2*^ 



Notes on the Geology of the Milton, Ingleby, and Knowie Hills' 



District, 



BY HORACE T. BROWN, F.G.S. 



J^HE village of Milton is situated in a small but steep-sided valley, eroded in the 

 ^-^ Bunter Conglomerate by a small stream which rises in Repton Rocks. The water 

 I if this stream is thrown out in the upper part of the valley at the junction of the highly 

 permeable Conglomerates and the underlying Permian Marls. 



In many places the sides of the valley are scored with shallow furrows running at 

 right angles to the stream. They occur at pretty regular intervals of a few hundred 

 yards, and form a gently undulating contour. By the deepening and extension of these 

 lateral furrows have been produced the curious rolling hills so characteristic of the 

 Bunter of our neighbourhood. 



From a little north of Repton Rocks to the Trent the bedding of the Con- 

 glomerates appears to be horizontal, and, in the valley we are describing, there are 

 occasional indications that the stream has cut through the Bunter Conglomerates, and 

 is now eroding the underlying Permian. Of this latter formation there is a small 

 exposure recently opened near an old barn on the W. side of the stream, 330 yards 

 E.S.E. of the "sheepfold" on Repton Qoxmr^on {see six inch Map.) The beds exposed 

 consist of fine purple and grey variegated marls with carbonaceous specks, and thin 

 bands of a soft buff-coloured sandstone. 



Traces of these same beds may also be observed in the new excavations at Milton 

 Mill. 



There are two very good sections of the Conglomerates opened at Milton. The 

 more southerly one, at the N. E. side of Milton Carr, shews partly consolidated pebble 

 beds in a grey and highly calcareous matrix. This rock is precisely similar to that of 

 Repton village. A little to the N. of this, and close to the mill, beds slightly lower in 

 the series are well shewn. They consist ofa consolidated Conglomerate containing very 

 large pebbles and some well rolled lumps, which appear to be the more indurated 

 I'ORTIONS OF THE UNDERLYING PERMIAN Marl. That these Marls suffered great 

 denudation and erosion in early Triassic times there is no doubt, but I believe that this 

 is the first time undoubted fragments of their ruins have been observed in the Con- 

 glomerates. Although by far the greater number of pebbles in the Conglomerate 

 consist of well rounded quartzite, there are also to be found fragments ofa variety 

 of other rocks, many of which— judging from their angular appearance— cannot have 

 travelled far. A careful study of these fragments is much to be desired, and must 

 afford important evidence towards elucidating the physical Geography of our district in 

 early Triassic times. 



Travelling from Milton through Foremark to Ingleby, we are still on the Bunter 

 Conglomerates, which are well shewn both at Anker Church and Ingleby village. 



Between Ingleby and Knowie Hills there lies a small tract of country of peculiar 

 geological interest and complexity. Of the geology of this tract, the Survey Map 

 gives an altogether erroneous interpretation. 



