MINERAL RICHES OF OUR VICINITY. 67 



here noticed. This is generally found inverted, under 

 a stalactitic crust, which is often finely waved and 

 variegated on its surface, but on carefully breaking it 

 upwards, by the insertion of a little iron lever into the 

 fissures, it is found, underneath, covered with a most 

 beautiful crystalline moss work, of which the spiculae 

 are sometimes near an inch long. 



To obtain stalactites in any considerable variety, it 

 will be necessary for the collector to explore the caves, 

 some of which, lighted up by candles, are curious and 

 interesting in themselves, independently of what they 

 add to the inspector's mineral stores. 



In the limestone quarries at Yealmton, is a bed, or 

 mass of dolomite, chiefly crystalline, and well adapted 

 for statuary ; it has been used for that purpose (if the 

 recollection of the writer be true), by Chantry. Cala- 

 minaris is also found there, and in several other parts 

 of our limestone range. 



The extensive assortment of marbles contained in 

 those rocks is generally known. Specimens were col- 

 lected by Mr. Shepheard, some years since, for orna- 

 menting a temple at Woburn, for the Duke of Bedford,* 

 and those who had not the opportunity of seeing that 

 collection, can have a very inadequate idea of its ex- 

 tent and beauty. 



The fossils, though not strictly belonging to mine- 

 ralogy, are not less curious than either of the above- 

 described features of our limestone. A few years since 

 it was a subject of controversy, in the scientific jour- 

 nals, whether it contained any animal remains at all, 

 and the contrary was positively asserted by an indi- 



* These specimens were obtained from the quarries of Bickington, 

 Babbicombe, Buckfastleigh, Chudleigh, Catdown, Little Hempston, 

 Mill Bay, Oreston, Pomphret Lake, Sandy Cove, Tor Bay, and 

 Yealrnpton ; but it was found that none of these quarries were cha- 

 racterized by any particular variety of limestone by which they 

 might be recognised ; some of them furnishing several different sorts, 

 more particularly Catdown and Babbicombe; in the quarries of the 

 latter place the colours of the limestone are exceedingly diversified, 

 some portions being almost black, and others approaching very 

 nearly to white. 



