152 COAL-FIELD OF CLACKMANNANSHIRE. 



their accompanying strata, consequently rise in all di- 

 rections, till they meet the alluvial cover at the sur- 

 face, or are cut off by slips or dislocations : and that 

 no part of the beds of coal and their accompanying 

 strata, are of a straight tabular form, excepting in 

 very limited portions, particularly when lying along 

 the face of primitive or transition mountains, as be- 

 fore stated. 



The bason form of the coal-fields involves theories 

 which have been brought forward by geologists. 

 This particular form appears to be connected with 

 the form of the mountain-rocks upon which the 

 coal strata rest ; and, perhaps, the great slips or dis- 

 locations, such as are found, in the Clackmannan- 

 shire coal-field, one of which produces a dislocation 

 of not less than 410 yards perpendicular, may be oc- 

 casioned also by the form of the mountain-rocks, 

 which, we conclude, lie underneath all the coal stra- 

 ta ; and we are warranted to draw this conclusion 

 from what we so distinctly see to be the case, along 

 the faces of mountains adjoining coal-fields. 



