COAL SEAMS NEAR EKETAHUNA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 677, 30 November 1909, Page 8

COAL SEAMS NEAR EKETAHUNA.

' Eeferenco is made in tho annual report of tliei Goologioal Survey.. Department to .an examination of the cofel-beariug strata . in', the neighbourhood of Tiraoinea sheep station, southeast of Eketahuna. It is stated.that thin and" • very inconsistent seams, of iow-grade coal:(apr parehtly sub-bituminous or lignitic : inequality) appear in-several places-on tie Tiraumea Es--tate, 'hdtdbly in Spring Hill Creek, a -small tributary- of r th'e: JNgara'ngikopo, whichV again is:.'a tribataiy of the ,'i'jraumea; and, 'again, , close to the }lgarangikopo, just below.the falls on that stream; and, further, near. the Tiraumea. Falls : themselves. _.Tho ■ seams are, only a lew "rn'chee' thick, and, though they may ■coiitAin , ' a little fine' lustrous, coal,- in. general is very impure. While-it, is not- 1 . ■ ablei tuni the coal is always seen in practice ally, .the .-same-horizon, •■ ! riauioly, in ; - the conglomerates and sandstou.es just above the Etmutaka Series'—a fact which suggests a.definite Btratnm—the thinness and great irregularity ■ of thoVseams and the general impurity' of the .coal appear unfavourable to the discovery of any definite continuous deposit. /The limestones apparently> are generally impure; being either Sandy or.clayey.. .Generally, too,; the thin beds of. a foot or less-in thickness are interstratifled with.beds'of claystoneyas seen at the Tiraumea Falls,":"r;It is: proposed to uso the limestone as ,'roadV inetal;' for-.'which, .purposo.it will/prove, of • great valuo. Some .of. it might later, be utilised 'for cements..':.' ■. , ; : :-;/ ■'.■:■•■■■