Coal.

Brown coal is found at the Malvern Hills, Homebush, Whitecliffs, Springfield, Mount Somers, Albury, and various other places. Lignite is also commonly distributed. For the year 1896, the output from 12 colleries, employing about 40 bands, was 11,817 tons, bringing the total amount raised from 16 collieries up to the 31st December, 1896, to 338,632 tons. The seams worked vary from 16ft. to 2ft. 3 in., the average width being 8 ft. At Acheron, near Lake Coleridge, a true anthracite is found, the other pits in the district being of brown coal or lignite.