TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION C. 739 
as shown on the published maps of the Geological Survey, there are considerable 
areas of so-called Permian rocks, which recent investigations have proved to be 
conformable to the upper coal-measures, and to contain a coal-measure flora. 
Thus Mr. T. C, Cantrill has shown that in the forest of Wyre the so-called Permian 
rocks contain thin coal-seams and bands of Spirorbis limestone.! 
Exceptional facilities afforded by numerous marl- and brick-pits and other 
artificial and natural exposures in North Staffordshire have enabled Mr. C. B. 
Wedd and myself to make out the following definite stratigraphical sequence in the 
Upper Carboniferous Rocks :— 
(4) Keele Sandstone Series——Red sandstones and marls, calcareous breccias, 
fossiliferous (Entomostracan) limestones; thickness, 700 feet, summit nowhere 
seen. (= Permian of older observers.) 
(8) Newcastle-under-Lyme Series——Grey sandstones, marls, and shales, with 
four thin coals. Two bands of fossiliferous limestone (Entomostracan) form the 
base. Thickness, 250 to 300 feet. 
(2) Etruria Marl Series—Red and mottled marls, with thin bands of coarse 
green grits near the summit and base. Thickness, 700 to 800 feet. 
(1) Black Band Series.—Grey and mottled marls, the grey marl predominat- 
ing; bands of ironstone with Entomostraca, Anthracomya, Fish-remains; occa- 
sional bands of grit sometimes 30 feet thick; several thin coals; numerous zones 
of limestone and shales with Entomostraca. A band of limestone, constant in 
osition (86 to 40 feet) above the Bassey Mine ironstone, forms the base. 
hickness, about 250 feet. 
Variability in the character of the deposits of the coal-measures is universal, 
so that it is hardly to be expected that this sequence will be recognisable in its 
entirety over the whole Midland area; but there can be no doubt that it is an 
important point to find out which of these divisions occurs at the surface in the 
areas at present regarded as Permian or as upper coal-measures on the published 
maps. 
Ei teaady the determination of the successive divisions above noted has had 
important industrial bearings. The fact that the Newcastle limestone lies at the 
base of grey measures intercalated between an upper group of red strata (the 
Keele series) and a lower group of red strata (the Etruria marls) has enabled me 
to detect true upper coal-measures in Keele Park, Shutlanehead, and to the west 
of Leycett. Moreover, there seems to be little doubt that the coal-measures of the 
Pottery Coalfield lie not far from the surface under Little Madeley and Craddocks 
Moss. Evidence has been obtained that the strata on the north-west side of the 
North Staffordshire anticline do not uninterruptedly descend beneath red rocks 
so-called Permian) to the west of Leycett, but rise locally westward under Hayes. 
he effect of this change of inclination is to bring to the surface strata which lie 
considerably below the unproductive red series, and to bring the principal coals 
and ironstones within reach further west than might have been expected.” 
It follows that a thorough and complete examination of the exposed coalfields 
of the Midland counties and of the bordering New Red Rocks will be of the highest 
importance in determining at what depth the productive measures lie beneath the 
great central tracts of the Midland counties. 
“6B, Report on the Drift Sections at Moel Tryfaen. See Reports, p. 414, 
1 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. li., 1895, p. 528. 
2 See Summary af Progress of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom for 
1898, p. 123. _ 
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