A. J. Jukes-Browne — The Bovey Deposits. 259 



Commenting on this fault, Pengelly concludes that "the beds on the 

 east of it are an upper portion of the Bov^ey deposit, preserved through 

 the intervention of a vertical displacement of at least 100 feet from 

 the denuding action which swept it away on the west ". From the 

 particulai's stated, it appears that the fault runs very near to the old 

 engine shaft, and it is clear that Pengelly's inference as to the 

 arenaceous series being newer than the lignitic series is based on the 

 similarity of the former to the highest beds in the pit-section. 



He also notices the curious fact that the lowest beds found in the 

 'old coal-pit' consisted entirely of lignites and clays for 53 feet, when 

 a thin bed of sand occurs, and further that above this another thick 

 set of clays and lignites was formed before any more sand was 

 introduced into the area, but he does not suggest any satisfactory 

 explanation of these facts. 



The boring at Heathfield confirms the succession described by 

 Pengelly at the old workings near Bovey, which are about 2 miles 

 to the north-west of it, and proves moreover that the lower lignitic 

 beds are much thicker than he had any reason to suppose. 



The highest Eocene beds seen at the Heathfield Potteries are white 

 claj's with an interbedded stratum of black clay and lignite, but these 

 are not likely to be the highest beds in the basin, since the dip there 

 is westward, and the ground rises somewhat in that direction. It is 

 indeed very probable that the beds proved by Divett's boring and 

 recorded by Pengelly are newer than any in the Heathfield pit, 

 since by the presence of thick beds of sand they differ as much from 

 the Heathfield section as from the Bove}' pit- section. 



I think, therefore, we may fairly add at least 90 feet to the total 

 of the Heathfield boring, and as this did not reach the base, but ended 

 in lignite, the bottom of the basin is not likely to be less than 30 feet 

 lower. The total thickness of the Eocene deposits may therefore 

 be estimated at 493 + 90 + 30 = 613 feet. Finally, we must remember 

 that the series is abruptly truncated at the top. 



Of course, it does not follow that the succession proved in the boring 

 and for the western part of the basin should hold good for the eastern 

 part. Near Kingsteignton the pits worked are chiefly in clay, with 

 occasional beds of sand and very little lignite, but their position in the 

 series is not definitely known. The pits worlied near Preston, 2^ miles 

 north of Newton, on both sides of the road to Chudleigh, have shown 

 alternating beds of lignite and white clay, both varying in thickness, 

 but both reaching an individual thickness of 10 feet. The prevalent 

 dip here is about 10° to the W.S.W., and the distance from the eastern 

 border of the flat land is about a quarter of a mile ; these beds will be 

 about 220 feet above the basal sands. 



Here I think we may well ask whether the highest sands and clays, 

 and even the highest lignite and clay of Heathfield, are of the same 

 age as the lignitic series which lies several hundred feet below them. 

 This question can only be answered bj'' a full investigation of the beds 

 themselves and a further search for seeds and other plant -remains. 

 I am glad to learn from my former colleague, Mr. Clement Reid, that 

 he and Mrs. Reid have already entered this field of research and 

 intend to explore it more fully next summer. From what he has told 



