Page:Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Volume 1.djvu/11

vi and in which it is intended to figure from as complete materials as can be obtained the several species in all their modifications of form and structure, will, from time to time, be issued, and in part accompany the volumes of Memoirs. Of these engravings a number will be given in the second volume of the present series. These figures, with their descriptions, will thus eventually form a comprehensive and separate work on British Fossils.

In addition to the sheets of the Geological Maps (those of the Ordnance coloured geologically) which appear as heretofore, when particular districts have been properly examined by the Survey, large plates of sections are now published. These, which may be obtained in separate sheets to illustrate any particular portion of country, are of two kinds; one series being on a scale of six inches to the mile, both for height and distance, so that the sections should truly represent nature; the other on one of forty feet to the inch, so as to afford an insight into greater detail when such may be necessary. It is hoped that these sections will be found valuable not only in illustration of geological phenomena, but also to the miner and mineral proprietor, more especially in the coal districts.

It being desirable to show the means of instruction in mining, and the sciences connected with it, possessed by foreign nations, in order that such means may be compared with those within the reach of the British miner, the Mining Geologist of the Survey, has contributed to this volume notices of the Mining Academies of Saxony and Hungary, and of the Mining Establishment of France.

With the view of exhibiting the state of the mineral products of other countries relating directly or indirectly to those of our own, papers will occasionally be introduced similar to that contained in this volume upon the coal and lignite raised, and iron and steel manufactured in France, and it is proposed from time to time to present statistical details respecting the metals and useful minerals raised in the British Islands, such as is now given for the copper and tin of Cornwall by the Keeper of Mining Records, in the Museum of Economic Geology in London, in whose office it is hoped valuable information respecting the mineral wealth of Great Britain will be finally accumulated for public use.