42 



Frampton Cotterell faults, in the order of their succession from 

 east to west. The first named, or Cromhall, cannot be traced 

 southwards from Tortworth beyond Sweethouse, but its northern 

 bearing seems continuous from this spot to the Carboniferous 

 Limestones of Cromhall and Tortworth, through the picturesque 

 lake at the Court, the Old Red Sandstone north of the lake, the 

 Caradoc series of Micklewood Chase, and on to Purton Passage, 

 bringing in its coiarse the Old Red Sandstone against the 

 Wenlock Shales, along a line of country from Malford Common, 

 through Berkeley, to the Passage. 



From compass bearings, &c., and the physical structure of the 

 county, I believe that three of the Iron-bearing faults mentioned, 

 which traverse the Coal measures at Serridge and Ram Hill, in 

 the middle of the basin, are continuous, and the same that I 

 have mentioned above, and also that they all unite in the course 

 of the stream and gorge of the Tortworth lake, and so onwards 

 as one to the shattered and disturbed area of Micklewood Chase. 



It is also remarkable that with all the research made in the 

 northern portion of the Bristol Coal Field, it has faUed to reveal 

 or determine any transverse, or east and west faults, although 

 the northern attenuation of the area under examination woTild 

 lead us to expect such, all that are known being north and south 

 parallel (or nearly so) dislocations, and downthrows to the east 

 all uniting at the northern apex, and in the lake as one. 



Now each of the following lines of faulted ground give evidence 

 and proof of extensive stores of these Brown Haematite or 

 Hydrated Peroxides of Iron. The third, or Frampton CottereU, 

 Iron Acton, and Rangewoi-thy fault, is of great magnitude, is 

 also the most westerly, and is now producing vast quantities of 

 ore,* which is situated in the fault under the ordinary conditions 

 of a lode, and occurs in the Pennant Sandstone. Extensive 

 works are estabhshed at Frampton Cotterell to develop this ore, 

 and along the course of the lode (fault) levels and other mining 

 operations are being constructed and carried on. Much trouble 

 is, however, experienced from the vohime of water carried into 

 the fault, and which the coimty here influences, lying at a 



* 11,000 risen in the year 1864. 



