222 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 



eye can reach. The total thickness of the series 

 is upwards of 800 feet ; but the section exposed, 

 though vertical, is in an oblique direction to the 

 planes of stratification, and from the slight angle 

 at which the strata dip to the north-east, the 

 cliffs as far as Blackgang Chine are composed of 

 the greensand deposits. To the eastward these 

 strata are concealed by the upper cretaceous 

 group along the Undercliff, reappear at Bon- 

 church Cove, and continue to Sandown, extend- 

 ing as far as the anticlinal axis of the Wealden in 

 the bay. 



The lowermost bed which rests on the Wealden 

 at the base of Atherfield Point, is but a few feet 

 above the beach ; the uppermost strata first ap- 

 pear on the shore to the east of Rocken-end ; 

 between these two points the cliffs are made up of 

 sands and argillaceous deposits of various colours, 

 composition, and thickness, containing particular 

 collocations of organic remains. The importance 

 of the Atherfield section as elucidating the nature 

 and relations of the lower group of the cretaceous 

 system, was but little regarded till the appearance 

 of Dr. Fitton's memoir " On the Strata between the 

 < '/"(Hi and Oolite" * Since that time this locality 

 lias acquired additional interest from its affording 



Geol. Trans, vol, iv. L8S6. 



