335 



Guppy Reprint 



87 



Page 114 



perfectly satisfied that if a quantity could be obtained it 

 would be of great use in the operations of the sugar works, 

 although, from the proximity to the surface, and the conse- 

 quent exposure to atmospheric and aqueous deterioration, 

 the specimens employed must have been much inferior to 

 that existing at a depth. The only beds at present known — 

 three in number — are intersected by the Savanetta river on 

 the Caracas estate. The thicknesses are twenty inches for 

 the upper and twelve inches each for the two lower seams. 

 They are associated with clays, sands, and peculiar blue and 

 grey shales, which repose on an extremely ferruginous 

 stratum, under which are the limestones and calcareous 

 sandstones of the Montserrat hills, near the base of which 

 range the strata in question are situated. Proceeding north 

 toward the plain of Couva, the carboniferous clays and 

 shales are soon covered with loose sands, so that their ex- 

 tension in this direction is at present indeterminate. The 

 section (Fig. 4) illustrates the stratigraphical relations just 

 described. 



In mineral character, these beds of lignitic coal bear con- 

 siderable resemblance to specimens of a similar substance 

 discovered at Pointe Noir ; and the geologists have ascer- 

 tained that both belong to the same formation, which 

 extends, as described in their Report, across the island. 



In passing from the center of the ridge (in the vicinity of 

 Tumana) to the Caroni, the sequence showed in Fig. 5 was 

 observed. In this section there is a much greater develop- 

 ment of the same ferruginous stratum as exists at Couva ; 

 but one passes directly from it to the sands, without tra- 

 versing any intervening clays or shales. If then the car- 

 boniferous series exist there they must be concealed by the 

 greater extent and thickness of the sands in this localit}^. 



