THE GEOLOGY OF MOW COP, ETC. 141 



which is only at a small elevation above the sea in conse- 

 quence of its soft rocks having been almost planed down 

 to a level service. With respect to the character of the 

 country further east, above described, there is another point 

 of view connected with it that may be named. This tract 

 forms the component part of a section of that central ridge 

 which stretches 200 miles from Derbyshire northwards to 

 the borders of Scotland, generally known as the Pennine 

 chain, or backbone of England. It marks the position of 

 a great anticlinal axis, from which on its western side have 

 been thrown off the coal measures of Lancashire, Cheshire, and 

 North Staffordshire ; and on the eastern side the coalfields 

 of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. This up- 

 heaval has attained its greatest developement in North 

 Derbyshire, where the immense central arch of mountain 

 limestone has been brought to the surface with an elevation 

 of 1,500 feet above the level of the sea. With respect 

 to the lithological structure of this hill (Mow Cop), which 

 forms the base of the lower coal measures in the Biddulph 

 valley, it is identical with the strata that crop out in the 

 Flintshire coalfield, after having formed a synclinal axis 

 across the Cheshire plain which is overlaid by the new 

 red sandstone deposits ; and at a future day it is said 

 that these may have to be sunk through, in order to reach 

 the available coal measures, which are calculated to be 

 at a depth of 4,000 feet below the surface. During our 

 tour of inspection, after having descanted more or less upon 

 the petrological character, &c. of each section that has 

 engaged our attention, I have little more to add on those 

 points, except in occupying the short time we have to 

 spare in making a few observations not altogether devoid 

 of local interest. The following rock formations enter into 

 the composition of Mow Cop and its vicinity : The upper 

 part of the hill consists of the first and third beds of the 



