472 Mr. Hopkins on the Elevation and 



great parallel faults above mentioned are due to the elevation of 

 the older rocks, the fractures having been probably renewed by the 

 elevation of the carboniferous series. The divergent faults he con- 

 ceives to be unquestionably due to the movement which impressed 

 upon the district its peculiar configuration, and the geological ele- 

 vation to which that configuration is due, whatever be the epoch to 

 which that movement may be referred. If this be the case, these 

 faults are entirely in accordance with theory. 



It appears to the author that this movement commenced with 

 the breaking up of the carboniferous series, and was continued, or 

 rather perhaps resumed, after the deposition of the new red sand- 

 stone. If the beds of these formations were originally horizontal, 

 as above contended, this conclusion must necessarily be true, as 

 shown by the present inclination of these beds. Whether the lime- 

 stone beds were strictly sedimentary, or formed in the manner of 

 coral reefs, the author contends equally for the original horizon- 

 tality of the surfaces of stratification ; and that such was the ori- 

 ginal character of the beds of new red sandstone, no geologist, he 

 conceives, can doubt for a moment. If this be allowed, the above 

 conclusion respecting the epoch of elevation appears as incontro- 

 vertible as the nature of geological evidence will admit of. 



Series of Geological Events. — After the elevation of the older rocks, 

 including the old red sandstone, the whole district must have been 

 under the surface of the sea, and subjected to the powerful action 

 of denuding causes, by which the upturned edges of the disturbed 

 beds were worn to an even surface, and the existing masses of old 

 red conglomerate washed into the hollows. 



The mountain limestone was deposited on the worn and even 

 surface of the older rocks, and, if the conditions were sufficiently 

 favourable for its formation, may have extended over the whole 

 district. 



The great movement which broke up the carboniferous series 

 gave, in part, its dome-like form to the district, and elevated its sur- 

 face very nearly to, or perhaps above, the surface of the ocean. 



The deposition of the new red sandstone afterwards took place, 

 but did not probably extend over the district on account of the ele- 

 vation already given to it. This formation probably thinned off as 

 it approached the central elevation, but was deposited in much 

 greater thickness than it has at present in the Vale of Eden. From 

 the present height and thickness of the sandstone near Penrith, the 

 author thinks it probable that the depth of the submarine valley 

 immediately west of Stainmoor was not more than 300 or 400 feet, 

 and perhaps considerably less, measuring from the level of the 

 lowest part of the Stainmoor pass. 



To this period of repose succeeded another of disturbance, in 

 which the new red sand was dislocated and elevated. It was during 

 this period, the author conceives, that the surface of the district 

 first began to acquire any permanent and considerable elevation 

 above the surface of the sea. The denudation of the red sand 



