The Geologist/Volume 5/Proceedings of Geological Societies (February 1862)
PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES.
Geologists' Association.—The ordinary monthly meeting was held on Monday, December 2nd, at 5 Cavendish Square. The Rev. Thomas Wiltshire, M A., F.G.S., President, in the chair. The following papers were read:—"On two beds of re-deposited Crag Shells in the vicinity of Yarmouth, Norfolk," by C. B. Row, Esq., F.G.S. "On a Newly Discovered Outlier of the Hempstead Strata on the Osborne Estate, Isle of Wight," by Dr. E. P. Wilkins, F.G.S. "On the Exchange of Fossils among the Members," by A. Bolt, Esq., A. A.
Professor Tennant exhibited several specimens of gold recently forwarded from Nova Scotia to this country. He read extracts from a Report which has made by Mr. Howe to Lord Mulgrave, the Governor of the Colony, in September last, from which it appears that the gold-discoveries made in the colony in 1860 were unimportant, the gold being found in quantities so small as not to afford a satisfactory return for the labour of seeking for it. The exitement had accordingly subsided. Last March, however, a man accidentally discovered a piece of gold among the pebbles at a brook; this led to further investigation, and it is now generally believed that gold in abundance exists in the colony within an easy distance of means of transport, and Mr. Howe considers that the Government will be warranted in assuming that at the localities where the chief working has been hitherto carried on, viz. Tangier, Lunenburg, Lawrencetown, and Lake Thomas, gold-mining will be permanently established as a new branch of industry, tempting to the capitalist and attractive to the emigrant. The gold is found in quartz veins and in the sand on the shore. Specimens of gold in the matrix, and some of the gold grains found in the sand were exhibited, as also two ingots of pure gold cast from that discovered in the above-mentioned workings.
Mr. Rickard exhibited a machine recently patented, the object of which is to render peat available as fuel, to the same extent as coal, at a greatly reduced price.
Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.—November 26th, 1861, J. P. Joule, LL.D,, President, in the chair, A Paper was read by Mr. E. W. Binney, F.R.S., entitled "Additional Observations on the Permian Beds of South Lancashire," This was a continuation of two previous papers read before the Society, Since that time the author had made further observations on the Permian strata at Heaton Norris, near Stockport; Medlock Vale, between Ashton and Manchester; Chorlton-upon-Medlock, and Ordsal near Manchester; and Skillaw Clough and Bentley Brook, near Newburgh, in the west of Lancashire.
At Heaton Norris, in the sand delf of Mr. Howard, near the railway station, the lower New Bed Sandstone was seen dipping to the south-west at an angle of 25°. This was succeeded by red and variegated marls having a similar dip. These last-named strata were overlapped by the Trias, which dips to the south-west at an angle of 12°.
At Heaton Mersey the following section was met with:—
| Feet. | |
Trias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
45 |
Permian—Red and varigated marls containing limestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
129 |
Lower New Red Sandstone grooved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
402 |
| 576 |
The Permian beds were cut off by a fault near the railway station at Heaton Norris (first noticed by Mr. Hull, of the Geological Survey), which brought in the Trias. This rock occupied the district between that town and Goyt's Hall, in the Marple valley, where the lower part of the middle coal-measures was seen in nearly a vertical position.
The author considered Mr. Howard's sand delf to be a likely place for ascertaining whether a coal-field worth working existed under the town of Stockport.
The next was a section made by Mr. John Wood, at Medlock Vale, between Waterhouses, near Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester. It was as follows:—
| Feet. | Feet. | ||
Drift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
26 | 0 | |
Trias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
23 | 0 | |
Permian—Red marls, with beds of limestone and five beds of gypsum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
246 | 3 | |
Lower New Red Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
375 | 11 | |
Coal-measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
about | 90 | 0 |
| 761 | 2 | ||
What these coal-measures were, whether above or under the Bradford Four-feet Mine, it was at present impossible to say; but it was to be hoped that some mine would be met with to enable us to determine the value of the great tract of coal-measures lying between Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Middleton, and Manchester. Mr. Wood had done more than any other gentleman to clear up this point, and it was to be desired that he should meet with a good seam of coal, both for his own sake and that of the public.
The third section mentioned was at the sugar-works of Messrs. Fryer and Co., in Chester Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. The following beds were there met with:—
| Feet. | |
Trias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
114 |
Permian—Red marls with limestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
237 |
Coarse red sandstone with pebbles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
45 |
Coarse red sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
24 |
Coal-measures, consisting of red shaly marls and limestones (Ardwick) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
126 |
| 546 |
The limestones in the last-named strata contained specimens of Microconchus carbonarius and scales of Palæoniscus, which clearly proved them to be similar beds to those of the upper coal-field at Ardwick, to which they bear every resemblance in physical character.
The occurrence of coal-measures on the south side of the city of Manchester is quite new and of great importance, showing that such strata at places are met with under Permian and Trias deposits much nearer the surface than was previously suspected, and where the upper rocks gave no evidence of their proximity. The above bore has proved beyond doubt that a band of coal-measures lies under the south of Chorlton-on-Medlock, and possibly extends to Heaton Norris, being probably brought up by the great Pendleton fault, which most likely passes through the south of Manchester and joins the fault seen near the railway station at Heaton Norris previously alluded to.
