12 Limestone Nodules. 



by Mr Peach and Mr Macconachie, of the Geological Survey 

 of Scotland, who pronounced them to be decomposed limestones. 



A doubt having since arisen as to the exact nature of the 

 deposit in which these nodules were found, it was deemed advis_ 

 able to make fresh excavations last autumn to set the matter at 

 rest. The point in dispute was whether it might be a true 

 glacial deposit or merely the Permian breccia decomposing in 

 situ, which is abundant in the locality. [See essay Geology of 

 Dumfriesshire in Mr Scott-Elliot's Flora of the County, 

 page XXXV. J 



In this neighbourhood the Permian breccias and sandstones 

 are the prevailing rocks underlying the till on the east side of 

 the valley, and sections are seen in all the tributaries of the 

 Annan on that side. These beds are also exposed on several 

 places on the adjoining hillsides. On the west side of the valley 

 near Moffat no exposures of this formation have been noted 

 except one patch in a small burn nearly opposite the centre of 

 tlie town. The formation extends southwards along the east 

 side of the valley for a distance of seven miles from Moffat. In 

 the Lockerbie basin, which is disconnected from that of Moffat, 

 it reaches a greater development. This breccia has not the 

 appearance of having been much disturbed. In some of the 

 sections it is lying nearly horizontal, in others at a very small 

 angle, and in the cutting at the back of the Hydropathic 

 establishment the inclination is about 20 degrees. Tlie pebbles 

 embedded in the breccia are composed mainly of Silurian grits 

 and greywacke.s, like those occurring so abundantly in the 

 neighbourhood of Moffat. Fragments of black shale are also to 

 be seen in it. The pebbles are of various sizes, and are generally 

 sub-angular. The nearest visible exposure of this breccia is about 

 250 yards distant from the locality yielding the fossiliferous 

 peebles. No notes weie made regai'ding the original excavations 

 but writing from memory I might state that the excavation would 

 be about 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 3 feet deep, but the 

 original surface had been previously excavated to a depth of 3 

 feet. The nodules were found lying near the bottom, and would 

 be in the proportion of three to the superficial yard. The new 

 sections were made on the 2fith and 27th November, 1896, and 

 were taken at different places, but in immediate ju-oximity to the 

 original place. 



No. 1 cutting was 5 feet long, 7 feet deep, and 2 feet wide. 



