CHAPTER XXXII.

COAL.

The Age of Coal-Plants of the Carboniferous Age-Hugh Miller's Description of a

Coal Forest-Vast Time required for the Formation of the Coal-fields-Derange-

ments and Dislocations-Faults-Their Disadvantages and Advantages-Bitu-

minous Coals-Anthracites-Our Black Diamonds-Advantageous Position of

our Coal-Mines-The South Welsh Coal-field-Great Central and Manchester

Coal-fields-The Whitehaven Basin and the Dudley Area-Newcastle and Dur-

ham Coal-fields-Costly Winnings-A Ball in a Coal-pit-Submarine Coal Mines

-Newcastle-View from Tynemouth Priory-Hewers-Cutting Machines—

Putters-Onsetters-Shifters-Trapper-boys-George Stephenson-Rise of Coal

Production-Probable Duration of our Supply-Prussian Coal Mines— Belgian

Coal Mines-Coal Mines in various other countries-Maunch Chunck. Page 390

CHAPTER XXXIII.

BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES.

Formation of Petroleum-Enormous Production of the Pennsylvanian Wells-

Asphalte used by the Ancients-Asphalte Pavements-The Pitch Lake of

Trinidad-Jet-Its Manufacture in Whitby

426

CHAPTER XXXIV.

SALT.

Geological Position of Rock Salt-Mines of Northwich-Their immense Excava-

tions-Droitwich and Stoke-Wieliczka-Berchtesgaden and Reichenhall-

Admirable Machinery-Stassfurt-Processes employed in the Manufacture of

Salt--Origin of Rock-salt Deposits .
.. 431

CHAPTER XXXV.

SULPHUR.

Sulphur Mines of Sicily-Conflagration of a Sulphur Mine-The Solfataras of

Krisuvick-Iwogasima in Japan-Solfatara of Puzzuoli-Crater of Teneriffe

-Alaghez-Büdöshegy in Transylvania - Sulphur from the Throat of

Popocatepetl -Sulphurous Springs - Pyrites - Mines of San Domingo in

Portugal-The Baron of Pommorão.

441

CHAPTER XXXVI.

AMBER.

Various Modes of its Collection on the Prussian Coast-What is Amber?-The

extinct Amber Tree-Insects of the Miocene Period inclosed in Amber-

Formidable Spiders-Ancient and Modern Trade in Amber

449

MISCELLANEOUS MINERAL SUBSTANCES USED IN THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS.

Alum-Alum Mines of Tolfa-Borax-The Suffioni in the Florentine Lagoons-

China-clay-How formed?-Its Manufacture in Cornwall-Plumbago-Emery

-Tripolite

Page 458

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

CELEBRATED QUARRIES.

Carrara-The Pentelikon-The Parian Quarries-Rosso antico and Verde antico-

The Porphyry of Elfdal-The Gypsum of Montmartre-The Alabaster of Vol-

terra-The Slate Quarries of Wales 'Princesses' and 'Duchesses'-' Ladies' and

'Fat Ladies'—St. Peter's Mount near Maestricht-Egyptian Quarries—Haggar

Silsilis-The Latomia of Syracuse-A Triumph of Poetry

464

CHAPTER XXXIX.

PRECIOUS STONES.

Diamonds-Diamond Cutting-Rose Diamonds-Brilliants-The Diamond District

in Brazil-Diamond Lavras-The great Russian Diamond-The Regent-The

Koh-i-Noor-Its History-The Star of the South-Diamonds used for Industrial

Purposes-The Oriental Ruby and Sapphire-The Spinel-The Chrysoberyl-

The Emerald-The Beryl-The Zircon―The Topaz-The Oriental Turquoise―

The Garnet-Lapis Lazuli--The Noble Opal-Inferior Precious Stones-The

Agate-Cutters of Oberstein-Rock Crystal-The Rock-crystal Grotto of the

Galenstock

. 477

6

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

MAPS.

Of the World, showing the distribution of Volcanoes and the
Districts visited by Earthquakes

Of Great Britain, showing the Coal-fields and chief Mining
Districts

Of America, showing the Coal-fields and Mineral Districts

Aqueous Strata disturbed by Igneous Formations
Ammonites Henleyi (Middle Lias) from Haughton's 'Manual of Geology'
Trilobite
from Kemp's Phasis of Matter'

4

9

11

Pterygotus acuminatus (Eurypterid) from Haughton's Manual of Geology'
Spirifer princeps (Brachiopod)

12

12

PAGE

Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus (British Museum-found in the

Lias of Street, near Glastonbury) from Haughton's Manual of Geology' 21 Glyptodon clavipes

Diagram illustrating action of Syphon
Section of an Intermittent Spring
Geysirs of Iceland

25

engraved by G. Pearson

44

45

49

53

57

81

94

114

128

Stalactital Cavern at Aggtelek: the Cave

Ice Streams in the Upper Glacière of St. Livres
Entrance to the Glacière of St. Georges
Gallery with Tombs from Northcote and Brownlow's 'Roma Sotterranea'
Cave in Dream Lead Mine, near Wirksworth, Derby-

Section of a Lead Mine in Cardiganshire from Ure's Dictionary of Arts,

Part of a Colliery laid out in four panels
General View of Mining Operations

238

239

251

252

255

engraved by G. Pearson 257

Tools used by Miners in Cornwall {from fire's Dictionary of Arts

Stamping Mill from Ure's 'Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines'
Grinding Mill

306

307