IMPERIAL COAL WORKS OF LISSITCHIA-BALKA. 
109 
Imperial Coal-works of Lissitchia-Balka . — A long and narrow promontory, 
subtended by the Donetz, and extending to Privolnoe on the north-north-west, is 
composed of carbonaceous masses, the chief strike of which is in that direction, 
and therefore oblique to the prevalent bearing of the other masses which have been 
described (see Map). At Verknie, to the north of the great iron-foundries or 
Zavod of Lugan, the carboniferous strata emerge from beneath the cretaceous 
deposits, the relations of which will be hereafter described. Upcasts, similar 
indeed to those displayed near Uspensk, are exhibited in ascending the Donetz, 
and they constitute the nucleus of the hills on the right or west bank of that river. 
The existence of coals has been proved at three or four localities, but the site 
where the best seams were formerly discovered by Mr. Gascoigne, and where he 
commenced the chief Imperial works, is at a spot called Lissitchia-Balka, or 
“ Fox Dingle,” near the end of the promontory alluded to. Deep ravines which 
open out into the valley of the Donetz had here laid bare those natural outcrops 
of coal, which led to the present extended works. This spot, about thirty versts 
north-east of Bachmuth, is now the centre of a flourishing establishment, producing 
a considerable quantity of coal, the greater part of which is used in the manufac- 
ture of iron at the forges of Lugan. 
The works at this place have shown that the strata fold round, to some extent, 
in the form of a dome of elevation, dipping to the east, south and west, but the 
present levels are driven upon the easterly dip or towards the river Donetz, to 
which they incline at about 18°. A ravine, however, which opens out to the north, 
exposes the beds in very highly inclined positions with a disturbed strike, in parts 
vertical, and the dip even quite reversed. Ascending from the river banks by 
this ravine, we saw in succession highly inclined beds of limestone, clunch, sand- 
stone and coal, each of which were well known to the superintendent who ac- 
companied us, as being identical with some of those which are explored in the 
works beneath and on the regular dip. 
Including small and profitless layers, not less than thirteen seams of coal are 
passed through in the shafts at Lissitchia-Balka, seven of which are extracted for 
use ; the greater part of the coal is of fair quality, and some exceedingly good. 
The larger portion may be called bituminous coal, as it cements together in the fire, 
gives much flame and smoke, and serves for reverberating furnaces. Argillaceous 
schist and slate clay (clunch and clod) abound in great thicknesses, and although 
some of the beds contain small nodules of argillaceous iron-ore, with a septarian 
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