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Old 25-01-2012, 12:16 PM
Alan J. Alan J. is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Amble
Posts: 344
Default Undersea coal

With reference to the mention of the udersea coal, in 1979 a drilling ship spent the whole summer out in the bay, a bit further out than Coquet Island. It covered the area from the island North to Boulmer point. A document was produced taking this survey into account and it was concluded that all the big Ellington seams were on and there was an estimated 250 million tons of coal available with a possibility of recovering at least 70 million tons.
This is what Ellington was obviously trying to get but the line of transport would have been tremendous to get men, materials and produce to and fro.
At the time Shilbottle shafts were still available and it would have been an easier option to drive from there into the middle of the bay from where they could go North, South and East. That coal is there but obviously the powers that be didn't want it at the time, who knows what the future may bring??
Ironically Hauxley was within touching distance of these riches.
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