MB. E. W. BINNEY ON THE OBIGIN OF IE0NBT0NE8. 45 



The occurrence of the iron as a sesquioxide at Ipstones 

 in the carboniferous strata at the time of their formation, 

 ^ben the waters in which they were suspended were then 

 generally more or less full of decomposing organic matter, 

 can only be accounted for by its having been thrown into 

 such waters near to the spot where it is now found, and not 

 having had far to travel; for had it been mingled with decay- 

 ing vegetable or animal matter, it would doubtless have been 

 converted into the usual carbonate of the protoxide, so com- 

 mon in the coal measures. 



