24-8 Mr. J. Phillips on the Geology of the Vale of Pickering. 



Between these sloping beds of the oolitic range as they con- 

 tinue to Filey Brig, and the projection of chalk from Hunman- 

 by, the Vale of Pickering is much narrowed; and where it opens 

 into the sea exposes such a vast quantity of diluvium as to 

 cover almost all the beds of oolite, and effectually to hide the 

 junction of this series with the Kimmeridge clay. This stra- 

 tum is seen irregularly in the cliffs peeping out from under its 

 huge load of diluvium, and at length near Speeton is exposed in 

 very decided characters, lying immediately beneath the chalk. 



I have no doubt that an impartial examination of this line 

 of country will lead to the adoption of my opinion, that the 

 pseudo-escarpments of the oolitic rocks on the north side of 

 the Vale of Pickering are caused by denudation nearly parallel 

 to their ranges, and that no general dislocation is at all con- 

 cerned in the appearances. Even a new zigzag fault would 

 add nothing to the explanation, the facts remain just as before : 

 sometimes the dip of the strata is uninterrupted till the Kim- 

 meridge clay, as at Sproxton and Kirby Moorside, lies on the 

 oolitic rocks; in other cases the declining surface is interrupted, 

 and a pseudo-escarpment results, exhibiting coralline oolite 

 alone as at Helmsley, or calcareous grit beneath it as at Pick- 

 ering, or even Oxford clay beneath that as at Ebberston. 

 The strata re-commence no doubt on the south of this last 

 place; but they are not seen, because from the breadth of the 

 denudation the opposite edges are sunk much below the ge- 

 neral level of the vale, and covered by diluvial and alluvial 

 accumulations. These accumulations prevent the Kimmeridge 

 clay from being seen in the flat central part of the vale ; but 

 on its southern side where the ground rises to the Wolds this 

 stratum maybe very well traced. (See Plate IV. section D.) 



The inferences from these results connect themselves closely 

 with general views on denudation and diluvial action, but it 

 seems improper to enter into a discussion of them on such an 

 insulated example. This is not the only instance which may 

 be brought forward when the details have been more carefully 

 studied. Till then, I must content myself with referring to the 

 accompanying sections in illustration of these remarks, and 

 have only further to observe that they were all drawn on the 

 spot. — One general explanation will apply to them all : 

 Plate V. 1. White chalk. 



2. Red chalk. 



3. Kimmeridge clay. 



4. Upper calcareous grit. 



5. Coralline oolite. 



6. Lower calcareous grit. 



7. Oxford clay. 



8. Kelloways 



