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APPENDIX. 



tract are of extreme tenuity, because fundamental rocks of high antiquity rise near to the surface. Though 

 probably, worthy of notice in early days, when carbonaceous deposits, however poor, were worked, if only of 

 easy access, it is manifest that in the present times, when so many valuable coal seams are wrought in the 

 neighbourhood, the attempt to open coal-pits near Pitchford would be ruinous. The salt alluded to was pro- 

 bably made from a salt well issuing from the carbonaceous rocks ?. 



In readverting to the origin of the bitumen which abounds in this part of the region, both in coal strata, as 

 at Pitchford, and at Coal Brook Dale (see p. 204), and also in the ancient Cambrian Rocks of the Longmynd, 

 Lyth and Haughmond Hills, where it issues from cracks, and often near points of intrusive trap ; I may add, 

 that the view which I took (see pp. 265 and 266) is completely confirmed by subsequent observation at the 

 Shelve Mines. (See F., p. 732.) 



C. 



Neivent Coal-field. 



In the diagram, p. 155., which represents a fault near the mineral spring of Newent, the subjacent strata on 

 the east are supposed to be thrown up, and thus the coal beds are hypothetically exhibited as lying nearer to the 

 surface than on the western side of the fault. I beg my readers to place no reliance on this merely possible 

 case, and to bear in mind, that if beds of coal should ever be detected beneath the New Red Sandstone to the 

 east of Newent, they are just as likely to occur in depressed as in upheaved positions. This point can be 

 determined alone by trials. I have adduced abundant reasons to dissuade any one from embarking in coal 

 works to the north or south of Newent, it being demonstrated that the coal-field thins out entirely in those di- 

 rections between the New and Old Red Sandstone. (See p. 154.) 



D. (i.) 



Coal-fields under the New Red Sandstone of the Central Counties. 



In corroboration of my belief that productive coal measures would be found beneath the New Red Sandstone 

 of the central counties, I have to announce that the enterprise of the Earl of Dartmouth, so much alluded to 

 in the previous pages, (pp. 58, 466, 476, 507,) has been completely successful, and that 10 yard coal of the best 

 quality has been won beneath the Red Sandstone of West Bromwich. The shafts first sunk proved to be upon 

 a line of dislocation which, as I have previously explained, is the prolongation of the upcast of the Silurian 

 Rocks of Walsall and Tame Bridge, viz. from N.N.E. to S.S.W. ; whence I always supposed that the trial drifts 

 made to the East and N.E. were not likely to prove advantageous. These workings confirmed, indeed, the 

 speculations of the geologist, in bringing to light the existence of some points of trap-rock, accompanying 

 broken unproductive coal measures and Silurian Rocks. The latter, when followed to the N.E., were found 

 to be simply covered by the Red Sandstone, to the entire exclusion of the coal strata. No sooner, however, was 

 a drift carried to the West or towards the old coal-field, than it was successful (see p. 508); the thick coal 

 having been already followed for about 200 yards to the West and S.W. without disturbance, dipping gently 

 with the slope of the ground towards Oldbury, and rising slightly to the West. Having thus proved the value 

 of the ground, Lord Dartmouth has leased it to Messrs. Eaton and Salter, to both of whom I am indebted for 

 much obliging information, and to the latter for having preserved so accurately, under his Lordship's direction, 

 the produce of the trial shafts, accompanied by illustrative plans and sections. New shafts (the Victoria Pits) 

 are opening about 1000 yards to the West of the first sinkings, and, judging from the untroubled appearance of 

 the Red Sandstone through which they are passing, I am disposed to think that this speculation will altogether 



