Reports & Proceedings — Liverpool Geological Society. 187 



In addition to the normal type of metamorphism produced by the 

 gneiss and the granitic offshoots therefrom, there is also developed at 

 the contacts a phase almost identical with that presented by xenoliths 

 of limestone in volcanic rocks. Through the action of magmatic 

 emanations, zones possessing more or less regularity have been pro- 

 duced in the adjacent dolomitic marble, of which the innermost is 

 commonly rich in diopside and often in scapolite, with forsterite, 

 phlogopite, chondrodite, and spinel farther away. The dedolomitiza- 

 tion is usually perfect. 



In the contact-zone forsterite and chondrodite are antipathetic 

 minerals, the latter being invariably farther removed from the 

 intrusion. 



In certain cases the marble beyond the silicate-zone has been 

 deprived of the bulk of its magnesia, and has been changed into a mass 

 of coarsely crystalline calcite. This phenomenon has probably been 

 due to the action of carbonated waters during the cooling of the 

 plutonic masses. 



The absorption of marble by the magma at the contacts has caused 

 the development of pyroxene in the intrusive rock, but there is no 

 evidence in this area of large-scale assimilation of marble by the 

 gneiss. 



II. — Liverpool Geological Society. 

 February 11, 1919.— W. A. Whitehead, Esq., B.Sc, in the Chair. 

 The following papers were read : — 



1. " The Ancient Settlements in Wirral in relation to the Surface 

 Geology." By William Hewitt, B.Sc. 



A study of the geological drift map of the Wirral peninsula in 

 relation to the early settlements in the area revealed certain points 

 of interest. For the purpose of the inquiry the peninsula was 

 considered as extending beyond the existing boundaries of the 

 "hundred of Wirral" to a line running from the River Dee at 

 Chester to the opening of the Biver Weaver into the Estuary of the 

 Mersey. Of the surface so defined, approximately 64£ per cent is 

 covered with boulder-clay and 1J per cent with drift sand; 19 per 

 cent is made up of various patches of Triassic rocks free from glacial 

 deposits, while the remaining 15 per cent is covered with recent 

 deposits. The 77 ancient settlements in the area which are either 

 mentioned directly in the Domesday Survey Record (viz. 52) or are 

 known from early records to have been in existence at the time of 

 the Conquest, are situated as follows: 41 or 53 per cent on exposed 

 rock surfaces free from drift, 2 on blown sand, 10 on drift sand, and 

 24 or 31 per cenf on boulder-clay, this distribution showing a marked 

 preference for a pervious foundation. A detailed classification of the 

 settlements was given, and many particulars of interest both to the 

 archaeologist and to the geologist are recorded. 



2. "Some Borings through the Marshes bordering the Southern 

 Shore of the Mersey Estuary." By E. T. Maidwell. 



In this paper full details are given of a large number of borings 

 made in recent years by the firm of E. Timmins & Sons, Ltd., 