In the fourth section, at Ordsal, Messrs. Worrall found the Trias beds four hundred and sixty feet in thickness without going through them. At the bottom of the bore the water became so salt that they discontinued the work, it being no longer fit for dyeing and such-like purposes. This is the first instance, to the author's knowledge, where salt water has been met with in the Trias near Manchester.
The fifth and sixth sections were at Skillaw Clough and Bentley Brook, to the north of the Newburgh station on the Manchester and Southport railway. These were some time since discovered by Mr. E. Hull, of the Geological Survey, and described shortly by that gentleman in the sheet explaining the map of the district. Further particulars were given of the details of both sections, and an analysis of the limestone was produced, which showed it to differ in its chemical characters from the thin ribbon-bands found in the Permian marls near Manchester, Patricroft, Astley, and Leigh; it was very like the yellow magnesian limestone found at Stank, in Furness, North Lancashire. Probably it might prove to be a different bed, and more like the great central deposit of magnesian limestone of Yorkshire than the thin beds previously alluded to.
December 24th, 1861.—J. P. Joule, LL.D., President, in the chair. Mr. Binney stated that many years since he had communicated to the Society a description of some markings on the surface of the Kerridge flags. He afterwards published, in Vol. X (New Series) of the Memoirs, a Paper on similar markings, found in the Upholland flags, near Wigan, and attributed then to the burrowing of an animal similar to the common lug-worm of our coast, the Arenicola piscatorum. Similar holes have since been found in rocks of various ages, from the Cambrian upwards.
The position of the Kerridge flags is, probably, one of the best ascertained in whole coal-field. It is in the lower division above the millstone grit. In the lower coal-field there are two main beds of flagstones: the first, or lower, the Rochdale series, under the "rough rock;" and the upper, or Upholland or Kerridge series, above the same rock, the chief workable beds of the lower coal-field of Rochdale and other districts, often termed the "mountain mines," lying midway between these two flag-deposits. This series of coal is now, and has been for many years, wrought under the Kerridge, flags so as prove beyond doubt the position of the latter. Some discussions have lately taken place at Macclesfield as to whether the Kerridge beds were Permian or Carboniferous. No one who ever saw Permian beds, could ever for one moment suppose Kerridge flags to belong to those strata. It is possible that Permian beds may exist in the low district lying between Kerridge and Macclesfield, as they have been met with at Hug Bridge on the south, and Norbury Brook on the north, but up to this time they have not been proved to be there.
Considerable interest has been excited by the discovery of what were supposed to be the foot-marks of some animals on the surface of the flags. He had been induced to make two journeys to Kerridge for the purpose of examining them; but although plenty of worm-holes and ripple-marks are to be found on the surface of the Kerridge flags, as yet he had seen no tracks of animals upon them.
Mr. Edward Hull, B.A., called attention to instances of glacial striations recently discovered by Mr. G. H. Morton, at Liverpool. During a recent visit to that town in connexion with his duties on the Geological Survey, Mr. Hull was kindly conducted by Mr. Morton to the spots where the striæ are visible. One of these is at the south, the other at the north side of the town, and at the latter the extent of surface exposed is several hundred square yards. The rock-surfaces had been protected by a thick coating of boulder clay, which has been removed for brick-making. It is owing to the protection thus afforded to the rock that the striations are preserved in all their original freshness. The rock belongs to the New Red Sandstone, and is a moderately hard reddish-brown and yellowish building-stone. There are two systems of striæ, the primary one ranging N.N.W., the secondary nearly east and west. Of tiie latter, the markings are comparatively unimportant, but are very clear and sharp. The primary striæ run in remarkably straight lines—in the form of deep groovings and scratches, and the whole surface of the sandstone is worn down to one uniform gently-sloping plane.
It appeared evident, from the directions of the striæ, that they had been produced by icebergs coming from the north, in all probability from the Cumberland mountains, where glaciers are known to have existed during the period of the boulder clay, or rather earlier. The secondary groovings might have been produced by bergs coming from North Wales, but this appeared very problematical. The interest attached to these cases of glaciation was stated to arise from their position at so great a distance from the Cumberland range. In the immediate neighbourhood of these mountains, as also in that of North Wales, ice-moulded surfaces have frequently been observed, but never before on the New Red Sandstone of Lancashire or Cheshire.
Mr. E. W. Binney referred to the existence of similar striations on the Carboniferous limestone of Great Orme's Head, where the groovings were found to range northward, or outwards from the mountains of the interior. He also noticed the distribution of the Shap granite, blocks of which he had lately seen on the high Silurian and Carboniferous ranges to the south and south-east of Shap Fell.
Mr. Brockbank stated that, on the high lands of Yorkshire and Derbyshire, he had observed erratic blocks which could be traced to their northern sources.
Mr. Hull said, it had been shown, by a large number of facts, that the direction of the erratic blocks of the Drift period was from north to south, so that there must have been some predominating influence in operation, either prevalent winds, or, more probably, oceanic currents, tending to impel southward the icebergs and rafts which were the vehicles for the transportation of the erratic boulders and pebbles.
