THE WAIMARINO COAL-FIELD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 861, 6 July 1910, Page 8

THE WAIMARINO COAL-FIELD.

REPORT BY DR. BELI. A lengthy, report on the new coalfield at Waimarino has been submitted to the .Government by Dr. Bell (Government Geologist). He states that:upon visiting the ; district • ho definitely located sixteen outcrops. The coal-field extends westward from a meridional line lying about a mile westward from Erua station. Its westward, northern and southern confines are not yet known. Dr. Bell is. of opinion,' however, that in an area so Hr-jisely" forested, and in many parts so inaccessible' as the Rotaruke . extcjnsitie coal-fields may be located. The coal,sub-bitumin-ous in quality occurs in "scams of from 3ft. to Bft. ,in thickness, interstratifia? with a gTeat scries of conglomerates, sandstones, claystones, and impuw limestones. It is impossible to say whether the several outcrops so far discovered belong to one' seam or more. It appears that the coal is in every eas« high in ash, high in sulphur, and high in water, which are all serious defects. It is thought that the coal away from tho surface will probably contain, lea ash and loss water, but it is very unlikely that the- quantity of sulphur will' diminish at nil; in fact, it is likely U increase'. The seams, in tho lower Retaruke Coal Creek and Dandy Gully, are indicated by Dr. Bell as being sufficiently thick to be worth mining. Tin grade of coal need not exceed the 8 per cent, limit of ash nor the 3 per cent. <jf sulphur. As regards the extent of the field, he adds that upon a rough estimate, calculations over an area of about SlO acres show that some 2,384,000 tons of coal are available within the-area.