98 REPORT—1840. 
On the Sandstone of the Vale of Solway, and the formation of the 
Closeburn Basin, Nithsdale, Dumfries-shire. By J. A. Knee. 
The author refers the sandstone to the new red sandstone deposit, 
remarking that it is a very thin deposit. At Aiket Muir the coal mea- 
sures are found, and have been penetrated to a depth of 132 feet in 
search of coal, but without success. At, or at least near Ecclefechan, 
the true coal measures are seen—on the surface and in the immediate 
vicinity, the carboniferous limestone. Near the limestone quarries at 
Kelhead a bore has been put down to the depth of 199 feet ; this was 
also unsuccessful in finding coal. The various strata passed through 
appear to be analogous to the Cannobie pits, and are worked very 
profitably. 
A zone of sandstone extends up the river Annan, from its entrance 
in the Solway up to Moffat. Another and broader portion of this 
sandstone extends up the river Nith for several miles north of Dum- 
fries. At the Craigs Quarry are found numerous impressions of the 
foot-prints of unknown animals. There is a bold escarpment near 
these quarries formed of alternating beds of sandstone and conglo- 
merate. ‘The section at the Maiden’s Bower does not afford so good a 
specimen as nearer the Craigs House, where the sandstone and con- 
glomerate beds succeed each other to the number of twenty or more. 
The strata dip at an angle of about 30° to the west, though the 
dip is very slight at the Maiden’s Bower within a mile of these 
quarries: this is formed by the separation and slip of an immense 
mass of the strata, which forms a substantial table in this natural 
alcove. At Kelhead the Orthoceratite, Producte, Spirifere, Bellero- 
phon apertus, &c., are in abundance, and exceedingly perfect. 
About five miles north of the extreme end of the Dumfries sandstone 
is the Closeburn Basin, in length about ten miles, and from three to five 
in breadth ; between them is a zone or band of grauwacke or Upper 
Cambrian rock. The northern terminus is near Collaine, at the base of 
the Lowder mountains, which rise to an elevation of 3150 feet. 
The new red sandstone is the superior stratum, and is quarried in 
several places. The dip is by no means regular. There are several 
good sections, but the best afforded are in Cree-hope Linn. 
The carboniferons limestone is quarried to some extent at the eastern 
out-crop at Closeburn, and on the west at Bajarg. 
The cabinet of Sir C. Menteith contains a fine collection of fossils 
of this formation, from the Closeburn quarry, amongst which are the 
Orthoceras cordiforme, and giganteum. The heart-shaped specimen 
measures nine inches and a quarter in length, and seven inches in 
diameter at its broadest part. This formation rests unconformably upon 
the grauwacke or Cambrian rocks, which entirely surround the basin, 
and at Comple Mill, where the superior beds are denuded, this rock 
is again found. This basin is made further interesting to the geo- 
logist by a basaltic dyke passing through it; a good section of its 
columnar structure is seen at Comple Water ; it is about twenty-two or 
twenty-three yards wide, and ten high. Volcanic grit and altered sand- 
stone are in immediate connexion. 
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