SANDSTONE, SHALE, AND COAL. 12a 



situations. Such coal patches have been found in the sandstone on 

 the banks of the Esk, above the upper part of Whitby harbour. 



In a great part of the sandstone strata in this series, we meet with 

 the same appearances ah'eady described as occurring between Cayton 

 mill and Scarborough, the beds being divided by diagonal and irregvilar 

 partings, instead of presenting seams parallel to the course of the strata. 

 Instances of this kind may be seen in the cliffs on the west side of 

 Whitby harbour, and in numbers of other places along the coast. 



Some of the sandstone of this series is a kind of conglomerate 

 or breccia, having the appearance of sand and gravel cemented inta 

 a solid mass. A remarkable instance of this nature may be seen in 

 the bank below the church-yard of Whitby, a few yards from the top 

 of the long flight of steps leading up to the church. The bed alluded 

 to bears such a striking I'esemblance to sand and gravel, that it almost 

 requires the evidence of touch, to convince the spectator that it is a 

 solid stratum. 



One of the most remarkable beds in this series is the lowest mem- 

 ber of it, viz. the bed called the dogger, which lies immediately over 

 the alum schist. This is a singular species of conglomerate, assuming 

 a variety of forms. In some places, it is a coarse dark coloured 

 sandstone, with a mixture of light coloured grains, or minute frag- 

 ments ; in others, it is a coarse breccia, containing numerous small 

 stones of various shapes, generally with rounded angles; and in 

 others, it contains shells and petrified wood, as well as minute grains, 

 and small stones. The base is of various colours, being brown, 

 reddish or purplish, dark yellow or ochrey, dark grey, ash-coloured, 

 and olive. It is no less various in its composition, being sometimes 

 so calcareous as to effervesce with acids, sometimes an argillaceous 

 sandstone, sometimes rather siliceous, and not unfrequently a kind of 

 clay ironstone. Iron is a very common ingredient in this rock, and 

 sometimes appears in considerable quantity. 



