Mr. Pattinson on some Hazel Nuts found in a Lead Mine. 79 



No. XIII. — On the Discovery of a Number of Hazel Nuts, in working 

 a Lead Ore Vein in the Manor of Alston Moor. By Mr. H. L. Pat- 

 tinson. 



Read May 18, 1830. 



On Thursday, April 15th, \SSO, the workmen in Nattrass North Vein 

 Lead Mine met with about thirty Hazel Nuts, while driving a gallery, 

 or drift, for the purpose of obtaining Lead Ore. A report of this cir- 

 cumstance having immediately got into circulation in the town and 

 neighbourhood of Alston, in which it was stated that a number of Nuts 

 had been found in a Lead Ore Vein, the writer of this notice was in- 

 duced to examine the matter personally, and presents to the Society the 

 following account of it, as much to prevent erroneous impressions and 

 conclusions, as from any intrinsic interest connected with an occurrence 

 apparently of so singular a nature. 



Nattrass North Vein is situated about a mile and a half south east of the 

 town of Alston, and has been worked extensively in the stratum, No. 

 153 of Forster's Section, called the Great Limestone, and in the Sand- 

 stone strata above it, to the high Slate hill. No. 129. The workings in 

 the Limestone were formerly prosecuted by a level in the Shale bed on 

 the top of the Great Limestone, and the Ore was worked out of the 

 Limestone by means of sumps below the level sole, or floor. Within the 

 last two years, a lower level has been driven up to the vein by the pre- 

 sent company in a Shale bed below the stratum called the Tuft, which 

 immediately underlies the Great Limestone, and the Ore is now ob- 

 tained by means of " rises" into the Limestone, out of this level. Nat-, 

 trass Vein bears within a few degrees of east and west, throws down the 

 north cheek two feet, and in the Great Limestone is from 18 inches to 

 two feet wide, which space is filled up with Vein Stone, or Rider, and 



