Fig. l. Section across the Wednesbury Coal basin from Dudley to Walsall. (Jukes.)

The extensive Iron foundries which cover the surface of this district, and the greater part of the manufactures in the adjacent town of Birmingham, originate in the Coal and Iron ore, with which the strata of shale in this Coal basin are richly loaded.

The Dudley Limestone, here found immediately below the Coal formation, occurs usually at a much greater depth in the series. The Mountain Lime stone, Old red Sandstone, and Ludlow rocks, are here wanting. (See Pl. 66, Fig. 1.)

Fig. 2. Section, shewing the basin-shaped disposition of the Carboniferous strata in S. Wales. (Rev. W. D. Conybeare.)

The richest beds of Coal and Iron ore are placed almost immediately above the Mountain limestone. (See pp. 65, 529.) It is to this district that our Posterity must look for their future supply of Coals, and transfer the site of their Manufactures, when [104] the Coal fields of the northern and central parts of England shall be exhausted.*

Fig. 3. Section of inclined Carboniferous strata, over-laid unconformably by horizontal strata of New Red Sandstone, Lias, and Oolite, in Somersetshire.

This Section illustrates the manner in which Carboniferous strata have been elevated at their extremities around the circumference of a basin, and depressed towards its centre, and also intersected by fractures or Faults. See V. I. pp. 527, 542.

In Section 1, 2, of this Plate, no notice is taken of the Faults which intersect the Coal basins.