C. J. A. Meyer — Red Chalk of Speeion. 13 



be that while the former sank some 6000 feet, the latter would rise 

 some 12,000. Sea-areas are for the most part areas of depression, 

 and land-areas those of elevation, but the proportion of water to dry- 

 land is as eight to three : consequently elevating force is confined to 

 less than half the space of depressing force ; therefore it ought to act 

 through more than twice the height. If such a theory be at all 

 correct, then the case of a 1000 feet elevation in the Arctic regions 

 since the Champlain Epoch might be accomplished in some 50,000 

 years. 



It thus seems that the Coral-reefs of Florida probably took not less 

 than 70,000 years in forming, their commencement dating from soon 

 after the close of the Glacial Epoch ; that the Niagara gorge may 

 have taken some 60,000 years in being cut out since the close of the 

 Champlain Epoch of North America ; that the elevation of the 

 beaches belonging to the Champlain Epoch in the Arctic regions may 

 have been accomplished in some 50,000 years ; and that tlie elevation 

 of the Glacial-marine deposits of Moel Tryfaen to the height of 1400 

 feet may have taken some 70,000 years. 



I regard the foregoing examples as very rough indications of the 

 method that will probably have to be pursued by geologists to test 

 the periods of geological time as deduced from cosmical causes. 



III. — Note on the Passage of the Eed Chalk of Speeton into 

 AN Underlying Clay-bed. 



By C. J. A. Meyer, Esa. 



THE accompanying section represents the passage of the Eed 

 Chalk, of Speeton, into an underlying bed of dark slaty clay. 

 It exhibits a small section, which was visible in the cliff on the 

 South of Speeton Beck, in September last. 



In Mr. Judd's excellent paper on the Speeton Clay,^ much stress 

 is laid on the position of the supposed break, or want of conformity, 

 between the Upper Cretaceous and the Neocomian strata of the 

 Speeton cliff, while, at the same time, it is freely acknowledged 

 that the junction of the two formations has not been observed. 



Now, it is evident from the accompanying section tJiat the Eed 

 Chalk passes quietly downwards into a dark coloured clay. And it 

 is also evident that this dark clay must represent, from its position, 

 either Gault or Lower Greensand. 



If it represents the Gault, Mr. Judd's suggestion respecting the 

 position of the supposed break in the Cretaceous series at Speeton 

 may be still confirmed. 



If, on the other hand, the black clay represents the top of the 

 Lower Greensand — as is not unlikely — a break in the series might 

 still be supposed to occur at the base of a representative of the 



» On the Speeton Clay. Ey John W. Judd, Esq., F.G.S. Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. 

 vol. sxiv. p. 218. 



