93 



certain that they cannot derive their supply from the Keuper 

 Marls above. In the memoirs of the Geological Survey mention 

 is made of crystals of Rock Salt occurring in these Marls at 

 Hallatrow, and at one or two other places, which, apart from 

 other evidence, may be taken to indicate their identity with the 

 same formation in Worcestershire and Cheshire, where it is so 

 rich in Salt; but having examined the New Red Sandstone at 

 many points in and around Radstock, the writer has never found 

 even an isolated crystal of Rock Salt ; and it may be stated with 

 tolerable certainty that nothing in the nature of Salt Springs 

 exists in the Keuper Marls of this neighbourhood. 



In proof of this it may be stated, that all the wells in the 

 lower parts of Radstock and adjoining parishes have been sunk 

 in these Marls, the water obtained being perfectly suitable for 

 domestic purposes; and, as already stated, the shaft sinkings 

 through the same ground shew a like result. 



It also seems clear that the source of supply cannot be in the 

 upper or Radstock Coal Measures, which have been worked 

 extensively for many years, without any trace of Salt Springs 

 being met with. 



It also seems evident that these Springs cannot have their origin 

 in the beds of Sandstone from which they flow, for the writer 

 having observed them very closely has never found the sUghtest 

 trace of Salt in those rocks. 



It also seems unlikely that these Springs can come from the 

 Pennant rocks which lie at no great distance beneath, for it is well 

 known that they contain no Rock Salt ; and although they are 

 commonly very heavily watered, they generally derive their supply 

 from the rainfall near the outcrop ; the water being so pure that 

 the Bristol Water Company at one time proposed to acquire a 

 celebrated Spring in an Iron Mine in the Pennant, at Frampton 

 CottreU, in order to augment the supply of Bristol. 



The more the facts are considered, the more diflScult it seems 

 to be to account for these Springs ; the origin of which must 



