The Coal Fields of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ...Woodspring, Worlebury, and Brean Down, it is not probable that any workable Coals exist. In the flat and steep Holms we have evidence of the further existence of the anticlinal axis of Broadfield Down and the Mendip Hills, but they approach so near each other that there seems little chance of Coal-measures in the narrow trough between them. It is probable that the basin or trough of Nailsea may extend southwards from Kenn Moor, passing over the subterranean ridge of the Broadfield anticlinal, and forming a southern trough between this and Banwell Hills. No attempt has ever been made to find coal here, and until the ground has been proved by trial borings, it is impossible to say what might occur. The coal, if found here, may be continuous with that of the main southern basin, towards Farrington and Bishop Sutton. Before passing to the more important development of the lower series in the extreme south of the coalfields, the small district of Clapton-in-Gordano claims a passing notice. The interest of this exposure of the Coal-measures is rather geological than commercial, as no workable coals have been discovered as yet in this locality. The Coal-measures are seen in two or three patches, extending along the northern flank of the Carboniferous Limestone of Leigh Down, Tickenham, and Clevedon. They are here brought in by a large fault running parallel to the axis of the Limestone range, and where the Coal-measures abut on the fault they are tilted up at a high angle and much dislocated. There seems to be no doubt that they belong to the lower series, and form a detached portion of the Nailsea measures. This is shown by the presence of the Pennant Grit behind Sir Abraham Elton's Hill, which appears to rest on the Coal-measures exposed at...