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of that extent the Geologists of the Ordnance Survey have sought 
to account for the abnormal position the Limestones now occupy. 
Recent explorations, however, have shewn the basin to be of 
immensely greater depth, and the probability of this theory is 
greatly lessened when we consider that in order to fault the Lime- 
stone up through the Coal Measures at Luckington we must 
suppose an upthrow, not of 1,000 feet only, but of from 5,000 to 
6,000 feet. Even if other proof were wanting the very extent of 
the upheaval which we are thus called upon to assume would 
throw some doubts on the correctness of the theory, but if faults 
of such enormous extent exist they should be easily traceable in 
the adjacent district, and let us now inquire how far these 
assumptions are in accordance with ascertained fact. 
Since the days of the Geological Survey several important 
collieries have been established in the district, throwing much 
additional light on the subject, New shafts have been sunk at 
Newbury, Mackintosh, Mells and Vobster, the workings of which 
have been extended in all directions, and through the kindness of 
Mr. Batey of Newbury and others I have been enabled to lay 
before you the facts so proved. 
In the case of the Luckington area, the workings of the 
Mackintosh pit have proved beyond doubt that the faults shewn on 
the western end, the south side and probably also on the north 
side of the Limestone do not exist. Only one fault has been dis- 
covered there and it runs in a north and south direction, crossing 
the eastern end of the patch as shewn on the plan, but instead of 
its being an upthrow it has been well ascertained to be a down- 
throw west of 750 feet, so that far from establishing the upthrow 
fault theory it proves exactly the reverse. 
As to the Upper Vobster area the strata surrounding the 
Limestone have not been so thoroughly explored. The eastern 
workings of the Dunny drift vein at Newbury colliery, which were 
abandoned some years ago, were in rather a faulty state when they 
stopped just under the patch, but there was no trace of Limestone 
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