Quartose coal measures of West Nelson and North Westland

The stratigraphic relationship between the quartzose coal measures and the overlying basal marine beds of the West Nelson and North Westland is reviewed. Only exceptionally is there any evidence of other than a conformable sedimentry contact between them. The lowest marine beds are shown to become generally younger northwards and it is suggested that the top of the quartzose coal measures becomes younger in the same direction. In some districts quartzose coal measures deposition began in samll terrestrial geosynclines, but before marine beds were laid down in each part of the region, the rising base level during marine transgression caused deposition of similar terrestrial beds almost everywhere.