_ VOL. XV. (2) EFFECTS OF EARTH-PRESSURES 93 
THE EFFECTS OF EARTH-PRESSURES 
ON 
THE KEUPER ROCKS OF THE ELDERSFIELD 
DISTRICT 
BY 
L. RICHARDSON, F.G.S. 
(Read at Eldersfield, June 14th, 1904.) 
‘The red marls and sandstones of the Eldersfield district 
belong to the Keuper Series. They were deposited in an 
inland sea, the waters of which washed the eastern slopes 
of the Malvern Hills. At times, owing to excessive 
evaporation, the waters of this inland sea shrunk consider- 
ably, leaving flats of marl which dried and cracked under 
the rays of a tropical sun. The land around the sea was 
arid; few forms of plant-life could exist; and few animals 
trod the shores or uplands. Life in the sea was equally 
scarce, and this may have been due to two causes, the ex- 
treme saltness of the waters, and the presence of an 
excessive amount of iron. A few forms of life, however, 
did seem to inhabit the sea, because as soon as ever con- 
ditions were a little more favourable (that would be as 
soon as the water was a little fresher) there are found 
in the deposit which was laid down during the rainy 
period, fish-, plant-, and crustacean-remains. The deposit 
