32 GEOLOGY OF THE CAMPSIE HILLS. 



theory have been endeavoured to be drawn frora^ 

 their interior appearances. The metal produced 

 from this lenticular ore, is far superior, both in 

 quantity and in quality, to that which is extracted 

 from the ore that is found thinly stratified. 



Coal is very generally found around the v/hole^ 

 of the border of this district, excepting upon its 

 northern side ; and I have little doubt, but that 

 the whole of the Campsie Hills are incumbent 

 upon a coal-field. This, however, remains to be 

 proved, as no coal has as yet been attempted to 

 be found in the central part of the district, where 

 the vast thickness of the trap stratum proves a bar 

 to making trials of that kind at a moderate ex- 

 pence. Towards the western border, in the parish 

 of Campsie, and at the eastern extremity of the 

 district, in the parish of Larbert, coal has been 

 long and extensively wrought. Coal has also been 

 long wrought upon its southern basis, where its 

 hills dip into the vale of Kilsyth. The beds 

 and seams of coal that have been already wrought, 

 are of various thicknesses in various situations ; 

 but none of them exceed four feet. Their depth 

 under the surface- soil, varies from seven to twenty- 

 two fathoms. This coal is by no means of the 

 best quality : it is very generally found to contain 

 a considerable quantity of sulphur, and its bitu- 

 minous ingredient is far from being ample. In 

 burning, it emits a disagreeable smell, and leaves 

 a very large proportion of ashes. 



