James Saunders — Geology of S. Bedfordshire. 123 



line quartz with abundant mica. Crushed in a mortar, and the 

 powder examined under a microscope, the quartz is much iron- 

 stained, giving the material a yellow-brownish tint, which conspires 

 with the glistering bronze colour of the mica to suggest a gold- 

 bearing material.' The history of the various attempts to find gold 

 is confused ; but about forty years ago I believe a quantity of the 

 rock was dug and taken away to be tested, apparently without result. 

 This, however, was not the first trial. A grass field, about 25 chains 

 north-east from the Church, has long been called ' Gold Close,' and 

 in or near the Thrift Wood, about a mile north-east from the Church, 

 you may see 'Gold Copse' marked on the Ordnance Sui-vey (Map)." 



Curiously enough, whilst the above correspondence was proceeding 

 between Mr. Crouch and myself, an old book was brought under my 

 notice by Miss Higgins, of Luton. It is entitled " Geology and 

 History of England," Dodsley, Pall Mall, no date (probably fifty 

 years old). Under the heading Bedfordshire, p. 3, it says: "At 

 Pulloxhill, near Ampthill, some years ago a gold mine was discovered, 

 but it is now entirely neglected, the profit falling short of the expense 

 of extracting the metal from the ore." As the book from which this 

 extract is taken is simply a compilation, its authority is very doubt- 

 ful, and it may fairly be assumed that the operations in search of 

 gold have been referred to erroneously as though they had been 

 successful in a limited degree. 



Apparently in every instance the seekers have been deceived by 

 the glitter of the iron-stained mica, and have never found any of 

 the precious metal, at least in appreciable quantity. 



Some idea of the thickness and average dip of the beds that 

 underlie Luton may be obtained from the data furnished in sinking 

 the artesian well at the Luton Waterworks, and from a solitary 

 record that is left of the boring at the Old Brewery in Park Street, 

 Luton. Through the courtesy of the engineer of the waterworks, 

 the writer was enabled to see the material brought up from the 

 workings. In boring the well, the various beds of the Middle and 

 Lower Chalk were passed through until a depth of 224 feet was 

 reached, when the Chalk Marl was touched, identical in colour and 

 consistency with what one finds at Chalton cutting, close to the 

 bridge, some four miles N.W. ; say about 30 feet from the surface. 

 This would give approximately a dip of about 45 feet per mile. 

 The boring was continued over 90 feet through this bed without 

 reaching its base, when the woi'kings were stopped at a depth of 

 322^ feet from the surface. It was found that there was no increase 

 in the water-supply after passing into this stratum. 



The only record known to myself of the artesian well at the Old 

 Brewery, Park Street, Luton, is on a large brick in the outer wall of 

 the market-room of the Cock Inn just opposite the Old Brewery. 

 This brick was made from the material brought up from the bottom 

 of the boring, and bears the following inscription : " F. Burr, 

 4G5 feet, Jan. 1828." From its appearance the brick is made from 

 Gault, but there is nothing to indicate from what depth that clay 

 was obtained, except that the surface of the Gault must be just 



