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A SJiort Sketch of the Geology ofNithsdak, chiefly in an Eco- 

 nomical point of Vieiv, and contrasted with that of the Neigli- 

 bouring Valleys. By James Stuart Menteatii, Esq. Young- 

 er of Closeburn, Member of the Wernerian Natural History 

 Society. * 



1. General account. — 2. Basin of New Cumnock. — 3. Basin of Sanquhar. 

 — 4. Basin of Closeburn.— 5. Basin of Dumfries. — 6. Upper and Low- 

 er Basin of Annandale. — 7- Upper and Lower Basin of Eskdale — 

 8. Annandale and Eskdale contrasted with Nithsdale — 9. Basin of 

 the Dee contrasted with Nithsdale. 



1. jL he county of Dumfries is traversed from N. to S. by three 

 rivers, viz. the Nith, Annan, and Esk. These rivers, in their 

 course from the mountains to the Sol way Firth, pass through a 

 country in which not only the mountains, hills, and valleys, but 

 also the rocks and soils, exhibit much to interest the geologist 

 and agriculturist. The general features of the county have 

 been already detailed by Professor Jameson in the " Mineralo- 

 gy of Dumfriesshire.'''' We propose, therefore, in the follow- 

 ing remarks, to confine our attention principally to the districts 

 traversed by the river Nith. 



The Nith, probably the most beautiful river in the county, 

 rises in Ayrshire, and flows through the basin of Cumnock, 

 in that county, into Dumfriesshire. In its progress through 

 this county, it flows through other three basins, viz. those of 

 Sanquhar, Closeburn, and Dumfries, before it reaches the Sol- 

 way Firth. 



Having described the Nith as rising in the hills of Ayrshire, 

 and flowing through the valley of New Cumnock before it en- 

 ters Dumfriesshire, it may be proper first to consider the basin of 

 New Cumnock. 



9>. Basin of New Cumnock. — It is bounded on the west, north, 

 and east, by greywacke, forming rather low hills, which are 

 far from pleaang in their appearance. It is separated from 

 the basin of Sanquhar by a ridge of greywacke, nearly three 

 miles broad. The length of the basin is about ten miles, and 

 the breadth ^ve miles. The coal formation fills all the central 

 parts of this basin, and even spreads itself on the east over the 



• Read before the Werneriau Natural History Society, 9th February 1828. 



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