NOV.. 1891. MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 251 
and the saddle shape of the coal here bared shows the 
abrupting effect of the subterranean expansion produced 
upon the upheaval of the limestone ridges, in a somewhat 
different manner to that shown near theNetherton Hills unon 
the other side of the town of Dudley. Upon the west side of 
the limestone ridges the cropping out of the coal measures may 
be observed following a long and much more easily defined line. 
The violence of the obtrusion of the huge dome of limestone 
was probably unaccompanied by high temperature in the 
measures immediately subjacent to the surface, for the coal 
here is very hard and good, and of an average thickness of 
eleven yards. The Claycroft open works were here seen, 
where the thick coal, thirty-five feet thick, was being quarried, 
and the full section was open to the surface. From there the 
party proceeded to Sedgley Beacon, close to which is the 
Western Boundary Fault of the South Staffordshire coalfield, 
which was described by Mr. Henry Johnson, M.E., Dudley, 
in the programme supplied to the party, as follows :—Up to 
the present time only one attempt has been made, by 
sinking, to prove the nature of the strata beyond the 
fault, whilst the result of numerous lateral explorations 
from the parent coalfield indicate that it is a clean cut 
off fault of varying extent, but probably not more exten¬ 
sive than the so-called Boundary Fault, which brings 
in the Permians at a point directly opposite on the eastern 
side of the coalfield. The Eastern Boundary or “ Symon ” 
Fault of the Shropshire coalfield, which, until quite recently 
was known only as a slightly inclined ledge of denuded coal 
measures, led many to the opinion that the Western 
Boundary Fault of the South Staffordshire coalfield was a 
highly inclined cliff of coal measures, also the result of 
denudation, and that the intervening space was once the site 
of an estuary, the waters of which had carried away the coal¬ 
bearing strata, and which had become filled up by a subsequent 
deposition of Triassic and Permian strata. This opinion has, 
however, quite recently received a complete negative, for the 
“Symon” Fault has proved to be only a “wash-out” of 
comparatively limited extent, the coal measures and coals 
existing intact in the direction of South Staffordshire. 
This concluded the tour, and votes of thanks were 
accorded to the Earl of Dudley and Mr. Gr. H. Claughton 
for their kindness to the party. On the return to Dudley 
the party partook of tea a la fourchette at the Saracen’s Head 
Hotel, after which they dispersed. 
Fortunately the party were under shelter during the 
