598 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



local note has been worked. About three miles from the town 

 there is a thin-bedded stone in the bed of the River Suck. It 

 is in much request for walling, but is not good for cut-stone pur- 

 poses. The stone can only be procured in the summer, when the 

 river is low. 



On the tract to the north-east, between the town and French 

 Park, there are many large field-stones, or " tumblers," which have 

 been extensively used for local works, especially bridges, as they 

 split easily. They have been of considerable profit to the occupiers, 

 who sold them to those who required them. In the same area, 

 near Bellanagane, are finely-laminated stones like the "Dunmore 

 slates," which in the vicinity have been used for roofing pur- 

 poses; they are also found in the north-east portion of Slieve- 

 Dart that enters into this county at the extreme south-west. In 

 Slieve-Dart are also found the stones formerly so much wrought 

 into millstones, but perhaps more in the Gralway portion than in 

 this county. Eastward of Bellanagane, between it and Mantua, 

 is a calcareous stone containing silicious nodules more or less similar 

 to rough agates and cornelians. 



Sandstone can also be obtained. in the tract to the west of the 

 Suck and south-west of Roscommon. 



In the parish of Fuertry there is a quarry of excellent gritstone 

 of peculiar solidity and hardness. 



In Slieve-Baun there are some good brownish and yellowish 

 stones ; but they are now principally used for local purposes, the 

 limestone being preferred for dressed work. To the south-east of 

 Strokestown, in the south-west portion of Slieve-Baun, there are 

 stones particularly adapted for millstones, and fifty years ago they 

 were made in considerable quantities for supplying the adjoining 

 counties to the eastward of the Shannon. 



Coal-measures. — These only occur at the north-west of the 

 county. Some of the sandstones are reported to be of excellent 

 quality, " equalling the Tyrone stone" ; but they are so out of the 

 way and inaccessible that very little is positively known about 

 them. From the Coal-measures, however, are procurable excellent 

 flags, somewhat like the Carlow flags, that formerly had a good 

 sale ; they were principally raised at Keadew and Arigna. 



Sand and Gravel. — In the low country there are Eskers which 

 give an inexhaustible supply of excellent pit sand and gravel ; some 



