Illustrations of the Geology of the Yorkshire Coal Field

Abstract

He observed that the Coal-field of Yorkshire is one of the largest, and is hitherto less exhausted of its minerals than any other in Great Britain. The towns of Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, and Barnsley owe their existence to them. About 4,000,000 tons are annually raised, and owing to the want of a cheap and quick communication to the sea, on the one hand, only comparatively few tons are annually exported, while Northumberland and Durham export 7,000,000 tons; and, on the other, without any connection with any main trunk lines of railway of the country, as the Sheffield and Manchester, or Midland, the Coal-field from Wakefield to near Sheffield is completely cut off from all cheap and quick modes of transit. Some of the lower portions of the strata of this Coal-field are prolonged into Derbyshire, and others into Lancashire. The vertical thickness of the whole strata is about 1,200 yards, which may be divided into three parts. The lowest portion, about 200 yards thick, does not produce coal of any very great value. The middle portion, prolonged into Derbyshire, is about 600 yards thick, and contains the most productive and richest number of coal seams. The upper portion, about 300 yards thick, consists entirely of coarser arenaceous beds, and the coal beds do not, as lower in the series, cover large areas. The Rev. Gentleman proceeded into a minute detail of the Various seams of coal, their position, quantity, and quality, which he illustrated by reference to various ...