ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 66

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

On Saturday we gave a description of the discovery of coal on Mount Davey, in the Paparoa Ranges, about two miles and a-half i from Blackball, on the West Coast, together iwith particulars of the analyses of Pro- I fessors Maclaurin and Black and other particulars. 'We now give some additional details showing the value of the discovery : — Mr P. F. Daniel, F.G.S., London, M.1.M.E., M.M., has furnished a report to the following effect: — The property is situated in the heart of the Grey coalfield, about two miles and a-half south-west of the township of Blackball and the Blackball Company's colliery, about eight miles north of the Briber, Tyneside, and Tyno Top collieries, and almost adjoining the northern boundary of the State coal mine reserved area The eurface of the lease is of rugged character, solid and extensive spurs alternating with deep ravine-like .valleys, the altitude above sea level varying jbetween 1400 and 3000 feet. About twothirds of the total area is covered with iieavy bush, which also.jobtains for many j miles round on the . lower slopes of the mountains. In- the widely circulated Geological Reports of -the colony.- the Grey coalfield has been so ably and exhaustively de- . scribed at frequent intervals by Sir James •Hector, Mr Alexander M'Kay, F.G.S., and other eminent geologists that, for purposes «jf this report," length-*- reference is unnecessary. Briefly stated, the measure which contain bituminous, semi-bituminous, and anthracitous coal, consist of grits and con- - glomerates of Upper Mesozoio age, corresponding to the horizon of the Gault or Lower Greensand of the European Creta- \ ceous formations: In the Grey field the ; measures attain an approximate thickness j of over 5000 ft; they rest upon slate,, and, dn sequence, are overlaid by island sand- * stone (Saurian beds), dark marls, green grits, .limestone, marlstone, calcareous marl, and terrace gravels. By upheaval and subsequent denudation the deepest coal beds of ihe measures have , been brought to the surface and exposed in the area enclosed J>y the boundaries of your lease, the six •earns bared in outcrops ranking in coal classification from the very best of bitufeninous to high-grade anthracitous.* On the east of the main ridge the head waters of Tord's, ' Waterfall, .Tunnel, and Soldiers' Creeks take their rise, close to the western boundary of the lease, and in their downward course cut the eastern boundary. .Their falls are very rapid, averaging about 1 in 3. The -deep valleys thus formed expose complete sections of the country from Abe crown of the - range -to a level 1500 ft below, and show 'that the measures are true jfeo iheir. bedding^^indljtha^Jfchroughout^the,*rfible extent "of -the -property^ the coal-fleams" ■- are undisturbed 'by fault, dislocation,',, or ./surface 'rpll.-^ -Th«.; ravines 'further '-'afford , unequalled facilities- 'for natural drainage «rid . ventilation, a*nd allow over two-thirds ■ bf the vast ooal area being worked to the rise, level free.