10 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



been said, that coal is always found in layers and beds, not in veins, 

 as metals are. If yon compare the following sketch of a mining 

 country with the coal-field above given, you will see the difference at 

 once. This difference is of the greatest importance in mining for 

 coal, as we shall see by-and-bye, but we must not wander from our 

 point at present. 



I have only run over one of the coal-fields of Britain yet, and not 

 quite the largest. There is the Whitehaven coal-field, which sup- 

 plies all Lancashire, and which has galleries far beneath the sea. 

 The great Yorkshire coal-field is one of our busiest manufacturing 

 districts. We may well say that, when we remember that Bradford, 

 Leeds, and Halifax are the very heart of the cloth trade. This im- 

 portant field runs down in a long strip to Nottinghamshire, passing 

 by Doncaster and Mansfield. It includes nearly one thousand square 

 miles, and it is really larger than this, for they have been trying of 

 late to find coal beneath the Magnesian Limestone to the east of it. 

 The Duke of Newcastle has lately sunk shafts, and profitably too, 

 through the limestone and the red rock beneath, and then pierced 

 the coal, and got plenty of it. 



Now the Yorkshire coal-field runs clown (see the map) all the 

 eastern side of Derbyshire, outside the Mountain Limestone of that 

 beautiful tract. On its west side runs the Lancashire coal before- 

 mentioned. Thus both sweep round the limestone like a mourning 

 cloak thrown over the shoulders ; and here again we see the close 

 connection of Mountain Limestone, Millstone Grit, and Coal. 



The little tract called the South Staffordshire coal-field is a rich, 

 nay, for the size the richest of all our coal-fields. Except one in 

 Nova Scotia, this little coal-field contains the very thickest seam of 

 the invaluable mineral known in the whole world, for the " Thick 

 Coal" of Staffordshire is thirty feet. And I believe more iron, is got 

 here than in any other district of the same area. The Dudley and 

 Wolverhampton ironmasters are the princes of the trade, though 

 South Wales is treading closely on their heels. I need only mention 

 that five million tons are raised per annum in this district — worth a 

 million and a quarter pounds sterling. 



There are the smaller fields of Ashby de la Zouch ; the Tamworth 

 coal-field, with its beds thrown up in nearly a vertical position ; the 

 Bewdley or Forest of Wyre ; Shrewsbury ; Lee Botwood ; Clee Hills ; 

 all little patches, which once no doubt were joined together. But 

 the restless sea swept over them, and since they have been raised 

 into dry land, the breakers have beaten against their coasts till they 

 have left us only shreds and patches of what was once a continuous 

 coal-field in mid England. 



Then there is the Flint coal-field, which keeps the North Welsh- 

 men warm, It ranges from the sea near Chester to Oswestry, on 

 the borders of Shropshire, and, in conjunction with the lead-works 

 in i lie limestone (Mountain Limestone again you perceive) which, 

 runs all fche way along its edge, keeps a large population busy. It 

 does one's heart good, when going into Wales for a holiday (and you 



