144 PAPERS, ETC. 
head of that gulf, in the beds of red sandstone, at Luc- 
combe and Brockwell, as many of you are aware, is found 
the red he@matite iron. It occurs in large patches, mixed up 
with the sandstone and conglomerates peculiar to the series, 
and is worked in the open quarry ; and it seems that near 
Porlock the rock upon which the new red sandstone rests 
contains veins of brown hamatite. This, very probably, 
is the source from whence was derived the red hematite of 
the succeeding formation. Copper has likewise been found 
in the same formation. At Treborough and Luxborough, 
in the rocks of the Devonian series, a peculiarly rich iron- 
ore has recently been found, the discovery of which is of 
national importance. In quality this metal is said to be 
equal to the best Silesian iron, and in quantity more 
abundant., 
The value of these mineral treasures has long been 
known by the successive generations and races of men that 
have occupied this distriet. That the Romans worked 
these mines is most clearly proved by the. coins, and mining 
implements, which have been discovered in the refuse mat- 
ter in this neishbourhood. How they worked, and to what 
extent they brought their characteristie energy to bear 
upon these sources of wealth, would be an interesting sub- 
ject for investigation, and one peculiarly within the pro- 
vince of this our Archzological Society. On this subject, 
however, I must not enter, as I desire to confine myself to 
the physical aspects of the district: 
While, then, we have iron in the lower beds of this series, 
we have gypsum in the higher beds. This mineral, which 
may be described as the erystals of native sulphate of lime, 
occurs in the red-marl, on the coast near Blue Anchor, 
sometimes in isolated masses ; at.other times in veins lying 
parallel to, and between layers of, the marl ; and occasion- 
