rd 
The author-endeavours_to confine him- 
self to the great outlines and general prin- 
ciples of the subject, without descending 
to the minute descriptions of the minera- 
Zogist on the'technical distinctions of the 
miners 
The tract of @untry most worthy at- 
tention is. that which is distinguished by 
a bed of coal of ten yards thick, and 
within the reach of human industry and 
practical advantage. This tract is about 
seven miles in length, and on an average 
about four miles in breadth. A’ consi- 
derable part of this district is covered by . 
two ranges of mountains,» Dudley and 
Rowley hills. This tract of land, through 
which pass several. branches- of canals, 
comprehends Bilston, Darleston, Wed- 
nesbury, Dudley, and Oldbury, with 
their parishes of Shore, Tipton, Sedg- 
ley, Gornal, and Nertherton, with part’ 
of West Bromwich, and the Collieries of 
Dudleywood, Brettel-lane, Amblecott, 
and the Lye. 
The abundance of coal, iron-stone, - 
lime-stone, and clay, together with the 
intercourse opened, by means of canals, 
between, the distant parts of the king- 
dom, and especially Bristol, Liverpool, 
and Hull, have promoted the establish- 
ment of iron-founderies, forges, and fur- 
naces, with other extensive manufacto-- 
nes. Hence a multitude.of workmen 
are employed in forging various goods, 
as guns, locks, screws, and nails. » Of 
nails, the quantity manufactured in this 
district is greater than, perhaps, in any 
other in the world. 
There-afe, nevertheless, other thin- 
ner beds of coal, of three or four. feet 
thick, which extend North, at least, over 
a space equal to what has heen described. 
These thin beds commence at the dis- 
tance of a few miles: from the northern 
termination of the ten-yard bed, which 
‘crops out, as the miners say, or abruptly 
rises to the surface, and is no more seen 
in that direction, -I shall hereafter give 
my reasons for believing, that these thin 
strata rise from undenthe tei-yard bed. 
To obtain a distinct idea of the mine- 
ralogy of this country, one must point 
out certain prominent features .on the 
surface. ~And first, that range of lime- 
stone mountains which rises on the north- 
ern tract near Wolverhampton and Bil- 
stone, and extends south to;Dudley, si- 
tuated on. the slope of the last chain-of 
mountains, rendered conspicuous by the 
finé ruin of an ancient castle. ; 
Another range of mountains, rising 
from the side of Dudley, opposite to the 
limestone hills, and proceeding nearly 
Coal ana Limestone Strata in Staffordshire. 
and the former range. 
[Aug. 1,. 
in the same direction, but a little more . 
to the éast, constitutes.a second remarks 
able feature. The nature of the basalizc 
reck, of which these are composed, pro- 
duces a strong distinction between them 
This rangé of mountains proceeds from 
Dudley, through Rowley ; whence they 
are called Rowley Hills: and, dividing 
into two branches, terminate in a valley 
between Oldbury and Hales Owen. Be- 
sides these are two detached hills, . 
which, ‘having-an influence on the in-- 
clination of the coal, deserve, notice. 
On these stands Wednesbury church, 
and that which is near the village of 
Netherten. 
“Et is an important fact, that generally 
this inclination corresponds with that of 
the nearest limestone hill, or these strata 
rise in the same direction, though not in 
the same degree, asthe limestone rises.— 
The range of mouutains from Dudley to 
Wolverhampton is formed of beds of 
‘limestone, elevated to a high pitch or 
each side, and so inclining, that, by their | 
approach, they form a long ridge near 
their tops, not unlike the roof of house. 
Iv the same manner, the coal, and its ac- 
companying strata, lying to the east and 
west ‘of these mountains, rise or crop Out 
on both sides, in directions corresponding 
with those of the neighbouring lime- | 
stone strata. I shall afterwards shew, 
that the coal itself is subject to very 
singular irregularities .of position and 
inclination. ipa 
This general correspondence of in- 
clination of coal and limerocks is farther 
confirmed by the two following circum- 
stances. \ 1. The west side of the range 
of limestone hills is steeper than the east 
side, and accordingly the coal in the west 
side slips more rapidly, and is sooner out 
of the reach of miners than the coal on 
the east, which furnishes the, prineipal 
collieries. res 
2. The limestone hill, that is.at the 
northern extremity of the range, does 
not appear to be elevated on both sides, 
in the manner in which I have described ~ 
the general formation of those hills, but 
on the east side only: and accordingly 
the coal is found on that side only; as 
if the elevation of the rock on the west- 
ern side had not been sufficiently great, 
to make it appear upon ground, or to 
raisé the coal to such’ a height, as to 
bring it within the reach of miners. 
I have mentioned that the bed of coal 
does not extend over the limestone hills, 
but it seems to have broken off near their 
base; and it skirts their eastern and west~ - 
ern 
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