Kinahan — On Irish Arenaceous Rocks. 615 



WEXFORD. 



Under the major portion are Cambrian, Ordovician, and Granite; 

 Carboniferous rocks only occurring in very limited tracts, as near 

 Wexford Harbour, in a band across the baronies of Forth and 

 Bargy, at Baginbun, in Hook Promontory, and on the edge of 

 the estuary of the Suir, westward of Fethard, and at Bally- 

 hack. 



Cambrian. — These rocks are in part metamorphosed. Some of 

 the more hornblendic patches have been said to be of Laurentian 

 age ; as, however, such patches would be Mosaics in the Cambrians 

 (to quote Dr. Callaway), it is far more probable that all are equiva- 

 lents of the Cambrian (page 516). In these there are quartz-rock, 

 quartzyte, and grits, mostly unshapely, and more suited for road 

 metal than any other purpose. Some of them, however, can be 

 raised in large blocks, suitable for sea-walls, for which they have in 

 places been used, as in the embankments of the north and south 

 intakes. 



Ordovician. — Usually the grits are only suitable for rough 

 local walling ; in places, however, there are more or less calcareous 

 tuffose sandstones associated with the interbedded Exotic rocks. 

 These, as exhibited in the ancient structures, such as the old build- 

 ings in Ferns and Wexford, if well selected, are durable stones ; 

 and are also capable of fine sculpturing, as seen in the beautiful 

 Egyptian doorway of the little church of Clone, about a mile 

 southward of Ferns. Of late years they have been used in Clone 

 new church, and in some of the bridges of the Dublin and Wex- 

 ford Eailway. It is a stone that ought to be more generally used, 

 being very free- working, easily raised, and durable if well selected. 

 When first worked, the colour is greenish-grey ; it then becomes 

 discoloured, but this discolouring seems subsequently to wash out, 

 if we may judge of the stones as they now appear in the old build- 

 ings. If, as in the States of America, sawing was introduced into 

 our quarries, this would be an admirable stone to be thus worked, 

 as it is light and porous, and might be cut into sizes from the 

 scantling of brick to those of quoins, sills, &c. It seems capable 

 of heavy and long bearings. 



Ballymore, near Gorey.— A sandstone quarry; but it is jointy, 



