Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
i8i 
volatile matter between those of Torbane Hill and New South 
AVales, the latter having by far the greatest amount, with much 
less ash than the former. 
Mesozoic or Seco^stdart Formations. 
It has been supposed that I have a dislihe to rocks of Mesozoic 
age ; but the endeavours made by me to bring to light theic 
existence in Australia, (sec Mr. Daintree’s notes, and Mr. C, 
Moore’s paper in Q.J.Gr.S., vol xxvi, 22G-261) ouglit to save me 
from any imputation of that kind. I can only sa}^ that whether 
I have been mistaken or not in any given case connected with 
the geological epochs of Australasia, it is not from want of honest 
devotion to the cause of truth, nor from a desire to hold my 
own without reason against those who differ from me, tliat I have 
in so many publications during more than thirty years of earnest 
inquiry, defended v;hat I conscientiously believe. 
With this admission I may go on to explain, that though I 
hold our worked coal seams, which now extend lower than the 
Newcastle strata, to he Palfeozoic, there are in Qiieciisland, 
Victoria, and New South AVales, deposits of coal fx-om which the 
characteristic plant and its associates appear to be excluded. 
The rule, I think, in such a case as that before us, should be 
laid down, that plant remains iy tJiemscJvfcs prove very little as to 
the ixncompared age of any formation, but when asaocutfed ivith 
marine fosaih^ tvkose ar/e is detenninahle, they must go with that 
formation of whatever ago it may be ; for although plants may be 
swept into the ocean at an}’' period of their existence, tliey could 
not be bedded in the same masses of stone formed in the ocean 
and amidst the marine fossils, without belonging to tlic epoch of 
the latter. 
Such is tlie case in Australia with Grlossopteids, and perhaps 
some others; hence I claim for that at least a Palicozoic age. 
And so with those described by Mr, Etlieridge and IMr. Mooi’C 
(in the Memoirs above cited) the Mesozoic 'marine fossils prove 
the plants to be of that epoch ; and when the same ]dants occur in 
strata which can be referred to a Secondary formation, and in 
such also as are carboniferous, it may be readily granted that 
they are common to the two. But in the case of (llossopteria 
no indication is at present jxroduciblo of its existence in the 
later formations. 
We may therefore refer certain deposits in Queensland, in 
parts of New South Wales, or the coal series of Auctoria, to 
Mesozoic (not Oolitic) times, without trenching on the Carhon- 
iferons indications. 1 do not profess to know — and I know no 
one who is able to tell me — why such arrangements exist (especi- 
ally as Mr. CaiTuthers’ doctrine is true, that Tamiopteris and 
Glossopteris are akin in structure) as place plants very much 
