Hutton — Physical Geology of Malta. 147 



rise up in places to higher levels than the surrounding Freestone, as 

 at Musta, at the Lunatic Asylum near Attard, and near Krendi. 

 I have satisfied myself that these are not owing to faults. Sometimes 

 also the upper surface of the Lower Limestone is much waterworn, 

 in a way that could only have been done after the rock had become hard. 

 This is well seen at Fomm-er-rih, where the Limestone appears to 

 pass gradually into the overlying Freestone ; but on close examina- 

 tion it will be seen that the surface of the Limestone is honey- 

 combed, and the hollows filled up with Freestone. 



The Island, with the exception of some valleys in the Marl dis- 

 trict, is quite destitute of surface-soil, but the fissures in the Lime- 

 stone rocks are filled with a red clay, which the inhabitants dig out 

 and spread over the surface. This clay has evidently been derived 

 from a deposit superior to the Upper Limestone (1). A fault running 

 in a W. by S. direction, from Madalena Tower to Fomm-er-rih (see 

 Map, Plate VIII. Fig I., and Sections, Figs. II. and III.) divides the 

 Island into two unequal portions. Its throw at the former place is 

 270 feet, and at the latter 350 feet (Fig. IV). South of this fault 

 the strata incline to E.S.E., so that the Lower Limestone, which is 

 210 feet high at Bengemma is " submerged," or " awash," on the 

 south-eastern coast. 



The land on this side of the Island forms an undulating plain of 

 Freestone and Lower Limestone, crossed by many valleys, and 

 rising gently from the sea until it reaches the base of the flat-topped 

 hills, about 800 feet high, which extend from St. Giorgio to Ben- 

 gemma, and which are composed of the upper series of rocks, 

 namely, Nos. 1, 2, and 3. These flat-topped hills, with perpen- 

 dicular escarpments, are the most noticeable features in Maltese 

 scenery, and are due to the soft Marl-bed being rapidly washed 

 away from under the hard Limestone, which then breaks off in a 

 perpendicular direction, and falls by its own weight. 



On the south coast, near Krendi, there is another fault, which 

 was first pointed out to me by Dr. Adams, in the summer of 1863. 

 As this fault is not shewn on the Ordnance Geological Map, I have 

 added a plan of it, extending three miles (Plate IX. Fig. V.). 

 This fault, commencing at the cliffs under Krendi, runs in a 

 general N.W. by W. direction, until it comes out at the end of 

 the bay, under the hills of St. Giorgio. Its throw is 350 feet, 

 the same as the main fault as Fomm-er-rih. Near the centre of 

 it, just below Torre Hamra, a branch-fault occurs, and the land 

 west of this branch-fault has been again tlirown down another 200 

 feet, making a total throw of 550 feet. The top of this fault forms a 

 terrace, varying from 60 feet above the sea below Torre Hamra, to 

 230 feet below St. Giorgio, where a sea-cliff of that height is seen 

 formed entirely of the Upper Limestone. On this terrace, west of 

 the branch-fault, the Elephant-bed is found, lying unconformably 

 on the edge of the other strata, which have been turned up during 

 the formation of the fault (Fig. VII.), but it is not found on the Free- 

 stone east of the branch-fault (Fig. VIII.) . Inland the cliffs again 

 rise, until, at a height of about 300 feet, another terrace is formed, 



