Dakyns — Geological Notes on the Lake District. 57 



Fig. 1, where A, represents the Greenstone of Honister Crag lying on 

 the upturned and denuded edges of the Skiddaw Slates (b.) ; though, 

 as I was not able to examine the rocks on the spot, the appearance 

 may have been deceptive from the effect of fore-shortening. 



It put into my head, however, the idea of an unconformity, which 

 I expressed to vaj companion. 



The next excursion bearing upon the question I made alone. 



I mapped the line of junction between the Skiddaw Slates and over- 

 lying series from near Lowdore, by Grange in Borrowdale, across the 

 western fells by Eel Crags up to Dale Head. 



Fig. 2. — Borrowdale Fells. 



A. Greenstone, b. Skiddaw Slates. 



In ascending the fells from Borrowdale, I distinctly made out that 

 continually higher and higher beds of the Greenstone series abutted 

 against the Skiddaw Slates, as shewn in Fig. 2, where a. represents 

 the Greenstone lying unconformably on the Skiddaw Slates (b.), and 

 the higher beds of Greenstone overlapping the lower. How far this 

 extended I had not time to make out, but, probably, not far, as 

 Professor Eamsay tells me that he never saw such an unconformity 

 among the old rocks on a large scale. 



It also seemed to me that not only were the Upper Beds lying at a 

 comparatively low angle of perhaps 30 deg. on the denuded edges of 

 the highly inclined Skiddaw slates, but that their strike was also 

 different. Unfortunately I had not time nor favourable weather for 

 satisfying myself on these important but minor points. 



The line of junction between the two sets of beds crosses the ridge 

 at Castle Nook. 



I walked southward from that point along the top of Eel Crags, 

 and got into the next valley between the southern end of those 

 crags and the cliffs of Dale Head, and there to my surprise and joy, 

 I found the Skiddaw Slates in place, with their normal dip and strike 

 of 70 deg. to S.S.E., more than a mile south of Castle Nook, and not 

 more than 600 feet lower, if so much. As the line from Castle Nook 

 to this point runs but little west of south, it is manifest that unless 

 the Skiddaw Slates change their strike between those points from a. 

 general east and west to a general north and south direction, or un- 

 dergo some roll, of neither of which changes did I see any evidence 

 from my various points of view, the upper beds must be resting un- 

 conformably on the lower, unless the Greenstone is intrusive, of 

 which also I saw no evidence, but rather the reverse, for I believe it 

 to be distinctly bedded. 



It has been suggested to me that I may have mistaken cleavage 

 for bedding in the Skiddaw Slates ; but I considered that point at the 

 time. My reason for thinking the planes to be bedding and not 

 cleavage planes is, besides the fact that they looked to me much more 

 like bedding than cleavage, that I saw them rolling about and con- 



