CiRC. No. 69 



Geology and Physical Geography. 



Rev. E. Maule Cole, M.A., writes as follows: — The district 

 selected for investigation occupies a small corner of the East Riding, 

 between the Hull and Barnsley Railway and the Humber, at the 

 western foot of the Chalk Wolds. From the summit of the hills, 

 which are here comparatively low, there is a fine view of the Humber 

 and of the great plains watered by the Ouse and Trent. To the 

 south may be seen the Oolitic " Cliff" running parallel with the river 

 Ancholme in Lincolnshire, and further to the east the Chalk Wolds. 

 The escarpments are not in line with the similar beds in Yorkshire, 

 and argue the probability of a fault in the direction of the channel 

 of the Humber. The Yorkshire Wolds, from about Pocklington to 

 the Humber, form a neck of high ground, separating the low lying 

 plains of York and Holderness, and at several points beautiful views 

 may be obtained of both plains simultaneously, with the Minsters of 

 York and Beverley towering in their midst. 



The western edge of the Wolds is comparatively steep and 

 much indented with beautifully picturesque dales. The eastern side 

 of the chalk dips gradually till it is lost beneath the boulder clays of 

 Holderness. The Red Chalk, which forms here the base, may be 

 seen at the Welton Springs, succeeded by Grey Chalk, with the 

 usual manganese markings and without flints. At a quarry at Melton 

 a black carbonaceous band may be seen dividing the grey from the 

 Lower White Chalk with flints. Here it is about a foot thick, and 

 said to contain fish bones ; a little further north at a cutting at the 

 western end of Riplingham Tunnell, the same black band was found 

 to be a yard thick in places. It was continuous in the cutting as far 

 as Weedley Tunnel, though thinning out westwards. 



A narrow band of Liassic and Oolitic beds runs along the 

 western foot of the Wolds. The Lias may probably be seen in the 

 Mill Beck at EUerker, and a quantity of gravel containing Gryphcea 

 iticurva is to be found in the neighbourhood. In the same beck 

 may be seen 2ft. of hydraulic limestone belonging to the lower 

 Oolites, such as is found about Gormire on the Hambleton Escarp- 

 ment. The Millepore or Cave Oolite may easily be detected between 

 Ellerker and Brough, having been largely quarried. 



The Kellaways Sand Rock is not so good to find, though there 

 was a fine exposure in the railway cutting near South Cave. The 

 Coralline Oolite is wanting altogether. There are several gravel 

 beaches and sand ridges in the neighbourhood, and in one of them 

 some remains of the Mammoth have recently been found. On the 

 banks of the Humber, near Melton, there is visible at low water a 

 submerged forest, roots and trunks of trees standing in a bed of 

 peat. Similar peat is found at Goole, and at the railway bridge of 

 the Hull and Barnsley, across the Ouse. 



