82 Mr HOPKINS, ON RESEARCHES IN PHYSICAL GEOLOGY. 



vation is indicated to us by the sources of the rivers, whicli pursue 

 their courses from it respectively to the eastern and western coasts. 

 This Hne appears to be ahnost straight, running nearly north from its 

 southern extremity to the valley of the Eden, where the well defined 

 ridge of Cross Fell commences, in a direction almost north-west and 

 south-east. On the eastern side of this range, the different formations 

 succeed each other with a general regularity in the order of their super- 

 position, which would appear to indicate the absence of any compara- 

 tively irregular action of the elevatory forces in that region ; and the 

 existence of extensive mining and coal districts along this range, afford 

 the surest means of ascertaining with accuracy the exact positions of 

 the fissures and lines of dislocations which exist in it. Hitherto these 

 phenomena have not, however, been made the objects of sufficiently 

 careful examination, and if tliese observations should have tiie effect 

 of leading to a more detailed investigation of them, one object of my 

 entering into these researches will be accomplished. According to our 

 theory the mineral veins in the southern part of the range above 

 mentioned ought to run east and west, while in the Cross Fell part 

 we should expect them to assume a direction more nearly north-east 

 and south-west. From my own observation I have ascertained tliat in 

 the mining district in Derbyshire, the phenomena are in this respect 

 as well as in others strikingly accordant with theory, and I have 

 reason to believe that in the coal district lying along the eastern 

 boundary of that country they will be fovmd so likewise. I hope, 

 however, shortly to bring the details of this district under the notice 

 of geologists. 



The northern and southern portions of this range present us also 

 with the important and interesting phenomena of extensive horizontal 

 beds of trap, (the toadstone of Derbyshire, and the whinsill of the north) 

 apparently interstratificd with the sedimentary rocks with wliich they 

 are associated. In the preceding investig;itions, I have entered with 

 considerable detail into tlie subject of the formation of such beds, from 

 the conviction that the notion of injection with reference to them 

 has been carried by some geologists much too far, and that conclusions 

 have been adopted without a due regard to the necessary effects on 