Geological Society of London.—January 8, 1862.—Sir C. Lyell in the chair. The following communications were read:—1. "On the Carboniferous Limestone of Oreton and Farlow, Clee Hills, Shropshire." By Professor John Morris, V.P.G.S., and George E. Roberts, Esq. With a Note upon a new species of Perichthys, by Sir P. de M. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P., F.G.S. The rocks described in this paper are a series of thin beds of limestone and sandstone lying between the Old Red Sandstone of South Shropshire and the Millstone Grit which forms the basement of the Titterstone Clee coal-field. In consequence of the opening of new quarries and the cutting of a roadway through the Farlow ridge transversely to the strike of these deposits, the authors were enabled to add somewhat to the description of the locality given in 'The Silurian System.' The series of deposits from the Old Red "cornstone," upwards, was shown by them to be:—1. Laminated yellow sandstones, with pebble-beds and sands. 2. Bright-yellow sandstones, containing Pterichthys. 3. Brecciated yellow sandstones, pebble-beds, sandy layers, and laminated sandstones. 4. Sandy and concretionary limestone. 5. Grey oolitic limestones, containng palatal teeth of great size. 6. Clays, with ferruginous bands. 7. Shaly crinoidal limestones. 8. Clays with limestone concretions, and shaly limestones. Against the last-mentioned bed the Millstone Grit rests unconformably. These beds thicken out at Oreton, a mile east of this Farlow section, and are there extensively worked for various economic purposes, the oolitic limestones, locally termed "jumbles," being used for decorative purposes under the name of Clee Hill Marble. In describing the physical conditions of the localities, mention was made of the "Mole river," which, losing itself at the west end of the ridge, takes a subterranean course nearly parallel with its axis, and reappears at its lower end, a mile distant. An interesting fact was communicated to the authors by the Rev. J. Williams, of Farlow, of an accidental accumulation in the hollow of its inlet of a body of water estimated at 1,635,000 cubic feet, the whole of which was carried away in forty-eight hours by the sudden clearance of the channel. In describing the palæontology of these rocks, the authors specially drew attention to the fortunate discovery, in the yellow sandstone of Farlow, of Pterichthys macrocephalus (spec. nov., Egerton), made while reducing the thickness of a large ripple-marked slab sent them by Mr. Weaver Jones in illustration of the physical conditions of the deposit. This Pterichthys proving identical with the fragment previously found in the Farlow Sandstone by Thos. Baxter, Esq., F.G.S., they attached to the paper a descriptive note on that fossil, by Sir Philip Egerton, in which the Farlow Pterichthys was contrasted with that of Dura Den, and additional proof given of the identity of the genera Pamphractus and Pterichthys. In addition to pterichthyoid remains, scales of two species of Holoptychius, one probably new, had been found by them. The richness of the overlying limestones in palatal teeth was shown by a fine series of examples, amongst which Orodus ramosus, of unusual size and in perfect condition, and an undescribed Pœcilodus, of great magnitude, were most conspicuous. Other genera represented were Helodus, Psammodus, Cladodus, Cochliodus, Petalodus, and Ctenoptychius. Ichthyodorulites, of large size and rich ornament, chiefly belonging to the genera Ctenacanthus and Oracanthus, accompany these teeth. The notices of the invertebrate fauna given by the authors proved the assumed lowness of the Oreton Limestones in the Mountain Limestone series—the zone of Rhynconella pleurodon being well marked, crinoidal and bryozoan remains abundant though fragmentary, and corals nearly absent. A large series of Pterichthyes and of rock-specimens were exhibited in illustration by Mr. George E. Roberts; and a collection of palatal teeth was liberally sent for exhibition by W. Weaver Jones, Esq., of Cleobury Mortimer, and by Edward Baugh, Esq., of Bewdley.
2. "On some Fossil Plants, showing Structure, from the Lower Coal Measures of Lancashire." By E. W. Binney, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S. After noticing the views taken of the structure of Lepidodendron by Hooker and others, the author proceeded to describe three portions of calcified stems, Lepidodendroid in external appearance, two of which exhibit in section a central axis composed, not of cellular tissue, but of large, transversely barred, hexagonal vessels. These two specimens the author refers to a new species, Sigillaria vascularis. The third specimen differs from the others in the absence of the thin radiating cylinder of barred vessels around the central axis; this he terms Lepidodendron vasculare. Microscopical preparations and photographs of sections were supplied by the author.
3. "Supplemental Notes on the Plant-beds of Central Asia." By the Rev. S. Hislop. In a Letter to the Assistant-Secretary. Mr. Hislop, in noticing the discovery of more remains of plants, insects, and fishes at Kota on the Pranhita, stated that he certainly now thought that the ichthyolitic beds of Kota (probably Lower Jurassic in age) are higher in relative position than the plant-sandstone of Nagpur, which, with the Sironcha sandstone underlying the Kota limestone, belong to the Damuda group. He remarked also that, in his opinion, the Tœniopteris of Kampti would prove that the Damuda and Rajmahal groups cannot be widely separated.