vein, it must 

 be limited to small breadth and a change of inclination 

 must take place from almost horizontal to a dip of 45° 

 south east. It is also a deep glossy jet-black coal, like 



