St)e (JBiJOltitton of 19frt)gsi^uc Sccncrg. 



Edited by George Fletcher, F.G.S. 



From Notes by Messrs. IVarci and Fletcher. 



ERHAPS no district exemplifies so well the relation 

 between rock-structure and scenery as a limestone 

 district. This is due to the physical and chemical 

 constitution of the rock, which determine the manner 

 in which the disintegrating agents act upon it. The chief of 

 these agents is water in its several forms. Rain, as soon 

 as condensed from the watery vapour in the air, is pure. In 

 passing through the air it dissolves therefrom a certain amount of 

 carbonic acid gas, and in passing through soil containing decaying 

 vegetable matter, collects a further amount. In considering the 

 action of running water upon rocks the presence of this acid is 

 of great importance, for while pure water can only take up about 

 two grains per gallon of carbonate of lime, it is not uncommon 

 for natural waters (which contain this acid) to be found to contain 

 25 grains per gallon after running over or through limestone 

 rocks. The waters of Kent's Cavern contain from 13 up to 30 

 grains per gallon, while two analyses of Knaresboro' Dropping 

 Well water give 23 and 39 grains per gallon. Dr. Tiiresh, in his 

 analysis of Buxton water in 1882, found some 14 grains of 

 calcium bicarbonate, out of a total of 27*096 grains of solid 

 matter per gallon. Water is capable of dissolving a definite 

 amount of carbonic acid gas, and this enables it to take up a 

 definite amount of carbonate of hme. If, then, water fully 



