ON THE AGE OF THE CANNINGTON PARK LI:u:ESTONE. 383 



barytss contains copper pyrites and green oxide of copper, and in the 

 limestone near the vein I found quartz crystals scattered through 

 the mass, giving it an appearance like a porphyry. I also observed 

 in some places carbonate of copper in the limestone. In going over 

 the top of the hill, which is very much covered by vegetation, the 

 ends of the strata appear above the grass in many places in a vertical 

 position and running between K.E. and S.W. ; bat on coming to 

 the quarries where the rock is extensively exposed, I found that 

 through it is evidently stratified, it is so shattered and crossed by 

 rents in every direction, that it was impossible for me to discover 

 what were the true planes of stratification, the internal structure of 

 the stone affording no indication. Judging, however, from the more 

 general direction of the masses, I think they may be said to be 

 either for the most part vertical or at least Yevy highly inclined and 

 running between IN", and S. I did not discover the least appearance 

 of slate, or any circumstance that could connect this limestone with 

 the subordinate beds in the graywacke series of the neighbouring 

 hills, except its proximity to them. It more nearly resembles the 

 Plymouth limestone than any other I am acquainted with ; and 

 although that has been found to contain both madrepores and shells, 

 there are great portions of it where no traces of organised bodies can 

 be discovered. It is also very probable, that ^by a more minute 

 examination, they may be found in the limestone of Cannington 

 Park, for it has, certainly, very much the appearance of what is 

 called a transition limestone, and there are laminoe of calcareous 

 spar dispersed through it which are strong indications of organic 

 remains. It produces a very pure white lime, which is carried to a 

 great distance." 



The Eev. D. Williams mentions it in a paper read before the 

 British Association in 1837. In the section given in the Eeport of 

 that meeting (vol. vi, p. 95), the Cannington limestone is placed 

 below the Poreland sandstone, at the base of the Devonian rocks : 

 this paper was written "to determine the relative age and order 

 of the Culm-field and its floriferous shales and sandstones." 



In a paper on "as much of the Transition or Grauwacke system as 



