On the Geology and Palæontology of the Warwickshire Coalfield

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
I. Introduction. Warwickshire, the nearest of the Midland coalfields to London, with an annual output of coal exceeding 3,500,000 tons, is of considerable economic importance. The potential value of this coalfield is also very great, because within recent years the coal-producing area has been nearly doubled, and it is still rapidly extending. During the preparation of the reports by the Royal Commission on Coal Supplies, both in 1871 and in 1905, great difficulty was experienced by the Commissioners in estimating the coal-resources of Warwickshire, because the geology of the coalfield, especially with regard to the relationship of the so-called ‘permian’ to the Coal Measures, was not fully understood. Again, as recently as 1008, Dr. Walcot Gibson (08) expressed the opinion that ‘it would appear advisable, before making more ambitious attempts at development in the Triassic areas, to first determine the exact geological position and character of the so-called Permian.’ ( Op. cit. p. 189.) It may be added that the current geological memoir and maps of the Warwickshire Coalfield were published more than fifty years ago; and further, until quite recently, there were no records of fossils from the Carboniferous rocks of the county. Thus, from the points of view of stratigraphy, of palæontology, and of economics, there was a clear need for research-work on this coalfield. In 1909, on my election to a scholarship awarded by the Royal Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 ‘for research-work bearing upon industry,’ I was enabled to begin this investigation, which has been prosecuted