339 
“ AltTiough there are numerous deep cuttings in the Carboniferous rocks of the 
Main Eaugo along the line of the Eailway between Murphy’s Creek and Highfields, yet 
no coal-seams hare been exposed, though this may in some measure be accounted for by 
the line following nearly along the outcrop of a thick bed of sandstone, which has a 
very gradual rise towards the summit of the Main Range, and passes under the basalt 
which forms the watershed between the eastern and western waters. 
“ Goal at Spring Creeh . — Crossing the basaltic tract to the westward, the first 
point where the Carboniferous strata are visible is at Spring Creek, near the Warwick 
Eailway, six miles west from Toowoomba. Here a thin seam of coal has been cut in 
sinking a well, and a seam three inches thick, accompanied by black shales and iron- 
stones, are exposed in the bed of the creek ; but the strata being nearly horizontal, they 
soon pass under the basalt again on all sides, so that there is no gi’eat thickness of the 
sedimentary strata exposed in section.* 
“ Coal, Hodgson's Greeh . — Six miles W.S.W. from Cambooya Eailway Station, in 
the bed of Ilodg.son’s Crook, large blocks of coal, some exceeding 1 cwt., have been 
drifted out of the waterholes ; and the Carboniferous shales and soft sandstones are 
largely exposed on the west side of the creek, extending nearly ten miles to the south- 
west. The coal is found along the channel of the creek for a distance of two miles, in 
a condition which indicates that it has only moved a few yards from the original seam. 
This coal is of excellent quality, being hard and capable of standing carriage and 
exposure to wet without injury. It does not make good coke. Specific gravity, 1’33. 
Volatile in coking ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 
Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 
Asli ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 
100 
“ Clifton Goal . — -The Clifton Coal Mine is situate two miles beyond the Clifton 
Hailway Station, close to the east side of the line. Two shafts have been sunk, and a 
bed of coal four to five feet thick is worked at a depth of sixty feet. A second seam of 
two feet at eighty feet, and a third of one and a half feet at one hundred feet, have been 
out in the principal shaft. 
“ The Upper Seam, which is the one worked, produces good coal, varying from 
bright bituminous to dead black oil coal, all being very hard and tough, so that it bears 
carriage without breaking. It produces a high percentage of gas or oil, according to 
the mode of treatment. Specific gravity, 1'26 to 1‘35. 
Volatile in coking ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 
Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 
Ash ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 
100 
“The Second Seam is better suited for coke, as it cokes [cakes ?] in heating. 
“ The Longer Seam is very hard oil coal. Specific gravity, 1'32. 
Volatile in coking ... ... ... ... ... ... 47 
Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37 
Asb 16 
100 
* It may be remarked that this spot is nearly on the same level as the junction of the basalt and 
® ratified rocks near Highfields, on the east of the Range, so that the bottom of the basalt appears to be 
Pretty level in this locality. Mr. Gregory’s Geological MaiJ shows that the basalt extends many miles further 
western boundary they form no escarpments, but appear to dip under the western members 
rue Ipswich Formation. (B.L.J.) 
