Faunal Horizons in the Bristol Coalfield

Abstract

T he Bristol Coalfield differs from the Midland and more northerly fields in the paucity of animal remains which have been discovered therein. Whereas the last-mentioned coalfields are capable of division by their faunas alone, the Bristol Coalfield, and the South Wales Coalfield, can hardly be so treated; and, for the same reason, no close correlation with the Midland and Northern Coalfields can be established, except by means of fossil plants and the general lithological agreement. The Bristol Coalfield is largely covered by later rocks, surface-sections being rare. The search for evidences of a fauna has therefore to be carried on chiefly under ground, and among material brought to the surface in the course of mining operations. By an examination of a measured section at the junction of the Millstone Grit and Lower Coal-Measures in the South Liberty Colliery at Bristol, I was able to demonstrate the existence of a marine fauna in these measures. The same method has since been applied to the measures underlying the Bedminster Great Vein, and with successful results. It was shown in my former paper ( op. cit. p. 448) that the Bedminster Great Vein was correlated by Handel Cossham with the Kingswood Great Vein, so that the measures examined have a development along the whole of the south-western side of the Bristol area. With the guidance of the information obtained from the Ashton and Bedminster Series, and with the aid of a grant of £20 from the Royal Society, search has been prosecuted at as