137 



to produce such an effect, and the first theory is probably the 

 correct one. 



As another unusual example of dislocation I would men- 

 tion the 



FOXCOTE FAULT, 



which, although commonly described as a fault, is more 

 properly a fold or contortion. 



At Foxcote Colliery the veins of the upper series rose 

 steadily and rapidly to the eastward, and there was every 

 appearance of their speedily outcropping beneath the new 

 red sandstone ; but most unexpectedly the measures after 

 becoming level for a short distance were folded down per- 

 pendicularly to a depth of 120 feet, throwing in a large area 

 of coal, the existence of which was previously unknown. I 

 am unfortunately not in a position to give a section of strata 

 at this point, but I may say briefly that the beds assume as 

 nearly as possible the form of the letter Z. This cannot be 

 called an ordinary fault, inasmuch as the veins — to use a 

 mining phi-ase — " roll down" without material break to the 

 depth already mentioned, at which they resume their rise to 

 the eastward. We now pass on to describe the great 



OVERLAP FAULT OF EADSTOCK, 



coupling with it two smaller overlaps adjoining, which I 

 believe to be splits from the main fault. 



Overlaps — that is, faults by which the strata have been dis- 

 placed horizontally instead of vertically — form a distinguishing 

 feature of the Somersetshire coal field. I know of none in 

 the other coal fields of this countiy, but in the upper division 

 of Somersetshire they are very numerous. They seem to be 

 most frequent in the vicinity of Kadstock and WrithHngton, 

 where they assume considerable variety in size and form, but 

 the " great" overlap so far exceeds in extent all the others 



