DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND.

7

CHAPTER II.

Coal Mines.—Formation of Coal.—Numberof Seams.—Dislocations of Strata. — Boun-daries.—.Independent and Secondary Forma-tions.

The Coal Mines being the principal pointin question, and the amelioration of the miserywhich has of late so widely extended itself forwant of possible remedies being adopted, itmay not be improper to commence with theorigin and chemical nature of coal, and withthe seams or strata in which it is generallyfound, before the minutiae of circumstancesare entered into.

According to the opinion of most modemmineralogists, there are three different kindsof coal formation entirely different from eachother; and as the knowledge of this must beat all times interesting, and conduce to theimprovement of society, it cannot emanatein a more applicable shape than from a workentirely connected with its uses. The truecoal formation consists principally of extensiveparallel strata of coal, covered by strata of