Kinahan — On Irish Arenaceous Rocks. 591 



MEATH. 



To the east of the county, near Balbriggan, coming in from 

 the county Dublin, to the north-east coming in from Louth, and 

 to the north-west coming in from Cavan are Ordovicians — the last 

 two being connected by the strip of similar rocks in which Kells is 

 situated. In general sandstones are not exposed at the base of the 

 Carboniferous, and in places there appears to be no room for them ; 

 they, however, appear near Oldcastle, to the westward of Kells, 

 and between Navan and Drogheda; while Mr. Cruise states there 

 is a small patch of conglomerate on the Ordovicians at Stramullen, 

 at the mearing of the Co. Dublin to the west of Balbriggan. 

 Elsewhere beds of sandstone have been observed interstratified 

 with the limestone. 



On the Carboniferous Limestone to the north, near Nobber, 

 between Drogheda, Navan, and Maynooth, and near Trim, are 

 outlying patches of Coal-measures in which are fair stones. At the 

 extreme north of the county, near Kingscourt, there is a small 

 tract of Trias. 



Ordovician. — None of the sandstones or grits of this age seem 

 to have been, or are at present, in favour for cut-stone purposes, 

 nor have they been much used for general work, as the associated 

 slate rocks, except in the tract near Balbriggan, are eminently 

 suited for such work, and in old times and subsequently were, and 

 are, much used. 



Carboniferous. — In the small patches of Lower Carboniferous 

 Sandstone, near Oldcastle and westward of Kells, there are sand- 

 stones of reddish, brownish, and yellowish shades of colour. These 

 were used as quoins in the old church of Kells, while the round 

 tower was nearly entirely built of them. They are not very dur- 

 able, but are of an even texture, and have weathered evenly. 

 Between Navan and Drogheda, along the margin of the Carboni- 

 ferous rocks very similar stones have been quarried in places. 

 They vary a little in colour ; some are streaky or variegated, while 

 they may be argillaceous or quartzose, some being very hard. They 

 are not a good class of stone, yet they are very generally used, 

 and the Round Tower of Donaghmore was built of them. Here, 

 us also in the localities to the westward, soma beds are capable of 



