68 
Sedimentary Formations 
from what lie deems a Secondary formation, intermediate in 
volatile matter between those of Torhane Ilill and Hew South 
Wales, tlie latter having by far the greatest amount, with much 
less ash than the former. 
Puller statements respecting the localities maybe found in my 
paper “ On the Occurrence and Geological Position of OiUbcarinrf 
Deposits in JST.SJF.f Q.J.G.S. xxii., p. 439. The reader wiii 
also find numerous local sections of the Coal-beds in various parts 
of the same Colony in the “ Reports of the Department of Mines,” 
by John Mackenzie, F.G.S., Examiner of Coal-fields, and C. 
S. Wilkinson, F.G.S., Government Geologist (I875-G), and 
especially in the work entitled “ Mines and Mineral Statistics ,” 
lS7o, prepared for the Philadelphia Exhibition. Mr. Mackenzie 
has also given sections from what the Victorian authorities call 
the “ Carbonaceous ” rocks of their Colony. 
§ 5. Mesozotc on Secondary Formations. 
It must not be supposed,from my strong advocacy of a Palaeozoic 
age for the workable Coal of Now South Wales, that I repudiate 
the existence of the Secondary Formation in Australia; or that, 
because I oppose an Oolitic or Jurassic age for our Coal-seams, 
I consider that no Coal, however insignificant it may be, does 
exist in Australia, or even in Hew South Wales, which is younger 
than Palaeozoic. There is sufficient evidence in the preceding 
pages to the contrary to do away with that idea, besides having 
done my best to bring to light the great Mesozoic formations of 
Queensland (See various notes by myself in the “ Quarterly Jour- 
naif and the valuable Memoirs of Air. DaintrecyF.G.S., and Mr. 
Moore, F.G.S., xxvi., 22G-2G1). Although I bold the opinion 
expressed above, there are deposits of Coal of inferior value as 
relates to extent of area, in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and 
Hew South Wales, from which the distinguishing typical plants 
are excluded; and which, till the discovery of such, must remain, 
taking into consideration also their stratigraphical position, of 
more recent age than the rich deposits of the Illawarra, Hunter 
River, Talbragar, Ac. I can only say, 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, that 1 have in so many 
publications during more than thirty-eight years of earnest 
inquiry, defended what I conscientiously believe. 
The rule, I think, in such a case as that before us, should be 
laid down, that plant remains by themselves prove very little as to 
the unco in pared age of any formation, hut when associated with 
Marine fossils , whose aye is determinable , they must go with that 
