Mines and Mineral Statistics, 
bearing cannel coal is about 3 feet 2 inches in thickness, as shown 
in the folloAving section, Avhich I measured : — 
Blue Saotstoke. 
ft. in. 
1 :j6 fireclay 
1 clayband 
3 black “ casing” 
4 “ tops,” or impure shale, yielding 40 gallons of crude 
oil per ton 
6 to 8 black shale 
i „ S band of inferior fuller’s earth 
3 ferruginous black shale 
^ to 8 Avet ]upeclay 
3 ; 2 kerosene shale, yielding up to 80 galls, refined oil per 
ton 
10 “ bottoms,” yielding 60 galls, crude oil per ton 
i to 1 yelloAV band fuller’s earth 
bluish sandstone, Avith impressions of plants. 
The Glossopteris is also found in the above kerosene shale. 
The exact position of the kerosene shale I did not ascertain, 
but it is believed to bo about 40 feet aboA’-c the Lithgow Yalley 
coal seam, Avhich occurs here, only 2 feet thick ; its thinning out 
being doubtless due to the proximity of the granite, Avhich rises 
immediately to the south-Avest, thus cutting off the extension of 
the coal in that direction ; but away from the granite towards the 
north-east, in the direction of the dip, there is every probability 
of the coal becoming thicker. The seam of kerosene shale crops 
out a little above the level of the rixev Lett, and it is easily 
worked by an adit driven into the face of the hill. The shale is 
sent by the Great AYestern Bailway, a distance of eighty-three 
miles to the Company’s Avorks, near Sydney, where the “ Comet 
Oil” for illuminating purposes, and other products, are manu- 
factured from it ; it is also exported for gas-Avorks. 
Similar oil shale occurs in the upper coal measures, as at 
America Creek, near AYollongong, A\bei'e very extensive AVorks 
have been erected for extracting the oil. At Berriraa, and on 
the Upper Hunter, specimens of the shale from each ot these 
localities are exhibited, 
deferring to the kerosene shale scams, the late Mr. AY . Keene, 
then (1867) Examiner of Coal Eields, remarks that “the discovery 
of our wealth in brown cannel oil coals and oil shales will enable 
us to manufacture all the oil needful for our OAvn consumption, 
and even to export the raw article. AA^e knoAv that it exists iu 
many places at A\*ide areas apart, as may be seen by reference to 
the map ; and like to the richness of our coal seams, AAbich rich- 
ness is not excelled iu an equal vertical section in any part of the 
