COAL MINES OF JELEZNOE OR NIKITOFKA. 
105 
these deposits are considered to be the equivalents of the Rothe-todte-liegende, 
but we are not of this opinion, because we know, that in the regular ascending 
order as previously described (p. 95.), red sandstones pass under and alternate 
with beds of carboniferous limestone, and that the highest beds of the system, 
consisting of black shale and ferruginous sandstone of very dissimilar composi- 
tion, are not surmounted by any such strata. The whole of the seams of coal 
which occur at intervals throughout this district are invariably interlaced with 
calcareous courses, which are charged with the fossils of the mountain limestone ; 
and as such fossils are seen at intervals throughout the whole series, we consider 
(subject always to corrections resulting from more detailed survey) that all these 
grits and sandstones, whatever may be their colour, are subordinate to the carbo- 
niferous limestone. Such, at all events, are the whetstones, flagstones and grits 
which repose upon and alternate with thin courses of limestone between Gosu- 
darev-Buyerak and the great road from Novo Tcherkask to Baclimuth, and which 
constitute a plateau, with anthracite and coal-seams in the valley on either side 
of it. Nor do we see how any of the red rocks in question can be separated from 
the same group (see PI. I. fig. 7.). 
Coal-mines of Jeleznoc or Nikitofka 1 . — On the east bank of the Toretz lies the 
village of Jeleznoe, deriving its name from a little stream, the Jeleznaia, and 
distinguished, like some other places in those tracts, by numerous remains of the 
idols of the Aborigines, carved out of the stronger and coarser grits previously 
described. Ascending by the Jeleznaia, we were conducted to the chief coal- 
works of the villagers, situated at a height of perhaps 300 or 400 feet above 
the adjacent valley, and about seven versts from the village, on the western slope 
of the round-backed plateau or steppe which intervenes between Jeleznoe and 
Gosudarev-Buyerak . 
The strata being here considerably inclined (from 40“ to 80 ), a succession of 
coal-seams and shale is exposed, alternating with hard bands of grit, sandstone 
and limestone, as represented in the section (PI. I. fig. 8.). 
In descending from the plateau to the west and south, the lowest strata, which 
occupy indeed the largest surface of these upper steppes or moorlands, are seen to 
consist of hard, grey, gritty sandstones, weathering to a rusty colour, and very 
much resembling the moor-stones of the west of Durham, the Yoikshire Dales and 
1 A correct and minute description of these coal-mines will be found in the memoir of Capt. Ivan- 
itzki. We merely describe what we saw at one spot and at a period when the works were abandoned. 
